Hearing assistive technology
On this guide page
Transcriptions and Captioning
A transcription provides what is heard in a text format for audio files.
Closed captioning provides what is heard in a text format for videos.
Live transcribing provides this text as it occurs in real-time. This is often called "Communication Access Realtime Translation", or CART services.
Closed captions are transcriptions that are synchronized to the video on the screen. This allows people to follow along with the action.
Closed captions can be turned off, so you can see the video behind the captions. They are also text, so they can be translated into other languages or characters, including Braille.
They provide the dialogue, or what is said by one or more speakers. If there is more than one speaker, they inform you of who is speaking.
The captions are short, so you can read them quickly and still watch the video.
They provide the music or musical themes for tone or atmosphere. If the song should be known, the title is included. If the words should be known, the lyrics display just like the dialogue but with musical symbols.
This helps distinguish the music from any dialogue occurring at the same time.
They provide important sound effects. Sound effects help with the storytelling.
Sometimes sound effects explain responses from the speakers. For example, an apology spoken after a cough makes more sense if we knew someone coughed first.
Sound Amplifiers
These increase the available sound without disturbing others.
FM Systems are often available in classrooms, lecture halls, or auditoriums. They can be set to listen to faculty working at the board or other distances. They can also be set to listen to classmates all around the room.
Hearing aids can also be connected to amplifiers. Hearing aids can be connected to mobile phones.
Flash or Vibrate Features
We receive audial notifications all the time for messages, alerts, or alarms. If we cannot hear them, we need to either see them or feel them.
Mobile phones have notification settings with a variety of vibration options. You can distinguish between different types of alerts such as urgent messages.
Smart watches can be set to vibrate as well if you cannot see your computer or phone screen.
You can also use a flashing notification. This is useful if you are far from your phone but still nearby.
You also see these when fire or security alarms go off in a building.