If you are suffering from hearing loss, the hearing aid is a must-have device for you. It enables you to hear the sounds around you and take part in active conversation. Without a hearing aid, life can get harder for a person with hearing problems.
However, hearing aids can cost even $4000, and you may wonder why hearing aids are so expensive. But this is the reality you have to live with. Anyways, there is a much cheaper option, a temporary one to be honest. You can use your phone as a temporary hearing aid.
How Can Smartphones Work as Hearing Aids?
There is a receiver both in hearing aids and phones to receive sounds. While phones don’t amplify the sounds, hearing does help its user. So, if you can find a way to amplify the sounds, you can turn your phone into a hearing aid. You can operate your phone almost the same way you would operate your hearing aid.
Also, you may need to use your headphones to make the sounds reach your ear effectively. Noise-canceling headphones can work best in this regard. It will send the sounds received by your phone to your ear. Then your brain will process it, and you can actually take part in conversations.
Nowadays, everyone carries a smartphone with them. So, to help persons with hearing difficulties, many app developers have created apps that can turn smartphones into hearing aids.
These apps receive the sound from the surroundings and send them to our ears. The programming behind these apps is quite impressive. These apps can detect noise and cancel it to assist the users. Also, some apps can address the unique needs of the user and help them accordingly.
Also, some of these apps can switch to different modes according to the user. Therefore, in an emergency situation, these apps come in very handy.
So, here are a few apps that can turn your smartphone into a hearing aid device.
Crisp Sound – Software Hearing Aid
Crisp Sound converts your smartphone into an AI hearing aid. It is rated 4.2 stars out of 5 in Google Play Store. It supports hearing testing and automatic fitting for the ease of the user.
Features:
- Boosts sound in Stereo
- Repeat last words
- Deep denoising
- Simple settings by hearing loss types
- Hearing Test and fit
- Work in the background
- AGC/DRC to help both very low and very high voices
If you are using a wireless BlueTooth headset, BlueTooth 5+ is recommended both for the phone and the headset.
Petralex Hearing Aid App
The petralex hearing aid app can restore sound perception to a natural level. It can also automatically adjust to specific features of the user’s hearing. It is rated 4.3 stars out of 5 and has free and paid options.
Features in free option:
- Automatic adjustment to hearing specifications.
- Hearing correction for each ear.
- Adaptation to different types of environments.
- Amplify up to 30 dB with a wired headset.
- Built-in hearing test.
- Dynamic compression. Amplify quieter sounds without losing the overall volume.
- Using 4 options of the sound amplifier.
- Using the built-in 4-week adaptive course for getting used to the hearing aid app.
- You can use your smartphone as a remote mic.
- Support of Bluetooth headsets.
The premium app features more exciting features for you to experience the best sound. The problem with this app is that the sound can get delayed and echoed if connected with a wireless headset.
Ear Booster Tool: Super Clear Hearing Aid App
This app can boost and amplify sound from the surroundings. Also, it can detect noise and clear them to assist the user in hearing a clear sound. It has a 3.8-star rating out of 5 in Google Play Store.
Features:
- Powerful Sound Amplifier
- Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)
- Equalizer & Presets
- Bass Booster (BB)
- Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
- Graphic Equalizer
- Volume Controller
- Noise Suppression
- Wave Visualizer
- Save your configurations
Like the Petralex app, it can also delay sound when connected to a BlueTooth device.
How to Use?
In order to turn your phone into a hearing aid, you need to install an app first. Then you will need to calibrate the headphone and create a profile for your hearing with a hearing test. Different apps utilize different methods in this manner.
Once the calibration is done, you have successfully turned your smartphone into a hearing aid. Some apps may require you to switch the device into a hearing aid mode with the help of the app.
You can control volume and create different profiles for different environments you are in. Paid apps may enable you to customize the sounds more precisely for your condition.
Always remember, these apps are not medically prescribed and are for temporary use. If you have lost your hearing aid or are waiting for a new one, you can use your phone to help you in the meantime.
If you cannot afford a hearing aid, try having an OTC hearing aid. You can also get your audiologist to calibrate your phone for use as a hearing aid till you can grab your hearing aids.
