by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Published by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), this guide reflects current, evidence-based information on assistive technology for hearing and communication disorders. NIDCD funds and conducts scientific research on the full spectrum of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language conditions.
The guide covers assistive listening devices (ALDs) including hearing loops, FM systems, and infrared systems; visual and vibrating alerting devices for everyday situations such as doorbells, smoke alarms, and phone rings; captioning services such as CART and closed captioning; and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Each technology category is explained in accessible plain language with guidance on appropriate uses.
This resource serves people with hearing loss of all ages, their family members, clinicians, educators, and employers seeking a comprehensive and authoritative overview of hearing assistive technology options.
Ava is an ADA-compliant live captioning app that converts speech into real-time, color-coded text for deaf and hard-of-hearing users in one-on-one and group conversations. It integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and supports more than 50 languages.
Ava
The Urban Xplorer is a lightweight, adjustable folding white cane made from aerospace aluminium, designed for blind and low-vision users navigating city environments. It comes in four sizes (Small through X-Large) and features a redesigned dome tip, hardened aluminium joints, and a foam grip. The cane is built to handle common urban obstacles such as cobblestones, sewer grates, and uneven sidewalks.
Awarewolf
Google Live Transcribe is a free Android app that converts speech and surrounding sounds into real-time on-screen captions, making everyday conversations more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Developed in partnership with Gallaudet University, it supports more than 120 languages and processes all audio on-device for privacy.
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