In the UK, according to the British Academy of Audiology, 1 in 6 of the UK adult population is affected by hearing loss. This means approximately 11 million people, with that number only rising over time.
As this number continues to grow, the importance of accessibility has never been greater.
Deaf Awareness Week, which is taking place this week, is all about helping to support the deaf community. Whether it’s through charity drives, increased awareness or celebrating new technology, it’s an opportunity to come together and support this community.
The Role Of Tech
Tech advancements have done incredible things to help the deaf and hard of hearing community live normal lives.
Now, many of these technologies have become integrated deeply into these communities, helping more people live and communicate better, despite suffering with hearing difficulties.
These include:
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are the most commonly used devices for helping people manage hearing loss.
They amplify sound and can be adjusted based on the user’s hearing level.
Since their creation, modern hearing aids have continued to advance to include adjustable levels, background noise reduction and even connecting wirelessly to digital devices.
Cochlear Implants
For people with more severe hearing loss, cochlear implants can be a great alternative to hearing aids.
These devices are inserted surgically to directly stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing people to hear different sounds and understand speech. Whilst they won’t restore 100% of sound, they are amazing tools for those with low hearing abilities.
Bone Anchored Hearing Systems (BAHS)
These devices are another alternative for people who can’t use traditional hearing aids.
They work by stimulating the inner ear through the bone. Bone conduction means sound can bypass the outer and middle ear, which is useful for people who need more direct support with hearing.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
ALDs are used alongside hearing aids and cochlear implants to help people with hearing in specific environments.
They act as personal devices that amplify sound and reduce background noise – specifically for crowded places where noise pollution might be high and can be overwhelming.
5 Startups Helping Those With Hearing Loss
Here, we take a look at some startups and tech companies that have used innovation to help those with hearing loss. Let’s take a look…
TranscribeGlass
Not launched yet but in development, TranscribeGlass is an innovative piece of technology designed to help the hard of hearing by converting real-time conversation to text and displaying it on a pair of glasses.
This allows people to read what is being said in real-time, reducing reliance on lip reading.
Soutinova
Soutinova is focused on creating an affordable and accurate hearing test, designed to give patients better data around their hearing.
The company is on a mission to close the hearing assessment gap, allowing people in less accessible areas to benefit from more accurate testing technology.
Audicus
Audicus offers a range of affordable, high-quality hearing aids.
Their products are designed to be sleek and hidden, providing a more appealing option to traditional chunky hearing aids.
Their business model allows consumers to order their hearing aids directly, ensuring they have the device most suitable to them.
Ava
Ava provides an app designed to translate group conversations into text.
By using the app which is boosted by AI, the speech of different speakers can be transcribed in real time and read by those that need it.
This allows deaf or hard of hearing people to follow along with conversations more easily, whether it’s in an office, classroom or a group setting.
DeafTawk
DeafTawk is a platform designed to bridge the communication gap between the deaf community and the hearing world.
Their app provides sign language interpretation services, available 24/7 to help facilitate communication via video.
Conclusion
Technology and startups have had a profound effect on the deaf and hard of hearing community, helping individuals live a better and more connected life.
As technology advances, we hope that more companies and startups will continue the fight for inclusivity, ensuring no one with hearing difficulties faces barriers with communication.
