3 Game-Changing AI Tools for Deaf & Hard of Hearing People 🚀

Here are three incredibly useful AI-powered tools that are making real differences in daily communication and accessibility:

1. Google Live Transcribe

Why it’s amazing: Live Transcribe provides real-time transcription in over 120 languages and was developed in collaboration with Gallaudet University. The app was created by a deaf Google research scientist, Dimitri Kanevsky, who had been dreaming about this technology his whole life. With over one billion downloads, it has proven there’s huge demand for products made with deaf users in mind.

Best features:

  • Vibrates when someone says your name, allows you to type responses during conversations, and detects important environmental sounds like smoke alarms or baby cries
  • Works on Android phones and is completely FREE
  • Transcriptions stay secure on your device and aren’t stored on servers
  • Perfect for everyday situations like ordering coffee, doctor’s appointments, or casual conversations

Perfect for: Quick, everyday conversations and situations where you need instant captions on the go!

2. Otter.ai

Why it’s amazing: Otter provides AI-powered real-time transcription for meetings and lectures, and while initially designed as a productivity tool, it has become incredibly valuable for the deaf and hard of hearing community. What sets Otter apart is its ability to identify multiple speakers without requiring them to have the app, making it excellent for group discussions.

Best features:

  • Identifies different speakers automatically and integrates seamlessly with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams
  • Free tier offers 600 minutes per month (10 hours), making it truly accessible to all
  • You can highlight key phrases, add comments, edit transcripts in real-time, and search through past conversations
  • Allows you to add custom vocabulary for better accuracy with technical terms or names

Perfect for: Work meetings, online classes, lectures, and any situation where you need to save and review transcripts later!

3. Ava

Why it’s amazing: Ava offers 24/7 live captioning with both AI and professional human scribes (Ava Scribe) for the highest possible accuracy. The app provides real-time transcription with about 5 errors per 100 words with AI, or about 1 error per 100 words with their professional Scribe service.

Best features:

  • Works even without WiFi or phone service – captions available in airplane mode!
  • Text-to-speech feature lets you type and have Ava read aloud for you
  • Multiple people can connect to the same conversation, making group discussions fully accessible
  • Available on mobile, desktop, and web – works with all video conferencing platforms
  • Transcribes and translates conversations in 16 languages

Perfect for: Group conversations, family gatherings, important meetings, and situations where you need the highest accuracy possible!

💡 Quick Comparison:

Live Transcribe: Best for everyday quick interactions, completely free, Android-only
Otter.ai: Best for work/school with saved transcripts, great free plan, excellent speaker identification
Ava: Best for group conversations with multiple devices, works offline, hybrid AI + human option

Pro tip: Many people in the community use a combination of these tools depending on the situation. Try them all and see which ones work best for your lifestyle!