Hearing impairment can be frustrating and difficult to deal with on multiple levels. Thankfully, there are a variety of resources available for the hearing impaired, including amplification applications for the iPhone. As a former social worker, I am familiar with resources for the hearing impaired. It was my job to research and obtain them for my hearing impaired clients. I know of five applications that worked for many of them. The apps could be used for amplifying telephone as well as in-person conversations. All five of the apps were easy to download and could be used with ear phones so the amplified noise didn’t affect others in the room. With that said, here are my picks for five that are worthy of consideration:
Ginger Labs
Ginger Labs produces a wonderful hearing aid app called the soundAMP R. What makes it a stand out in my book is the ability to record and replay snippets of conversations. The way I see it, those features are handy to have whether you’re hearing impaired or not. There is also no time delay to speak of and it’s simple to use. The only downfall is the $4.99 price tag. Some people may find it too expensive. If you can get past the cost, it seems to be a solid value for the money.
Ear Machine
Ear Machine makes a hearing aid application that is, in my opinion, worth the $3.99 investment. What I like about their hearing aid app is that it has an almost non-existent time delay. Thus two-way conversations are able to take place in a natural manner. It is also fairly easy to use and works with the iPod Touch, the iPhone, and the iPad. You can purchase it online through the iPhone App Store.
MEA Mobile
Another hearing aid application that tends to provide no discernible time delay is the eHear by MEA Mobile. It also costs less than the Ear Machine, which makes it a superlative option for those eager to save a buck. In addition, it can be used with a Blue Tooth. In my experience, the only downfall was that some distortion would occur intermittently when operating at high volume. It sells online for $2.99.
Applied Voices, LLC
Applied Voices, LLC makes a decent hearing aid application called uListen. It sells for $4.99 and helps to amplify voices. What I found beneficial about the app was that it has an automatic adjustment feature. This helps reduce the amount of time spent messing around with the controls. You can also make manual adjustments if you prefer.
PocketLab
The budget conscious may appreciate the .99 cent Microphone app by PocketLab. Although not marketed as a hearing aid, it does help the speaker hear their own voice. This can be helpful when engaging in pronunciation exercises. It can also pick up and amplify sounds in close proximity to the user’s iPad, iPod or iPhone’s built-in microphone. Distortion seemed minimal. With such a modest price tag, it is at least worth a try.
Killeen Gonzalez is a former social worker. She has a history of assisting hearing impaired individuals and their families in obtaining the resources needed for daily life.
