They hear from whatever device you are using the app on, whether or not you are facing someone. just a distance element involved.

Don't let fear prevent you from trying speech to text apps. I have trouble watching a screen while trying to listen too. However, in some settings it's very helpful. Keep in mind, that Speech to text is not always verbatim. It makes errors just like you see on captioned TV programs now and then. It can be very helpful in the right situations though.

@mickey5909
Hi,
It does take practice using speech to text apps and some apps are faster than others in recording. But you soon become a very fast speed reader and mostly you need just to scan the content to get the gist of what is being said. I have no problem looking back and forth from the screen to the person. You really don’t have your head down looking at the screen all the time. They are free to try and most people are patient. I have come across so many normal hearing people who are having their difficulties understanding through masks. Try them. I can’t imagine myself functioning independently in these masked times without using them.

FL Mary