From classrooms and workplaces to phone calls and everyday conversations, I’ve spent my life learning what helps me communicate more easily. Today, we have more options than ever. Some are formal support systems, while others are simple tools or habits that make meetings, phone calls, or conversations work better.
If you’re also navigating deafness or hearing loss, these are my five top recommendations.
1. If you’re a student, find your disability services office
One of the first things I recommend to students is to contact your school’s disability services office or Disabled Students Program. When I was at UC Berkeley, note-taking and transcription services helped me participate in the classroom and focus on learning. Students often don’t realize these offices exist or what they may be able to provide.
For example, public universities may offer access to ASL interpreters, real-time transcription through Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), captioning, assistive listening systems, and other communication support. The right option depends on how you communicate and what works best in a particular setting.
You don’t need everything figured out before you reach out. Start by asking what support and accommodations are available, then see what works for you.
2. Try note-taking and transcription tools
Today, there’s no shortage of free note-taking and transcription tools, and they’re all worth trying.
My recommendation: Test a few rather than assuming they all work the same way. Spend an hour comparing them in situations where you actually need them: a class, a meeting, a conversation, or somewhere with background noise. One tool might work particularly well in a social setting with multiple speakers, while another might be better for note-taking.
The right tool can become something you barely have to think about. It’s simply another way to participate.
3. Use captioning for phone calls
Nearly 20 years ago, phone calls were the activity where I longed for a better solution. Today, captioning apps like Rogervoice provide another way to participate in a phone conversation by displaying what the other person is saying in real time.
Think about the last time you hesitated to pick up the phone: a job interview, calling a business, or reaching out to someone you don’t know. For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, those everyday calls can bring an added layer of uncertainty.
That’s ultimately what led me to build Rogervoice. I needed a solution that didn’t require a third-party translator to sit in on my personal conversations. I wanted real-time captions on a smartphone whenever someone needed another way to communicate by phone.
Today, that option means I can pick up the phone with greater confidence, and I hope it gives others the same freedom to communicate in the way that works best for them.
4. Turn on live captions for your meetings
In the workplace, I regularly hold meetings with customers and employees across the EU and the U.S., which means I’m navigating different languages, dialects, and accents. For work meetings, one tool I rely on today is the live captions feature in Google Meet.
With captions running during a meeting, I have another way to follow the conversation in real time, particularly when multiple people are speaking or the conversation moves quickly. It’s also useful when I’m speaking with someone whose accent or language is less familiar to me.
If you regularly participate in virtual meetings, turn on captions and see whether they make a difference for you. It’s a small change that can become a useful part of your normal workflow.
5. Keep exploring how new technology can fit your lifestyle
From transcription and captioning to new areas like sign language recognition, accessibility technologies are changing quickly. Not every tool will work equally well for everyone, and that’s OK. I’ve tried technologies that looked promising but didn’t quite fit the way I communicate in practice.
That’s why it’s worth experimenting. Try different tools, compare what works in real situations, and keep an eye on what’s changing. A tool that isn’t useful to you today might improve over time, and something new might solve a problem you’ve been working around for years.
Bonus recommendation: Don’t underestimate the little things
Some of the most useful changes don’t involve technology at all. They start with simply telling people what helps you.
If you’re at a café and the person you’re speaking with is sitting with their back to a bright window, ask to switch seats so you can see them more clearly. In a meeting, ask someone to face you when they’re speaking. If you miss something important, ask for it in writing.
Most people will gladly adapt if you tell them what you need. You don’t have to assume bad intent or make the conversation complicated. A simple request can be enough.
There are also communities that can help. I’ve found organizations such as the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) are particularly valuable at the local level, where chapters can connect people with others in their communities.
Ultimately, there isn’t one “right” way to communicate. Today, we have more choices available than we did even a few years ago. My advice is simple: Try them, find what works, and don’t be afraid to ask the people around you to meet you halfway.
