This guide connects you to resources for setting up your iPhone for accessibility for hearing loss. This information is provided only as a resource to help you understand how to use an iPhone's accessibility features. Many, but not all, of these functions are available on iPad as well.
Apple Support's iPhone User Guide covers setup basics, Wi-Fi connection, Apple ID sign in, iCloud and more.
Accessibility settings let you customize the phone to meet your access needs. To get started, check out Apple's Accessibility features for hearing on iPhone.
Some of your options include:
Get real-time captions of spoken audio
Blink the iPhone light for notifications (for incoming phone call or text message)
Connect your hearing aids (stream a phone call directly to compatible hearing aids for better sound quality)
You can also Change iPhone sounds and vibrations for phone calls and text messages to sounds that you can hear better and/or vibrating alerts you can feel.
And more!
To get to your home page you simply SWIPE UP from the bottom of any screen you’re on. For more information, see Apple's User Guide Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID. You can also watch this short video, Open apps on iPhone.
The icon for making a phone call depends on which app you prefer to use.
iPhone Call icon, this should be on the bottom bar automatically
CaptionCall Mobile icon
CaptionMate icon
ClearCaptions Mobile icon
InnoCaption icon
Messages icon, this should be on the bottom bar automatically
Apple Support has full instructions in Send and reply to messages
To see all the apps that are installed on your phone, scroll from the home screen all the way to the right. This will open your app library, showing all the apps installed on the phone. To search for a specific app, you can type the name of the app in the bar at the top of the screen where it says “App Library:”
To use CaptionCall you’ll have to forward your calls from your phone number to your CaptionCall app. Here’s how:
Do you want your phone number displayed to people you call? You’ll need to set up My Caller ID. Using My Caller ID will display your usual phone number when you make outgoing calls, so your friends and family know it is you calling.
More information and how-tos are available on Sorenson’s CaptionCall Mobile support page.
CaptionMate's website explains how CaptionMate works and what you need to get started.
To use ClearCaptions Mobile, you need to call them first at 1-866-996-1498. They will verify that you are deaf or hard of hearing so you can start using ClearCaptions. Learn more on ClearCaptions' website.
InnoCaption's How to make a call and change caption modes video
MN ACT also serves people with physical and speech disabilities. You can learn more about accessibility features for physical and speech disabilities at the following links.