The 10 Best Amplified Phones
Editor's Notes
January 28, 2021:
Unlike with smartphones, there aren't a lot of advancements made in landline phones these days, and that statement is even more applicable to a category like amplified phones. So, after careful consideration of the models on the market, we have determined that no changes needed to be made to our current recommendations. Our selection includes both corded and cordless models, as well as some that incorporate answering machines, digital readouts, and large buttons.
January 06, 2020:
Whether you’re partial to a corded or a cordless phone – or a set that comes with both – our selection has an amplified phone to help ensure you’ll never again have to ask callers to repeat themselves. New to the list today is the Clarity DECT 6.0, which comes from a manufacturer that has been designing assistive listening devices for just over 50 years. This easy-to-use model features up to 50 decibels of amplification, and you can hold the handset to your ear or talk via the loud and clear speakerphone. It’s also good for the visually impaired, thanks to its prominent, high-contrast buttons that also speak the numbers when you press them. All in all, it’s designed to help you dial the correct numbers and clearly hear the voice on the other end of the line. For other reliable choices from Clarity, also check out the Clarity Alto 54005, which features an easy-to-turn control dial to set the volume just right, and the Clarity E814, which provides the convenience of both a corded and a cordless handset.
For an innovative model that can actually display captions of everything you and your caller are saying (and which can save the conversations so you can view them again later), look to the Hamilton CapTel 2400i, which provides a large, colorful touchscreen for both reading the captions and accessing icons for your address book and settings. The panel tilts for comfortable reading, which will help save you from asking people to repeat themselves. Note that you need to register with the FCC in order to receive the captioning service free of charge, and also that this model requires a high-speed Internet connection.
Another choice that brings you both a corded and a cordless handset is the Panasonic KX, which offers bright, high-contrast screens and light-up keys to make sure you can see what you’re dialing and the names and numbers of callers. A low-battery indicator light on the cordless handset will alert you when it needs to be put back on the charging base, and an eco-friendly mode helps to reduce power consumption.
How An Amplified Phone Helps The Hearing Impaired
Some models also have a place to plug in an assistive listening device, which is different from a hearing aid.
Amplified phones are designed with the specific struggles of hearing impaired individuals in mind. People who have a difficult time hearing often have to ask the person on the other end of the phone to speak louder. This can cause their friends and family members to become aggravated, which makes a lot of individuals with hearing problems insecure about speaking on the phone. Amplified phones allow users to turn up the volume of the other person, making a hearing impaired individual more comfortable and confident when speaking on the phone.
Those with hearing troubles can miss important calls because the ring tone on their phone isn’t audible to them. This can also make individuals feel isolated since social activities like phone calls are important for their sense of community. Amplified phones allow them to turn the ring tone up very high so they never miss a call while they’re home. Hearing complications extend beyond difficult to detect low volumes; many people cannot detect high pitches, which is why some amplified phones have an adjustable high-frequency boost that makes these tones easier to hear.
People with severe hearing loss benefit from amplified phones that come with a flashing light which activates during an incoming call. Some models also have a place to plug in an assistive listening device, which is different from a hearing aid.
Tips For Speaking To Hearing Impaired Indivduals
When speaking to somebody with hearing loss, it’s important to make sure they can hear you and feel heard, without feeling like they’re receiving special treatment. Before addressing someone with a hearing disability, gain their attention by sitting directly in front of then, gently touching their arm or saying their name loudly and clearly. People who cannot hear well tend to ignore most background noise and only focus on someone’s voice if that person signals them.
Since visual cues are important for the hearing impaired, always communicate with them in well-lit areas.
If you know someone suffers from single sided deafness, sit next to their fully functioning ear. Make eye contact and position yourself so that the individual can see you well as facial expressions and gestures can help them understand what you are saying. Those who cannot count on their ears for communication often become skilled lip readers, which is why it’s important not to speak with your mouth full, and not to cover your mouth while you’re talking.
People who live with hearing impaired family members shouldn’t have large mustaches or beards since these can interfere with accurate lip reading. Since visual cues are important for the hearing impaired, always communicate with them in well-lit areas.
Refrain from yelling because heightened volume can distort your words. When most people yell, they also naturally speak in higher pitches, but individuals with hearing disabilities usually struggle to hear those. Rather than yelling, speak slowly, frequently pause between sentences. That break in the sentence gives the listener time to process the information. Do your best to eliminate background noise. Don’t take someone with hearing disabilities to noisy restaurants. Turn off the radio or television before beginning your conversation, and close the door if people outside are making noise.
Top Causes Of Hearing Loss
Many people believe that hearing loss is an inevitable part of aging, but there are things one can do and avoid in life to prevent this frustrating disability. Regular exposure to work-related sounds is a common cause of hearing loss. Approximately 30 million Americans work in an environment that has dangerous noise levels. People are particularly at risk when they work on airport runways and in auto body shops. One-time, explosive sounds can also be a risk. Some individuals have suffered permanent hearing loss after being near a gunshot or fireworks.
People are particularly at risk when they work on airport runways and in auto body shops.
Professional fighters or those who box for sport face high chances of suffering an injury that could cause hearing loss. When someone is hit in the head, the blow could dislocate middle-ear bones, leading to a permanent hearing loss. Activities like scuba diving that expose one to a sudden and drastic change in pressure also pose a risk. A quick pressure adjustment can harm the inner ear, middle ear or eardrum. In most cases, ear drum damage heals on its own, but sometimes it must be fixed through surgery. If one suspects they have suffered an inner ear injury, they should not use cotton swabs for several weeks since these can result in a perforated eardrum.
Regular use of painkillers like aspirin, NSAIDS and acetaminophen can increase one’s chances of hearing loss. Certain antibiotics and cancer medications can also pose a risk, which is why individuals who are taking these usually need a doctor to monitor their hearing during treatment. Chronic diseases that do not directly affect one’s ears can cause hearing loss. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The ear is a complex part of the body; sound waves enter through the outer ear, travel through the ear canal, and set off vibrations in the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. These vibrations move to the fluid in the cochlea, where tiny hairs send nerve signals to the brain. If any of these parts are harmed or blocked, hearing loss can occur.