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Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement
User Spotlight
September 25, 2025
3 min

Nagish User Spotlight: From Kettlebells to Cochlear Implants

After years of struggling with phone calls—even considering early retirement—one cochlear implant user found a game-changing solution in Nagish. See how our speech-to-text app turned frustration into freedom.

Author:
Annica Lin
Nagish User Spotlight: From Kettlebells to Cochlear Implants
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A Journey of Resilience

After a career in broadcast management and music production, sound had always been central to Richard’s identity. But as his hearing declined and he eventually became profoundly deaf, even the simplest conversation turned into a challenge. With a cochlear implant, he had to learn to hear again, a process he described as starting with everyone sounding like Mickey Mouse and slowly building toward 80–90% comprehension in person

The greatest obstacle remained: the telephone. His consulting job depended on calls, but understanding voices through implants was nearly impossible. Colleagues often had to put calls on speakerphone, or he relied on interpreters. At one point, he considered early retirement.

Discovering Nagish

Everything changed about 18 months ago, when he discovered Nagish through social media. Compared to other voice-to-text apps that required long registrations and complicated setups, Nagish was refreshingly simple - “download, register, and go.”

Nagish exceeded his expectations. It integrated seamlessly with his cochlear implant and gave him the ability to glance at the screen to catch the 10 - 20% of conversation he missed. For the first time since losing his hearing, phone calls no longer felt intimidating.

“Nagish eliminated my phone call apprehension entirely. It was the difference between retiring early and continuing to do the work I love.”

Professional Transformation

With Nagish, he not only regained confidence in phone conversations but also discovered new ways to work more effectively:

  • Call transcription exports allow him to use AI tools like Claude to generate comprehensive meeting summaries with timelines, budget numbers, and action items, far more precise than manual notes.
  • Feature evolution: he witnessed the app grow, from capturing only one side of calls to now supporting both, making transcripts more useful.
  • Customer support: quick, personal responses within hours reassured him that he wasn’t just using an app, he was part of a team that cared.

Life Beyond Work

Outside of technology, his resilience is shaped by another passion: kettlebell sport. He began lifting at 58 and went on to compete internationally, even winning a silver medal in Dublin at age 61.

His coach’s philosophy—“Don’t think, just get up and go”—gave him the mindset to tackle both athletic and hearing rehabilitation challenges with discipline and structure.

Photos of Richard’s kettlebell competition

Living Between Worlds

Today, he describes himself as a “sonic amphibian”, part hearing, part deaf

While music harmonies are lost to him, he finds joy in small sounds like birdsongs, coffee brewing, and summer rainstorms, which feel like an organic symphony.

And with Nagish, he no longer has to choose between silence and connection. It allows him to stay active in the work he loves, without fear of the phone.

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Whether you're 18 or 100, staying connected matters—and Nagish is here to help.
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Annica Lin

Annica Lin is the Head of Growth at Nagish, where she drives growth through innovative, data-driven strategies to help individuals with hearing loss communicate more easily. Passionate about accessibility, she leverages her expertise to create meaningful change, ensuring that everyone can connect effortlessly.

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Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement.

Nagish User Spotlight: From Kettlebells to Cochlear Implants

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.