By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
PreferencesDenyAccept
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. Read the announcement
Hearing Loss
June 3, 2024
7min

Accessible Music Tips and Technology with Hearing Loss

Explore accessible music tips and the latest technology for individuals with hearing loss. Enjoy your favorite tunes with our guidance and recommendations!

Author:
Molly Glass
Accessible Music Tips and Technology with Hearing Loss
Example h2
Example h3

Being deaf and hard of hearing can make it more difficult to enjoy music, but there are still ways to enjoy this pastime! Read on to learn more about making music more accessible for you. 

Tips for Enjoying Music

Begin with Familiar Songs

Most forms of deafness have some residual hearing to work with. Whether you use hearing aids or cochlear implants, start with music you’re familiar with. This will help you pick up sounds and lyrics in newer music. 

Utilize Official Music Videos with Lyrics

Many artists create music videos for songs that are released on YouTube. Look for the official “lyric” releases. These videos will have subtitles or lyrics embedded in time with the song. This can help with your listening comprehension and enhance your experience. 

Caption your calls and reconnect with the world.
Sign me up now!

Google Lyrics to Follow Along

If official music videos with lyrics or captions are unavailable, another option is to Google the lyrics for the song. While you must figure out the pacing and speed, this will help you understand where you’re at as you listen. 

Play with Different Settings

Test adjusting volume settings on your music device, such as a TV, smartphone, or radio. Clarity may improve, however, if you lower the volume from the source and increase the volume control on your hearing aid and CI. Increasing the volume of the music itself may cause the sound to be distorted. 

Attend Inclusive Concerts

Many concerts provide sign language interpreters if requested in advance. Seeing an interpreted performance can also improve the experience. Some concerts also have lyrics in their programs to help the audience follow along. 

Technology to Enhance 

A pair of earbuds next to a smartphone on an orange background.
A pair of earbuds next to a smartphone on an orange background.

Use High-Quality Headphones

Good quality headphones provide clear sound with minimal distortion at different volume levels. In addition, they will be comfortable to wear and will have no feedback when worn with your assistive technology. Test wearing different headphones before purchasing to ensure it’s compatible with your hearing aids or CIs. 

Take Advantage of Bluetooth Features

Many hearing aids and cochlear implants have Bluetooth technology that allows music to stream directly to your devices. Synching music via Bluetooth will help significantly minimize background noise. 

Have Mapping Adjusted

Regular appointments with your audiologist to map your hearing aid or cochlear implant can help improve your experience listening to music. Sometimes, assistive listening devices (ALD) must adjust the programming to enhance the user experience. It may help to bring examples of music you struggle to understand and explain how it sounds. 

Try Out Haptic Clothing

One of the newest technologies being introduced is haptic clothing, such as a T-shirt. The shirt has receptors sewn inside the lining that vibrates in time with the music. It’s a great accessibility tool for many, such as the DeafBlind. 

Use a Music Visualizer

There are apps and programs, both paid and free, that can create visual effects for audio. You can upload the audio file, select your preferred images, and download the render. Seeing visual effects helps you better comprehend the flow and pacing of the music. Tuneform and Renderforest are a couple of such programs. 

Conclusion

Enjoying music as a deaf and hard of hearing person is possible with some tips and tricks. From adjusting settings to inclusive concerts to embracing modern technology, you can still enjoy music as a pastime regardless of your hearing loss. We hope the above tips will help music become more accessible for you!

Whether you're 18 or 100, staying connected matters—and Nagish is here to help.
Sign me up now!
Molly Glass

Molly, a Deaf mom of two CODAs, lives with her hearing partner of almost 14 years in the scenic Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Profoundly Deaf since 18 months old, she enjoys writing about the lived Deaf experiences and advocacy. In her free time she reads, and is very slowly working on authoring her first book.

Blog
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Catch every word with captions.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
No more feeling left out. Nagish lets your voice be heard.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Don’t let life without captions slow you down.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Share on:

Suggested Articles

Hearing Loss
August 14, 2024
5 Min
9 Reasons Your Hearing Aids Whistle and How to Stop It
Deaf Culture
April 10, 2024
6 Min
Deaf-Friendly Audiologists & SLPs: Finding Empathetic Care
Community
November 3, 2023
6 Min
Dinner Table Syndrome
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

Accessible Music Tips and Technology with Hearing Loss

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.