A New World of Communication Awaits 10 Year Old Girl

Quick Smiles:

• 10-year-old Kendyl Pool experiences a new world with caption glasses.
• The glasses transcribe spoken words into text, aiding Kendyl’s communication.
• This innovation boosts Kendyl’s confidence and social interaction.

Imagine a world where spoken words transform into visible text, creating a bridge between sound and sight.

For 10-year-old Kendyl Pool, this world became a reality when she received a pair of high-tech caption glasses on her birthday.

Born profoundly deaf due to inner ear malformations, Kendyl has been using American Sign Language (ASL) since she was just six months old.

Her mother, Bri, discovered these innovative glasses on social media and instantly recognized their potential to transform Kendyl’s life.

These glasses, developed by HearView, connect via Bluetooth to an app that transcribes speech into text in real time, displaying it on the lenses.

“Kendyl had no idea these even existed so when she put them on and I started talking, she was completely shocked,” Bri shared, adding, “She was just blown away, she even cried a little bit because she couldn’t believe she could see what I was saying right in front of her.”

Beyond facilitating conversations, the glasses empower Kendyl to practice her speaking skills.

“She can’t hear herself speak so she uses the glasses to check if she’s pronouncing words right,” Bri explained. “She’ll say ‘Mom, Mom, Mom’ and wait to see if it pops up. When it does, she gets so excited.”

As the only deaf person in her family, Kendyl sometimes found it challenging to navigate her unique experiences.

The glasses have already significantly boosted her confidence, enabling her to engage more comfortably in social activities and communicate with those unfamiliar with ASL.

Additionally, the glasses store conversations in the app, allowing Kendyl to revisit important discussions, such as instructions from teachers or doctors.

Bri highlighted the breakthrough nature of this technology: “For so long, captions on TVs or devices have been inaccurate or lagging, making it hard for deaf people to fully experience what’s being said. But I tested these glasses myself speaking fast and tried different phrases and they are incredibly accurate.”

“This is a huge step for inclusion. These glasses provide full access to conversations in real time and that is life-changing.”

Kendyl’s new glasses not only open up a new dimension of communication but also symbolize a leap towards inclusivity, offering her a brighter, more connected future.

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