Hearing accessibility features in iOS

Get to know some of the powerful features that Apple builds into iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to support people who are deaf, have limited hearing, or have unique hearing needs.

iOS devices are filled with accessibility features like these, which can help people who are deaf, have limited hearing, or have unique hearing needs use their devices:

An iPhone screen showing a man signing in a FaceTime video call.

Hearing aids

Hear phone calls and other audio more clearly on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Made for iPhone hearing aids. After you pair your hearing aid, you can control it with your iOS device.

Set up your Made for iPhone hearing aid

Live Listen

Use Live Listen, a feature that turns your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into a remote microphone that sends sound from your environment to your Made for iPhone hearing aids or your AirPods.

Use your device as a mic with Live Listen

Visual alerts

The LED flash on your iPhone or iPad Pro can blink when your device is locked and you receive a notification. This can be useful if you don't want to miss a notification while your device is locked.

Turn on visual alerts

RTT calls

Real-time text (RTT) phone calls provide instant transmission of a message as you compose it. Transcripts are saved in the call history of the Phone app, and you can upgrade a regular call to RTT.

Get started with RTT calls

FaceTime video calls

Every iOS device comes with FaceTime, so you can have video calls with other iOS users wherever they are. And FaceTime's high-quality video and fast frame rate make it ideal for communicating with sign language.

Make video calls with FaceTime

Video subtitles

Some video content from the iTunes Store includes alternative audio languages or other accessibility features such as closed captions (CC) and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).

Watch videos with CC or SDH

Headphone Accommodations

Use Headphone Accommodations to customize headphone audio settings to amplify soft sounds and adjust certain frequencies for your hearing needs. You can also use your audiogram data from the Health app to customize audio settings.

Customize headphone audio levels

Learn more

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