Phone Features That Alert You to Sounds at Home
Your phone can listen for certain sounds and send you an alert. This helps when you do not hear a doorbell or an alarm.
Both features are built into the phone. Each page lists the sounds it finds and the setup it needs.
The apps
We list the apps in no order. 2 apps.
Sound Recognition (iPhone)
Apple
Your iPhone listens for sounds you pick and sends you an alert.
Good for: People who miss doorbells or appliance beeps at home.
Sound Notifications (Android)
Google
Your Android phone listens for sounds and alerts you.
Good for: Android users who want alerts for sounds at home.
Limits to keep in mind
- No alert feature is perfect. Keep working smoke alarms in your home.
- The phone must be on and near you for alerts to reach you.
- Test each alert before you rely on it.
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.
- Which sounds must I not miss?
- Do I need a flashing or vibrating alarm?
- Can my hearing aids pass alerts to me?
More ways to find an app
- Phone calls
- Restaurants and noise
- Talk in the room
- Meetings and lectures
- Check your hearing
- Ringing in the ears
- New hearing aid users
- Helping a parent
- No-cost apps
- For iPhone
- For Android
Browse by group
- Hearing aid apps
- Captioned phone calls
- Live captions
- Hear speech better
- Hearing checks
- Tinnitus
- Sound alerts
- Listening practice
- Sign language
Talk to an audiologist
Missing sounds at home? Call 650-342-9449. We can check your hearing and talk about safe options.
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
