Both Windows and Macintosh operating systems allow users who may struggle with hearing their personal device to manipulate the sound channels of their device and also engage with their device on a more visual than auditory basis. Explore the features available to you, and the steps to enable and, or, access them, based on the operating system your personal device runs by expanding one of the options below.
Windows Hearing Assistive Tools
Mono Audio
Windows allows users to convert standard stereo sound, which allows audio to be selectively played across speakers, into a single channel, allowing users to hear all sounds from all speakers, even if the user is only using one speaker or headphone.
Windows 10 Instructions
To turn on the Mono Audio feature on devices running the Windows 10 operating system, users should select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Audio, and then toggle on the feature under Turn on mono audio.
Windows 11 Instructions
To turn on the Mono Audio feature on devices running the Windows 11 operating system, users should select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Accessibility > Audio, and then toggle on the feature under Mono Audio.
Visual Alerts
Windows users who have trouble hearing audio based alerts from their personal computer, or who would prefer visual alerts, can change how they receive these alerts into visual indicators. Users can have the title bar of their active window, the entirety of the active window, or the entire computer screen flash when a notification arrives, instead of relying on sound alone. To reach these options, users can follow the instructions below.
Windows 10 Instructions
To enable their preferred iteration of the Visual Alerts feature on devices running the Windows 10 operating system, users should select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Audio, and then select their preferred setting under Show audio alerts visually.
Windows 11 Instructions
To enable their preferred iteration of the Visual Alerts feature on devices running the Windows 11 operating system, users should select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Accessibility > Audio, and then select their preferred setting under Flash my screen during audio notifications.
Closed Captions
Windows allows users to customize their personal computer’s closed captioning, allowing them to change the font, size, color, and background of the closed captioning present on their device. However, it is important to note that this feature only works for videos that have been downloaded onto the user’s personal computer and are being played through one of the computer’s native video players. Additionally, the videos must already have subtitles associated with it.
Windows 10 Instructions
To customize their computer’s closed captioning, users utilizing a computer that hosts Windows 10 should select the Start button, then select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Closed captions, and then customize how they want their captions to be displayed.
Windows 11 Instructions
To customize their computer’s closed captioning, users utilizing a computer that hosts Windows 11 should select the Start button, on their keyboard or the left-most button on their taskbar, then select Settings > Accessibility > Captions, and then under Caption style customize how they want their captions to be displayed.
Macintosh Hearing Assistive Tools
Mono Audio
Devices that run the Macintosh operating system allow users to convert standard stereo sound, which allows audio to be selectively played across speakers, into a single channel, allowing users to hear all sounds from all speakers, even if the user is only using one speaker or headphone.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
To turn on the Mono Audio feature on devices running Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems, users should select the Apple Menu, then System Preferences > Accessibility > Audio, and then select Play stereo audio as mono.
Visual Alerts
Macintosh device users who have trouble hearing audio based alerts from their personal computer, or who would prefer visual alerts, can change how they receive these alerts into visual indicators. Users can have their computer screen flash when a notification arrives, as opposed to relying on sound alone.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable visual alerts on their device by selecting the Apple Menu, followed by System Preferences > Accessibility > Sound, and then by selecting Flash the screen when an alert occurs.
Closed Captions
The Macintosh operating system allows users to customize their personal computer’s closed captioning, allowing them to change the font, size, color, and background of the closed captioning present on their device. However, it is important to note that this feature only works for videos that have been downloaded onto the user’s personal computer and are being played through one of the device’s native video players. Additionally, the videos must already have subtitles associated with it.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users can customize subtitles on devices running the Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems by selecting the Apple Menu > Preferences > Accessibility > Captions. From there, users can customize the look of their subtitles. Users should also mark the selection for Prefer closed captions and SDH.
