Hearing Loss and Ear Assist: Hearing Amplifier
Updated 9 November 2026
Editor's note, November 2026: this post was updated in November 2026. Ear Assist is now a hearing amplifier app for iPhone. It is not a hearing aid or a medical device. See the Ear Assist page or the App Store listing.
Hearing loss, also known as hearing impairment, is a partial or total inability to hear. Hearing loss may occur temporarily or permanently in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to learn a language and in adults, it can cause work-related difficulties or loneliness in older people.
Hearing loss may be caused by the following factors:
- genetics
- ageing
- some infections
- birth complications
- trauma to the ear
- exposure to loud noise
- certain medications or toxins
Therefore, if it’s not genetics then hearing loss is preventable by immunisation, proper care during pregnancy, avoiding loud noise and certain medications. It is also important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss so one can apply preventive measures.
- dizziness
- a blocked feeling
- pain or pressure in the ears
- difficulty understanding speech
- need for increased volume on audio sources
- ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sounds in the ear
- sounds or speech becoming dull, muffled or attenuated
- difficulty in speech discrimination against background noise
People with hearing difficulties use a range of tools and approaches, such as subtitles, sign language, lip reading and devices fitted by a hearing professional. If you are worried about your hearing, speak to a doctor or audiologist.
Overpass makes Ear Assist: Hearing Amplifier, an app for iPhone that amplifies sound from the iPhone microphone and plays it through your headphones. It is a sound amplifier app for situations such as hearing the television, following a conversation at a table or sitting at a lecture. Ear Assist is not a hearing aid or a medical device, and it does not treat or correct hearing loss.
Ear Assist is free with ads on the App Store. Overpass is committed to creating useful apps that make people's days easier, and we would like to hear your experiences with it.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss
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