Hearing Impairment Assistive Apps

For many people with hearing impairment, it can be difficult to communicate with hearing individuals. Particularly, if they’re non-verbal. Although Sign Language is a brilliant and effective way for hearing-impaired individuals to communicate, sadly, it’s not widely known amongst the hearing population. So, how do people with hearing impairment get around this? Integrating technology has become one of the most popular methods that people with hearing impairment use to make life that bit easier. A vast selection of new technology including speech-to-text can give them more independence and privacy when talking with others.

Previously, technology like this was costly and inaccessible to many. As the importance of digital accessibility has become more apparent, there’s an entirely new market of apps created specifically to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Often, these apps are free or relatively low cost in comparison to alternative accessibility tools. This step forward means that accessibility is more accessible than ever.

If you’re a hearing impaired individual looking to get into accessibility apps, it can be difficult to know where to start. Particularly, because the market has become so big. That’s why we’ve decided to create a list to get you started.

Big disclaimer: I’m making this list as a hearing person. As I do not have a hearing impairment, I cannot be the final authority on what apps will work best for you. Due to this, I’ve looked at the potential pros and cons of each app from a digital accessibility perspective. This list is just a point of reference. You know yourself and what works best for you.

Transcription:

AVA (iOS and Android)

AVA is a live transcription app that allows you to transcribe voice-to-text from up to a meter away. The app is free, but you can upgrade to Community for $9.95 a month. This offers increased caption accuracy, up to 40 minutes of captioning sessions, and three hours of Premium captions a month. AVA also offers subscription packages for businesses, educational facilities, and healthcare organizations.

Recently, AVA has launched a new tier called Scribe. This uses AI paired with human captioners to correct mistakes, offering 99% accuracy. The free version of AVA uses AI alone to create transcriptions which, obviously, will never be 100% accurate. However, you can improve caption accuracy by using the Vocabulary Boost feature. This allows you to add and correct vocabulary that you use frequently.

Not only is AVA effective in a one-on-one setting, but you can also use it in a group. To use, simply have all speakers download the app using your QR code. After joining the session, they just need to place their phone in front of them and the app will transcribe what everyone is saying. No need to worry about it getting confusing - the app uses color coding to differentiate between speakers.

After testing this app, it was pretty good. For starters, it was simple to use. The transcript begins as soon as you press Start Captions. It runs smoothly and continues going even after you exit the app, appearing in a small box in the corner of your screen. When you press the End button, you’re given the option to save the session which you can then read later.

The one downside of this app is that you cannot transcribe multiple speakers without a strong internet connection. People usually meet in groups in loud, busy places such as restaurants. Highly populated places like these are prone to weakened reception which impedes use. Although AVA works offline, it only works in solo mode. On top of this, offline mode only works on newer devices, can only transcribe in your default language, and causes decreased caption accuracy.

Google Live Transcribe (Android)

Live Transcribe is a free transcription app created by Google, available on Android. The app comes pre-installed on Pixel phones, but it’s readily available from the Play Store for other Android devices.

The app interface is simple and user-friendly. The app comes with a keyboard feature, allowing you to directly type responses mid-transcription. You can also see ambient noise levels through a blue circle in the corner which pulses according to volume. This visually indicates if you need to hold the microphone closer to the speaker. Like AVA, Live Transcribe comes with a wealth of great features such as customizable text size, the ability to save transcriptions, and a profanity filter.

The transcription feature on this was solid. It offers live transcriptions in over 80 languages and users can easily switch between two languages. When tested in English, the transcription was fast and accurate. Better than this, it was able to punctuate the sentences, including commas, full stops, and question marks. The app can also notify you of any background sounds it identifies such as music. After looking at multiple reviews from people with hearing impairment, many of them cited this as their favorite live transcription tool.

However, there are a few downsides to this app. Firstly, it’s not a great option for people who have thick accents or speech difficulties. The app requires a loud, clear voice with a fairly neutral accent for the best accuracy. Secondly, this app struggles when multiple people are talking at once. However, arguably, this is to be expected. Lastly, not all languages are available in offline mode which can be inconvenient. To use offline mode, you need to download your primary and secondary languages first, which may take up storage. It’s also not available on all devices.

In addition to the main transcription feature, Live Transcribe also offers an alert system. This feature can listen to sounds within your environment and notify you of any potentially risky situations. This feature can identify sounds such as sirens, smoke alarms, and babies crying. This alert system can also be used to create custom alerts for when your appliances go off.

Live Transcribe (iOS)

Despite identical names, Live Transcribe is not affiliated with Google. However, it is another live transcription app for people with hearing impairment. It can transcribe in over 50 different languages and provide offline support in nine.

The app is easy to use and has an accessibility-friendly interface. To begin, simply press the Transcription bar at the bottom. The app will then transcribe everything you say until you press Pause or Close. After you press Close, you can choose to save the transcription and share it via any messaging app. Within the transcription screen, you can type responses, customize text size, and flip the text 180 so it can be read from either side. You can also enable a motion feature that lets you shake your phone to clear text. Outside of the transcription screen, there’s a separate Type Big feature that allows you to type any message in extra-large font. This can be useful for scenarios such as ordering food.

A great plus side of this app is that it works offline – something, not all transcription apps offer. This makes it a great option for people who are often in low-data areas. Another useful feature is the app’s ability to quick launch from your lock screen. If enabled, by pressing a notification on your lock screen, the app will automatically launch. If you want a hands-free experience, you can also enable automatic transcription on launch. All of these features can be useful for people on the go.

After testing, I was amazed by the accuracy. The app comes with unlimited basic captions for free. However, I found these were still 99% accurate. The only mistake it made was spelling my name, Isobel, as Isabel - something most people do. With the Premium trial, I pulled similar results. The transcription was extremely accurate. The only thing that I would say the app struggles with a bit is punctuation. However, this was not to the point that things became unclear. For many people, I do not see this being a big problem.

Otter AI (iOS and Android)

Otter is an app that automatically transcribes meetings and generates notes for them. Although intended to save time in a business setting, this app is great for people with hearing impairment.

The free version of the app comes with 300 minutes of transcriptions a month and caps each transcription at the 30-minute mark. With the free plan, you are also limited to three file imports and five customized vocabulary additions in total. Pro is $16.99 a month and includes 6,000 minutes of transcription a month, which can be up to 90 minutes long. However, if purchased annually, the cost per month is lowered to $8.33. In addition to individual plans, Otter also offers subscription plans for businesses and enterprises.

I found the transcription on this app less accurate than the other apps I tested. I would say that it only came in at around 65-75% accuracy. It also had far more issues punctuating than the other two. However, a useful feature of this app is that it saves the audio file alongside the transcription. For saved transcriptions, the app also offers keywords at the start of the transcription to efficiently remind you of its contents. Within My Conversations, you can easily edit the transcription, rematch speakers, highlight content, add comments, and share the transcription. Features such as this make Otter a brilliant tool for recording large quantities of important information.

Otter has partnered up with Zoom to provide live transcriptions for online meetings and webinars. This feature allows you to add Otter Assistant as a participant in Zoom calls. Once added, Otter Assistant will post a link in the chat feature that will take you to a live transcription of the meeting. Not only is this great for people with hearing impairment in a business setting, but also for students in an academic one. This could be an important tool to support everyone during the increasing shift from in-person to digital meetings.

Rogervoice (iOS and Android)

Rogervoice is an app that captions your phone calls. It provides live captions for phone calls and allows you to type responses that will be spoken to the other person using a voice synthesizer. The app works in over 100 different languages.

Rogervoice comes in three payment tiers. The first is the free version which gives you unlimited call time to anybody else who has the Rogervoice app. The second is the one-hour plan which is $5.99 a month. This offers the same as the free plan but with the addition of one hour of call time a month to landlines and cell phone numbers. The third plan is $29.99 a month and offers unlimited calls to other Rogervoice users, unlimited calls to landline and cell phone numbers, and up to two hours of international calls a month.

Once you type in the phone number you want to call, the app will instantly try to connect with that person. When they answer the call, the app will automatically begin to transcribe everything they’re saying. You can type responses back using an in-app keyboard which will then be converted into speech.

One downside of Rogervoice is that you cannot use it for emergency calls or calls to premium rate numbers. If you have a hearing impairment and are looking for a way to contact emergency services, please refer to the Non-verbal Communication (Emergency) section in this article.

CaptionMate (iOS and Android)

CaptionMate is a free app that can instantly provide a transcription for both sides of a phone call. The live captioning feature is free to use for anyone with hearing loss and is funded by FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Currently, CaptionMate is available in over 100 languages. It’s also a multi-platform service. Users can use CaptionMate with both iOS and Android devices, desktops, tablets, or landline devices. CaptionMate does not use third-party operators, giving you privacy and minimal delays.

CaptionMate allows you to customize your transcriptions to suit your needs. This includes font size, transcription color, and high-contrast backgrounds. Users can also opt in or out of call forwarding. Call forwarding allows users to call your regular cell number and CaptionMate will activate to show call captions. If you opt out of call forwarding, then the app will give you a special CaptionMate number that people must call instead.

Unlike Rogervoice, CaptionMate can be used to make calls to emergency services. However, please bear in mind that this only works for 911 calls, so this only works for US residents.

The only downside of CaptionMate is that it does not comes with a keyboard response feature that converts text to speech. Therefore, it’s unlikely to be useful for people who are non-verbal.

Sound Amplifiers:

Chatable (iOS and Android)

Chatable is a sound amplification app designed to reduce background noise and enhance speech. This app works by connecting to your headphones (ideally noise canceling) that will play back detected speech in real time. You must point your phone’s microphone toward the speaker for this to work. Using sliders, you can adjust voice and background noise levels as needed.

Although this app can be used anywhere, it would work well in one-on-one settings such as restaurants and coffee shops.

EarMachine (iOS)

EarMachine is a free sound amplification app funded by the National Institute of Health. Like Chatable, the app connects to a headset and will play back identified speech in real time. You can customize the sound that comes through your headphones using the Loudness and Fine-Tuning wheels. On top of amplifying external sound, the app also allows you to amplify sound playing from your device.

The app comes with a feature called EarShare, a recommendation engine that can detect sounds around you and suggest wheel positions based on them. EarShare creates these recommendations based on an analysis of your hearing abilities as well as your usage of the app.

Google Sound Amplifier (Android)

Google Sound Amplifier is a free sound amplification app created by Google, for Android. It helps to filter out background sounds whilst increasing the voices of people you’re conversing with. On Pixel devices, the app can also help you increase the volume of audio and video played from your phone.

The app is simple to use. Once connected to your headset, it will isolate any vocals it hears and plays them back to you in real time. Within the app, you can then adjust the speaker’s volume using the Boost slider. Alongside this, there’s also a Fine-Tuning slider. A great feature of this app is that it allows you to adjust each ear separately. This is an essential feature for people with hearing impairment as hearing loss is often asymmetrical. A visualizer on the screen lets you know when the app is detecting sound as well as the auditory changes you’re making.

Speaker Sound Amplifier EQ Volume Booster (iOS)

Volume Booster is an app that makes the audio on your phone go beyond max volume. This app allows you to increase the volume by up to 1000%.

The app itself is free. However, after your free trial period, it costs $6.99 annually.

Voice Text Volume Booster – Sound Equalizer (Android)

Max Volume Booster is a free app that allows you to play audio out of your phone louder than the system settings allow.

This app lets you play music at two times the regular maximum volume. However, you can easily customize this so that the volume is exactly at a point that suits you. You can also virtualize the music as desired.

Alert Systems:

BeWarned (iOS)

BeWarned is a sound recognition app created for people with hearing impairment. The Sound Monitor features visual and vibrating alerts you of any alarming sounds within your environment. This can include sounds like screaming, car horns, and barking.

You need to activate the Sound Monitor for it to detect sounds. Once you have pressed Start, the app will listen out for any loud sounds. You can edit the detector’s sensitivity as well as view the live equalizer for your current recording. If the app hears any alarming sounds, it will notify you using a flashing alert. Due to the app having to constantly use your microphone, having the Sound Monitor on frequently will drain your battery significantly.

Despite being most recognized as a sound detector app, it also has a lot of other great features. The Connect feature converts text-to-speech and speech-to-text, helping with communication. Dance is a feature that enables people with hearing impairment to get more out of their favorite tunes. The app can convert songs into vibration signals or flashing lights. A visual equalizer in the middle of the screen lets you feel the rhythm of the music. BeWarned also has a beta feature that allows you to make emergency calls.

Visualfy (iOS and Android)

Visualfy is a visual alert system for people who have hearing impairment. The app works in conjunction with the Visualfy Home Device which can recognize a variety of different sounds such as alarms, beep warnings, and babies crying. The app will then convert this into visual or sensory notifications. These notifications either present themselves as colors or vibrations that can be channeled through any connected device. Compatible devices include smart bulbs, cell phones, or smart bands.

The Visualfy Home Device is €499. This comes with three detectors and the main device. The three detectors can be placed in any room with plugs. However, it’s a good idea to put them in higher-risk rooms such as the kitchen, nursery, and living room. Although it’s a far more expensive system than the other recommended apps, in some ways, it’s a more reliable option. With an app alone, you must actively turn on the sound recognition function. Not only will this drain your battery, but it’s just impractical. It can be difficult to remember to do this constantly. Particularly, because it’s impossible to predict when you’ll need it. Once your Visualfy Home Device has been set up and connected, you can essentially forget about it as long as it remains plugged in.

All information on the Visualfy website and app has been fully adapted into both Spanish Sign Language (LSE) and International Sign Language (SSI). Visualfy’s customer service assistants can also communicate with you in Sign Language, making it a good option for people who consider signing their first language.

Non-verbal Communication (Emergency):

TapSOS (iOS and Android)

TapSOS is a British app that allows you to connect to 999 in a non-verbal way. Using the app, you can easily connect with the fire brigade, police, coastguard, or ambulance service.

To use the app, you must first create a profile. This provides the emergency responder with information that can be invaluable, particularly in a medical emergency. Once complete, you can easily select the emergency service you need. You will then be asked to describe the emergency further using a list of common emergencies. The app uses your phone’s GPS to locate the emergency. However, this can easily be edited if incorrect. Once you have confirmed the location, an emergency alert will be sent directly to a 999 dispatcher.

The app allows you to easily create and edit your personal medical summary. This includes information such as your name, age, medical conditions, current medication, and organ donor status. This information is stored securely within the app and will only be used by an emergency responder.

This app is a must-have for everyone, not just people with hearing impairment. There are so many situations where it could be lifesaving. If you have a stroke and your speech is affected, leaving you unable to call 999. If you’re the victim of domestic abuse or abduction and you need to call for help silently. If you’re choking and unable to speak to a dispatcher. I would urge everyone to download this. However, if you’re a non-verbal or hearing-impaired person living in the UK, then it is vital you have this downloaded. It could save your life.

Deaf 911

More than 10% of the US population has a disabling hearing impairment. For many of these people, communicating via phone during an emergency can be extremely challenging. Currently, alternative ways of calling 911 for people with hearing impairment are lacking - to say the least. Relay-operator calls take three minutes on average. A teletype takes eight minutes. Text-to-911 services are not available nationwide. During an emergency, this is simply not good enough. Deaf 911 provides a much-needed alternative for US residents to contact emergency services non-verbally.

The app uses text-to-speech and speech-to-text technology so that people with hearing impairment can easily make 911 calls directly. The app works in real time, so calls made on Deaf 911 average around 30 seconds – the same time as verbal emergency calls. This reduces the average time for someone with hearing impairment to call by 80%.

You can select from a list of common emergencies such as medical, fire, and robbery – just to name a few. Once selected, the app will connect you with a dispatcher. Anything they say will appear as a text transcription, and anything you type as a response will be spoken to them verbally. The app is built-in with smart responses which prevent any unnecessary texting and saves critical time. Pre-set information can also inform the dispatchers of who you are and your exact location.

As mentioned along with the previous app, non-verbal 911 calls are not just important for people with hearing impairment. They can be needed by anyone. If you’re a US resident (with or without hearing impairment), then I would have this downloaded on your phone. You never know when you may need it.

acesSOS (iOS and Android)

In around 70% of the US, text-to-911 is not available. Because of this, many people with hearing impairment will not get the emergency help they need. In some cases, this will be fatal. For residents of Santa Fe, accesSOS is another app that provides an accessible alternative to non-verbally contact emergency services.

The app works by connecting to your GPS which can pinpoint your location (though, this can easily be edited in-app). You can then select from one of three emergency services: fire, medical, or police. The app will ask some safety questions such as if there are weapons involved. This will help determine the kind of help needed. You can then select details about your emergency from a pre-made list of common emergencies (for example, assault, breathing issues, or a car accident). You will also be asked if the emergency happened indoors, outdoors, or in a moving vehicle. Using the provided information, the app will immediately contact 911 for you and dispatch help.

One of the great things about this app is that it automatically syncs with the language on your phone, meaning that it will never be inaccessible to people who do not speak English as their first language.

Please remember that this app currently only works in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

My SOS Family (iOS and Android)

Going through an emergency alone can be difficult and stressful. Even more so if you have a disability or impairment. My Family SOS has created an all-in-one solution that contacts all your loved ones at once to let them know you need help.

Once registered, you can connect your emergency contacts to the app. Amazingly, your emergency contacts do not need to have the app downloaded for it to work. You just need to have an account registered. You can even connect the app to a landline device and create a single-button shortcut that will instantly send out the SOS signal. This can be a useful feature for those setting up the app on behalf of someone else who is not a frequent technology user.

After that, you’re set. Just press the Help Me button to send out an alert to your emergency network. Unlike other alert systems, My SOS Family calls your contacts as well as sending texts and emails. This multi-alert system gives you the highest chance of getting the help you need. In these alerts you can leave a personalized message, giving more details about the emergency. Once someone takes responsibility, all other emergency contacts are informed to prevent crossovers and confusion.

The service costs $3.49 a month, however, if you purchase an annual subscription then it works out cheaper.

Non-verbal Communication:

Relay UK (iOS and Android)

Relay UK (previously known as Next Generation Text) is a free relay service to help individuals with hearing impairment make calls over the phone. Please note, your provider still charges these calls as normal. It’s the relay service that’s free, not the calls themselves.

The service works by using a relay agent as a middleman in your call. Often, you will type what you would like to say into the app. Then, the relay assistant will verbalize this to the person you have called. If you have hearing impairment but you’re verbal, then you can talk by simply speaking through the phone as usual. The relay assistant will listen to the other person’s response and type this out for you. However, you can easily customize the communication approach to suit your needs and abilities. You can also customize the app’s interface including text size and text bubble color.

Relay UK is a regulated service, so it’s confidential and suitable for making medical appointments.

Make It Big (iOS)

It can be extremely stressful for people with hearing impairments to communicate in busy settings such as fast-food joints or stores. Particularly if they’re non-verbal. Make It Big is an app that can help make communication smoother between hearing and hearing-impaired individuals.

Make It Big displays any typed message in very large letters that fill the entire screen. Text is completely customizable, including size, color, background color, and text orientation.

The app also comes with a flash feature that alternates your text and background colors. Flash speed can be customized. However, this should only be used in emergencies when you need to attract attention. Flashing images can cause seizures which can be fatal. So, use with extreme caution.

Cardzilla (iOS and Android)

Cardzilla is a free app that allows you to write any message on your phone in big letters. This app is useful for those that wish to communicate non-verbally.

The app comes with a host of useful features. You can customize the color scheme for better visibility. Text size automatically adjusts as you type, so there’s no need to scroll. All cards are automatically saved, so commonly used cards do not need to be typed out repeatedly. Last but not least, the app uses a shake to save and erase feature which can be useful for people who need to type replies quickly.

Signly (iOS and Android)

Many people who have been hearing impaired since birth have grown up predominantly using Sign Language. In these cases, English can be considered their second language. Often, this can make navigating complex instructions or large amounts of information difficult to consume. That’s why Signly has created a selection of apps designed to act as a sign-language interpreter in your pocket.

For UK residents, Signly has a Signly Network Rail app. In stations with a Signly logo displayed, you can scan the logo using the app – like a QR code. Once the app has identified the Signly-enabled information, an interpreter will appear on your screen and begin translating.

Lingvano (iOS and Android)

For people looking to learn Sign Language, Lingvano can be a great place to start. It works similarly to other popular language learning apps like Duolingo where you can take daily lessons that are five to ten minutes long. Currently, Lingvano supports American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Austrian Sign Language (OEGS).

Lingvano puts an emphasis on realistic sign dialogues that can easily be used in everyday conversation. All lessons are taught by Deaf teachers and are designed to get you signing from first use. The app stores any learned signs from completed lessons to review later for more efficient memorization. The app comes with built-in Sign Language dictionaries, so you can easily look up specific signs.

The free version of the app comes with a limited number of lessons and lacks features such as the Sign Language dictionary. Lingvano uses a monthly subscription model with prices ranging from $9.99 to $17.99 a month. Whilst it’s unlikely to be suitable for in-depth or advanced learners, it’s a great option for beginners.

The ASL App (iOS and Android)

The ASL App is an app created by Deaf people to help others learn ASL. The app has over 2,500+ signs and phrases to get you signing conversational ASL quickly.

The free version includes a multitude of signs such as learning the alphabet, numbers, universal gestures, handshape exercises, and other basics. To unlock the entire catalog, you can purchase Premium for $9.99.

A great aspect of this app is that it lets you go at a pace that suits you. You can control the video playback speed so that you can see the sign at a slower or faster pace. Like Lingvano, this may not be a great option for people who are advanced in ASL. However, if you’re a beginner to intermediate, then The ASL App is a great interactive way to learn Sign Language.

Lifestyle:

SoundPrint (iOS and Android)

SoundPrint is a free sound GPS app that lets you know how loud different places are. The app categorizes venues by four different sound ratings; these are quiet, moderate, loud, and very loud. Data is sourced through user submissions which can be measured using the app’s SoundCheck feature.

You can search for quiet venues using the app’s Search and Map features. This allows you to see all the venues close by and their sound levels. Alternatively, you can look for venues from the app’s City Quiet Lists. You can select the city you’re in and the app will then show you a list of the best quiet venues there.

Entertainment:

Benjamin Bisigner Subtitle Viewer (Android)

Subtitle Viewer is a free app that allows you to view and download subtitles on any Android phone. After synchronizing, the subtitles will display in real time with the current sentence highlighted.

To use, just search for the movie or show you’re watching and select. You can synchronize subtitles by using pause and play until you get to the right time or by directly selecting a sub. The subtitles will then play, synchronized with the movie. You can customize them by changing the brightness and font size.

The only downside to this app is that subtitles do not automatically sync with the movie. If you are unable to hear the movie to sync the subtitles yourself, then it may be a good idea to use a transcription app to identify the dialogue. The app comes with a search function that allows you to search for specific text within the subtitles. After searching, you
can then adjust the subtitles to match up with the time point you began the transcription at. Alternatively, if you’re watching the movie with a hearing person, then you can ask them to sync the subtitles for you.

Subtitles Viewer! by Craig Grummitt (iOS)

Despite sharing the same name, this app does not share the same developer as the previous app. Though, they both do the same thing. Subtitle Viewer! is also a free app that allows you to view subtitles for different movies and TV shows. Currently, subtitles are available in 23 languages.

This app uses subtitles from opensubtitles.org, a huge database of subtitles that are contributed to the source by volunteers. As a result of this, subtitles for new releases may take a while to be uploaded.

Although the app is free, you’re only entitled to the first three subtitles for free. After that, subtitles must be purchased in-app. You can purchase unlimited subtitle downloads for $6.99 or buy packs of credits separately. However, if you’re a frequent subtitle user then the unlimited option is likely to be more cost-efficient.

Tunity (iOS and Android)

Bars can be notoriously loud. In spite of this, many TVs in bars are set to minimum volume, making it difficult to follow along. That’s where Tunity comes in. This app allows you to watch any muted or low-volume live TV using your phone and a pair of headphones (or hearing aids!).

Using your back camera, the app works with machine learning to scan the TV screen and identify what you’re watching. The app can take up to 15 seconds to process this. After that, the app will begin streaming the audio from the TV directly to your headphones or Bluetooth hearing aids. Please bear in mind that this only works with live TV, it will not work with TEVO or pre-recorded shows.

One downside of this app is that it does require a solid internet connection to work. In busy spaces, connection tends to be unstable which could pose problems.

Netflix (iOS and Android)

As a hearing person, I struggle to process TV shows and movies without subtitles. I rarely watch anything without them. Although not so much now, in lockdown, I watched a lot of Netflix. Meaning I’ve seen a good amount of what Netflix has to offer subtitles-wise. So far, everything has at least had English subtitles. I’m not claiming that everything on Netflix definitely has subtitles. This has just been my experience to date.

Netflix is an online streaming service that works with a monthly subscription model. Though pricing depends on the package, the Standard plan will set you back $15.49 a month. Currently, Netflix boasts over 17,000 titles, including exclusive Netflix Originals. There’s likely to be something for everyone.

A great benefit of Netflix is that it’s compatible with many assistive listening devices. This includes hearing aids, headphones, headsets, and neck loops. Captions are also completely customizable, including font, size, shadow, and background color.

BBC iPlayer (iOS and Android)

For UK residents, BBC iPlayer is a great alternative to online streaming services such as Netflix. It has a large selection of shows and movies that have previously been broadcast across different BBC channels. And the best bit? It’s completely free for people that have a TV license.

BBC iPlayer is a great option for people with hearing impairment. Not only are most shows captioned, but they also have an extensive catalog of shows with Sign Language. You can easily find these in the categories list by clicking on the Signed option. From there, you can select a show from their Featured page or view all Signed A-Z. Please bear in mind, all signed shows on BBC iPlayer will be in BSL.