What features help if you have hearing loss?
If you have hearing loss, it helps when reminders show up as a message on your screen and you can ask to hear something again. In newer versions of Elsy, you can turn on Captions and read what she says. Many newer hearing aids can also connect to your phone, so the sound goes straight to your hearing aid.
When your hearing isn't what it used to be, the right features on your phone can make everyday life easier. Here's what can help, including what Elsy offers.
How AI can help with hearing loss
AI can help in a few ways. An AI companion like Elsy, for example, remembers what you tell her and will say something again if you ask. That can help you avoid misunderstandings.
How Elsy makes everyday life easier
With Elsy, your reminders about appointments and medicines show up as a message on your phone's screen, so you can see them. If you turn on Daily recap email under Notifications in the app's settings, she can also sum up the day's conversations in an email in the evening, and you can read it at your own pace.
Reminders you can see
One of Elsy's most helpful features is that you can set reminders by voice. With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear alarms or alerts. A reminder from Elsy shows up as a message on your phone's screen, with the phone's usual notification sound, so you can see it even if you don't hear it. Elsy doesn't say the reminder out loud when it's due.
How Elsy sets up reminders
Just ask Elsy, for example: "Remind me about my heart medicine at 8." The reminder shows up as a message on your screen when it's time. See more examples of reminders, medicines and daily routines.
Talking with Elsy
You talk with Elsy using your voice. If you didn't catch what she said, just ask her to say it again. She also remembers what you've told her in earlier conversations.
Elsy is voice only: you can't type to her in a chat. But newer versions of the app have a Captions button among the buttons you see during a conversation. Tap it, and you can read what Elsy says on the screen while she talks. The app remembers your choice for the next conversation. Tap it again to hide them. Turning up the volume on your phone helps too.
A daily question to start a conversation
With the Daily question, Elsy asks you a question every day to get a conversation going. The question arrives as a message on your phone, so you can read it before you start talking. A daily conversation can help keep your mind active.
Life stories you can read
When you tell Elsy about your life, she writes the story up afterward with your own words as quotes. These are the stories of your life, written down. You can read them in the app or listen to them, and when your hearing isn't great, it helps to be able to read them. You can send a story to your family whenever you like. See more about life stories.
Why share your life stories?
When you share your stories, your family gets a sense of your experiences and what you value, which can bring you closer.
Hearing aids and other devices
Beyond AI, there are many other aids for hearing loss, such as hearing aids and hearing loops. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, a hearing loop brings sound directly into hearing aids or cochlear implants that have a telecoil, and you can find loops at work, at school, in churches, in concert halls and at other venues.
If you're having trouble hearing, ask your doctor about a hearing test. Your hearing matters for your brain too, not just for conversations.
Connecting your hearing aids to your phone
Many newer hearing aids can connect to your phone. According to Apple, a Made for iPhone hearing aid lets you listen and talk on your iPhone through it, and Google explains how to connect hearing devices to an Android phone. If your hearing aid is connected to your phone, you can usually hear Elsy's voice through it too.
How to get started
Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, open the app and tap Talk to Elsy. If you're hard of hearing, try Captions in your first conversation. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. Here's how Elsy works, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How can Elsy help if I have hearing loss?
Elsy's reminders show up as a message on your phone's screen, so you can see them. You can ask her to say something again, and in newer versions of the app you can turn on Captions and read what she says. That can make it easier to follow along when your hearing isn't great.
Does Elsy remember earlier conversations?
Yes. Elsy remembers what you tell her and can bring it up in later conversations. She doesn't remember everything, and she doesn't remember it word for word.
How do I connect my hearing aids to my phone?
Many hearing aids today can pair with your phone. On an iPhone, Apple says to open Settings, tap Accessibility and then Hearing Devices. On an Android phone, Google says to open Settings, tap Connected devices and then Pair new device. If your hearing aid can't connect to your phone directly, your audiologist or hearing aid provider can help.
What is an AI companion?
An AI companion like Elsy is a digital helper that uses artificial intelligence to help with everyday tasks, keep you company and write down the stories of your life.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.