A new mobile phone network which allows deaf and hard of hearing people to tailor their phone calls to their needs has been launched nationwide.
Audacious, created by Matthew Turner, who has a moderate to severe hearing loss, sees customers given SIM cards which match their personal hearing profile without having to upgrade their mobile phone.
“When sound travels over your mobile network, it loses some of its definition. When this happens, we lose the highest and lowest frequencies, making it harder to hear the person we’re talking to.
“That’s where our technology comes in. It understands your hearing ability and improves the clarity of speech on your calls to suit your personal hearing profile,” a page on Audacious’ website reads.
The hearing profile is generated from an online hearing test, which takes five minutes and uses both a computer and mobile.
Speaking about the launch to Digital Health Age, Matthew said: “Having lived with moderate to severe hearing loss since birth, I am fully aware of the emotional impact millions of people are experiencing as they struggle daily to communicate using the mobile phone.”
“As no mobile operator was offering or appeared to be working towards a solution to this global challenge, I made it my personal mission to develop the technology that could tailor phone calls to individual hearing loss or needs and so empower people across the UK to have better, clearer conversations.”
SIM plans start from £14 a month, with more information available on Audacious’ official website.
By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and blogger from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, politics, theatre, books and music on his Twitter and on his website.
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d gallant
August 19, 2019
Mobile network for deaf people? Fine But what about deaf people wholive in locations where there is no signal?.
John
August 20, 2019
I’m a bit bemused by this article. This service seems to be aimed at people with a hearing loss who have sufficient hearing to be able to hear and communicate over the phone. Most deaf people do not have this luxury and are not able to hear or speak over the phone.
Kathy
September 11, 2019
Good point John, I was just as bemused myself!
John
August 20, 2019
I’m a bit bemused by this article. This service appears to be aimed at people with a hearing loss who still have the capability to hear and hold a conversation over the phone. Most deaf people do not have this luxury and are unable to hear or speak over the phone.
d gallant
August 21, 2019
Yes I agree entirely. And what’sworse is that I cannot use mobile devices in any case because I live in a remore rural area of UK where there is no signal. Very often when I try to order online websites insist that you must quote a mobile number, and they won’s accept “None” as an answer.
Christopher Wyer
August 29, 2019
‘What we offer
Clearer calls, adapted to your hearing. We offer a SIM-only mobile phone service, using the network with the fastest speeds in the UK. Now you can have a regular SIM only mobile phone contract, with the benefit of clearer calls. In clinical trials, 9 out of 10 people experienced clearer calls with our service.”
I have just asked for documented proof that ‘9 out of 10 experienced clearer calls.’ Who are these people – profoundly deaf, hard of hearing or deafened?
d gallant
August 30, 2019
I don’t see how this is going to benefit deaf people who live in areas where there is no signal.
Kathleen Fortun
September 12, 2019
I totally agree John. I am just as bemused myself.