NALscribe
Mask wearing and physical distancing in a COVID-19 world can make communication challenging , particularly for people with hearing loss who have difficulty understanding speech .
The National Acoustic Laboratories ( NAL ) has tackled this problem by developing the NALscribe iPad & iPhone app that clinics can use to make communication easier for people struggling to hear . The app has been made free for hearing healthcare clinics , organisations and individuals around the world .
The NALscribe app created by NAL , the research division of Hearing Australia , quickly and continuously transcribes speech into large , easy-to-read text on an iPad screen in real time . Dr Brent Edwards , Director of NAL , says the NALscribe app is designed to help improve communication for people with hearing loss , particularly when there are additional barriers such as when masks are worn . “ It ’ s free and available worldwide so that people across the globe who are living with hearing loss can benefit from this solution ,” Dr Edwards said .
The app has been trialled in hearing clinics across Australia , at service counters and during appointments , and the feedback from clients has been positive . Hearing Australia client , Michelle Farina , aged 59 years , used the app at her recent appointment . “ This would also be useful during appointments where a professional person is unable to remove their mask ( due to COVID-19 ) to enable a person with hearing disability to lip read . I went to hospital recently and the medical staff were not able to remove their masks and live captioning on a tablet was not available . As a result , they had to painstakingly write down all the questions they needed to ask me ,” said Michelle .
While the app is designed for and was tested in hearing care clinics , it may prove to be a useful communication tool in other businesses such as medical centres and aged care facilities . Hearing Australia Audiologist Emma Church said the app made conversations during appointments much easier for clients , particularly those who are not yet wearing hearing aids . “ And for those who may not speak English as their first language , the app has been useful in helping them to better understand what we ’ re asking them ,” said Emma .
Features of the new NALscribe app include :
• an inclusive design that supports customisable settings such as the text size , screen clearing privacy options and dark / light appearance
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St Margaret ’ s News 6 November 2021