SAN CARLOS: 1008 Laurel StreetSAN MATEO: 88 N. San Mateo Drive650-342-9449
Call
Menu
Schedule Now
Home
About Us
OverviewKira SavinLais AmaGiana HatemDarcy BensonJennifer RatnerEmily McMahanJarna KothariCareer
Services
OverviewHearing TestingHearing Aid FittingSecond Opinion VisitSenior Living OutreachCommunity Hearing ProgramRequest a VisitFor Families in San Mateo CountyTinnitus TherapyTinnitus Knowledge HubWhat is Tinnitus?Tinnitus Causes & TriggersTinnitus Treatment & Relief OptionsSudden or Worsening TinnitusPulsatile TinnitusHearing ProtectionHearing Aid RepairHyperacusis
Service Areas
Hearing Aids
OverviewPhonak EONPhonak EONPhonak's 2026 flagship — a new HYPERSONIC chip, and Auracast working on day one.Oticon RevealOticon RevealThe first hearing aid running two AI systems: one for speech, one for the room.Signia MaXSignia MaXSignia's 2026 flagship — four neural networks running together as one adaptive system.Oticon IntentOticon IntentOticon's BrainHearing™ processing, aimed at following speech in noisy rooms.Phonak LyricPhonak LyricSits deep in the ear canal and stays in for months at a time. Nobody sees it.Widex AllureWidex AllureFamily-owned since 1956, and voiced for natural sound. No tinnitus programme on Allure.Oticon ZealOticon ZealOticon's deepest-fitting in-the-ear model, verified with real-ear measurement.Phonak InfinioPhonak InfinioThe measured Phonak — an A grade from HearAdvisor, plus custom, titanium and CROS styles.ReSound ViviaReSound ViviaMaking hearing aids since 1943. Sensia is the current platform; Vivia is still sold.Starkey Omega AI+Starkey Omega AI+Announced October 1, 2026, with four neural networks. Omega AI, the platform before it, holds a HearAdvisor grade of A.Signia IXSignia IXThe wider Signia family — custom, instant-fit, slim and CROS styles, independently tested.Ear GearEar GearCustom earplugs and earmolds, made from impressions of your own ears.
Resources
OverviewHearing BetterBlogHearing Healthcare ResourcesA Patient's Journey to Better HearingInsuranceHearing Aid CostHearing Aid Buyer's GuideHearing Loss AppsFinancingHearingUp Approved ProviderAudiology Associates of Westchester
Reviews
Contact
OverviewContact UsSan CarlosSan Mateo
Call (650) 342-9449Contact Us
Schedule Now

Apps That Help You Hear in Noisy Places

Last checked November 10, 2026. Next full check February 2027.

Email to a family member

Background noise hides speech first. Many people with hearing loss say restaurants are the hardest place to follow a talk.

These apps clean up sound or caption the talk. Some need earbuds or headphones. Each page lists what it needs.

The apps

We list the apps in no order. 6 apps.

  • HeardThat

    Singular Hearing

    Uses software to separate speech from background noise and sends it to your headphones or hearing aids.

    Good for: People who want to try speech-in-noise software with the headphones they own.

    No-cost tier and paid plansiPhone, Android

  • Sound Amplifier (Google)

    Google LLC

    Uses your Android phone and headphones to make speech easier to hear.

    Good for: Android users who want to try a phone tool in noisy rooms.

    No costAndroid

  • Google Live Transcribe

    Google LLC

    Turns speech around you into text on an Android phone.

    Good for: Android users who want captions in the room.

    No costAndroid

  • Ava

    Transcense, Inc.

    Captions group talk and shows who is speaking.

    Good for: People who join group talks or meetings and need to see who is speaking.

    No-cost tier and paid plansiPhone, iPad, Android

  • Live Captions (iPhone)

    Apple

    Captions audio on your iPhone and talk around you.

    Good for: iPhone users who want captions with nothing to install.

    Built iniPhone, iPad

  • Live Caption (Android)

    Google

    Captions audio that plays on your Android phone.

    Good for: Android users who want captions on videos and calls.

    Built inAndroid

Limits to keep in mind

  • No app removes all noise. Results change with the room and your headphones.
  • Captions need a quiet enough microphone signal. Place the phone close to the speaker.
  • If noise bothers you most, tell your audiologist. Hearing aid programs can help in noise.

This guide is general information. It does not diagnose hearing loss and it does not replace a hearing evaluation. An app cannot tell you why you hear less. An audiologist can.

Compare two apps side by side

Read more on our site

Questions to bring to your visit

Write these on your phone or print this page. Bring them to your hearing evaluation.

  • Does noise affect me more than quiet?
  • Can my hearing aid programs help in restaurants?
  • Which headphones pair with these apps?

Browse by group

Talk to an audiologist

Struggling in noise? Call 650-342-9449. A hearing evaluation can show how noise affects you, and we can tune hearing aids for it.

California Hearing Center has offices in San Mateo and San Carlos. One phone number reaches both: 650-342-9449.

Call 650-342-9449Request an appointmentAbout hearing testing

Set up your free hearing consultation

Turn life up with better hearing.

Request an appointment