There are different types of phones in the market today. That well known, it is also important to note that a hearing-impaired person cannot use normal phones designed for normal users. That’s why telephone providers saw it necessary to invent special phones for those with hearing difficulties.
Who Need And Why They Need Hearing-impaired Telephone
Are you or any of your family members having hearing problems? Then these telephones are meant for you. Telephones for the hearing impaired are specifically designed to help people with hearing difficulties (either fully or partially deaf), to hear well, offering them means to talk to loved ones via telephone.
Another question that many ask is; why do these people need hearing impaired telephones? Imagine how difficult telephone conversations can be if you have hearing loss and only depend on visual techniques to understand communication! To avoid such strain, phone developers saw it necessary to invent and design hearing impaired telephones to help these individuals talk effectively and have productive communication. For instance; a teletypewriter telephone that allows the user to communicate through typing of messages.
What Should You Look For In A Hearing-impaired Telephone?
Not every hearing impaired telephone is fit for use. I mean, there are several factors to consider before getting such a telephone. For instance:
- Level of amplification : For a clear sound, hearing impaired telephones should have a higher amplification level than normal phones. This is to boost the volume and level of the user to hear well. Loss of hearing is measured in terms of decibels. A normal phone should have an amplification level of 5-20 decibels. For people with mild hearing loss should use telephone amplification of 25 – 45 decibels. Lastly, those with severe hearing loss should use 45-60 decibels telephone.
- Visual caller ID : In most cases, if you can’t hear then you can see. Therefore, a hearing impaired telephone should have a clear visual caller ID, to help hearing impaired user view who is calling.
- Hearing aid compatibility : The compatibility of a telephone with hearing aids will differ from telephone to telephone. Every phone has hearing aid compatibility (HAV) rating, depending on two parameters. This includes a microphone (M) rating and a telecoil (T) rating. The M rating is the capability of a phone to work with limited microphone meddling. On the other hand, the T rating is the capability of a phone to work with the telecoil features of a hearing aid.
Best 6 Telephones For The Hearing Impaired Person
There are several phones available for the hearing impaired. These phones vary as per the gearing loss. There is the mild hearing loss telephone, moderate hearing loss, and severe hearing loss telephone.
When it comes to finding a phone for the hearing impaired, you need to recognize various models that provide volume control to allow you to increase volume. The phone volume is adjustable to 100dB. You must check the phone’s ring and other call alert volumes. If money is not an issue, you can go home with a phone that comes with extra features such as speed dial, eco, and quiet mode, answering robot, and redial memory. All these things make everything convenient and comfortable for a hearing-impaired person to use. In this post, we share the best and reliable phones on the stores that are designed to take care of hearing impairment needs.
1. The Ultratec Uniphone 1140 TTY
This is one of the best hearing impaired telephones as it comes with full TTY capabilities and also a plethora of features. This allows the telephone to continue providing distant requirements to users. The phone is attractive and comes with a brighter display, backlit screen, and incredibly comfortable keyboard to allow you to type texts with ease. 9
Even clients without hearing problems might require visual cues to be comprehensive of the speech or words they might have misheard. The phone comes with a voice carry-over (VCO) feature that allows the use with severe hearing problems to talk to you or even read your messages. This VCO has solved many communication problems. Apart from serving people with a hearing problem, the phone allows individuals with speaking problems or who can’t speak properly to make hearing carry-over (HCO) calls such that they can communicate with family members.
Types of written communication will be stored in the 8k memory to allow you to read it later. This is an essential feature since the conversation might include medical information or instructions that might be required for future use.
Benefits and features
- 9V battery backup and A/C adapter
- The keys are one-touch to allow you type with speed
- Auto-response with programmable outgoing texts
- Ten-speed dial keys
- Printing port for external printer ability
- Simple to set up, but detailed instruction
- Compatible with a hearing aid
- You can save TTY tests to read it later
- 8k memory t store communication
- The Ultratec Uniphone 1140 TTY hearing-impaired phone is expensive
2. Clarity JV35W Amplified Talking Telephone with Braille
This phone is an excellent choice for individuals who struggle with moderate hearing problems or even loss of sight. It is large, comes with higher contrast buttons with raised dots that represent numbers and letters. It also has a feature for one-touch repeat dialing. Users can pre-set even ten memory speed dial telephone numbers to contact when calling for emergency help. All the user needs to do is push a single button.
This phone is reliable and long-lasting, designed to the optimum standards for many years of use. It’s fast and simple to install, and multipurpose in such a way that people with several special needs can use it. It comes with a unique talk-back function, where the telephone verbally confirms all the buttons you press.
Benefits and features
- Can amplify up to 40 decibels
- Comes with wall or desk mount
- Visual ringer
- Back up battery
- Compatible with a hearing aid
- Volume and tone can be adjusted
- Loud 95 plus decibel ringer
- Huge keys, excellent colour contrast for easy usage
- Doesn’t have speakerphone feature
- Small memory redial key
- Programming the memory dial feature is hard
3. Serene Innovations CL-60 Amplified Phone Series
This is a cordless phone to offer more convenience. The telephone is designed with great amplification to serve even those with serious hearing loss. It has large keys for easier visibility, making it ideal for people with poor vision.
Also, the CL-60 incorporates higher definition sound innovation and digital sound production to get rid of distortion, static, and echoing to guarantee higher sound quality. The phone can amplify incoming sounds up to 50dBand comprise a variety of tone variations for ease of hearing.
Serene Innovations CL-60 telephone comes with a talk-back keyboard that says the numbers as the user presses keys. It has a visual ring signal to let you know when someone is calling, and you cannot hear it. Furthermore, the phone comes with missed calls, voicemail indicators, call waiting, and caller ID features that read out the phone number of the caller.
The unique telephone comprises a one-touch emergency key and also three one-touch memory keys for an easy and fast call of help in case of distress. Since the system is expandable, you can add up to 5 gadgets to the same telephone, allowing you to have one for every room.
Benefits and features
- More than 50 dB amplification
- The superior performance offered by DECT 6.0
- Visual ringer pointer and talk-back keyboard
- One-touch emergency key and three one-touch memory keys to make dialing easier
- The belt clip on the phone to make it portable
- Expandable system to let you use 5 phones in one house
- You can be confused with the memory settings and number of keys
4. Clarity BT914 Amplified Bluetooth Phone
This handset is designed for individuals with mild and moderate hearing problems. Even though it’s not versatile in regards to hearing problems, it uses outstanding Bluetooth and cordless technology. This is one of the best hearing impaired telephones that feature hands-free Bluetooth abilities and it’s compatible with hearing aids.
Additionally, the Clarity BT914 can work well with landline phones. It can also be paired with a Bluetooth-supported cell phone for easy communication while traveling. The advanced innovation that offers crystal clear quality while being close to the gadget also lets you use the telephone with the same excellent clarity in your backyard.
Benefits and features
- Supports Bluetooth
- Ten ringtones that can be customized
- Amplification of 40 dB
- Caller ID
- Phone swearing machine
- Clients love the headset features, such as hands-free
- Light flashes when ringing
- Adjusted tone control
- Answering tool playback was hard to understand
- Not ideal for users with severe hearing loss
5. AmpliPower 60 Amplified Hearing Impaired Telephone
The phone comes with a simple and functional design that offers voice amplification of 67 dB and comprises a clear speakerphone feature with more amplification if required. Furthermore, a lightning visual ringer makes it easier to know notice an incoming call. It comes with 9-memory dial keys that help users place a call easily and fast. Three emergency keys to make sure that in the event of an accident, emergency phone numbers can be reached with no hesitation.
Additionally, the ringer volume will be adjusted to 90dBand the telephone also comprises a jack that allows you to connect a bed shaker if required for extra ringer notifications. Lastly, the phone is compatible with hearing aids.
Benefits and features
- Analog, corded telephone
- Large buttons meant for easy and fast dealing
- Nine memory keys and three emergency keys
- Amplified telephone speaker of 67dB
- The amplified ringer of 90dB
- Reliable and simple to use even for the user without technological know-how
- Ideal for limited hearing and vision
- Emergency and memory keys that make dialling easy and fast especially during emergency
- Expensive
- Simple design that lacks modern features
6. AT&T 2-Handset Expandable Cordless Phone
This is one of the popular makes in the market, recognized for its exceptional call quality and speakerphone abilities. Its sound is clear as that of the corded phone. Apart from being hearing aid compatible, the phone is useful for the elderly with low vision. It comes with a huge display, and the handset comprises an LCD with black numbers on a white background. This contrast allows the user to see names and numbers clearly, making sure that the user can make a call easily. Additionally, the handset comes with large keys and fonts with enlarged backlit buttons and also a convenient lighted keyboard for easy dialing at night.
The primary feature that makes the phone unique includes full-duplex speakers. Unlike traditional speakerphones that block the speaker whenever a microphone is on, this kind of speaker lets you and the caller communicate simultaneously.
- Features DECT 6.0 and full-duplex speakerphone technology
- Extremely accessible and visible menu
- Can be expanded to 6 phones that use one jack
- You can access voice message from anywhere
- Has a quiet mode for night hours
- Redial for the last ten numbers available
- Can save up to 50 phone numbers
- Comes with caller ID and eco mode
- Doesn’t support Bluetooth
Does The Government Provide A Free Telephone For Hearing Aid?
If you or your loved ones have been experiencing hearing problems, the government might be your best ally. That is because the government offers free telecommunication relay services. These services comprise phones with amplified sounds, closed-captioned responding devices, and signallers that illuminates when taking a call. Even though texting and other types of written telecommunication have gained popularity, the provision of these services originated in an initiative to bring instant communication to people, irrespective of their hearing problems. Whereas this law works on a national level, the government is also trying to provide free landline phone service to people who use hearing aids.
Buying Guide For Hearing The Impaired Phone
Hearing-impaired phones are essential devices for individuals who can’t use the standard telephone. Many studies indicate that poor communication caused by hearing loss can be isolating and devastating for an individual. So, they vouch for the amplified telephones and even offer the guide that might help you buy the ideal phone.
After comparing the benefits, features, and even customer reviews of over 50 hearing impaired phones, we’ve found the ideal phone for your needs. We concluded that the Ultratec Uniphone 1140 TTY should be your number one choice. A telephone is an excellent option for commercial use, personal use, retirement homes, or even rehab facilities. The phone is durable and robust. It is ideal for individuals who want an unmatched convenience and extra level of secure communication for moderate and mild hearing problems. Additionally, people with deafness and speech problems need a telephone that will let them read and keep written conversations.
Final Word
Hearing impairment can affect anyone regardless of age or gender. More often than not, these problems are just normal disabilities. However, some of these problems occur due to old age. That way, getting best landline phone for seniors is important!
If you or your family member has been battling with hearing impairment, hearing and communicating with your loved ones can be a stressful task. As a result, people may begin to avoid social situations due to persistent inconveniences in communication. Luckily, there are many resources to fight hearing loss. This allows the victims to continue enjoying important telephone conversations. In this case, getting a cheap landline phone service is the best option as it will be able to save.