Amplified Phones
Parentgiving offers phones for hard-of-hearing people that feature amplification and other features that make having a telephone conversation far easier.
A telephone is an essential safety feature in every home, allowing seniors, caregivers and all family members to communicate with friends, neighbors, doctors and first responders in the event of an accident or health problem. A working phone that every member can use is a vital piece of technology.
A traditional phone projects incoming calls at 10 to 25 decibels, which can be heard by a person with normal hearing. Amplified phones, sometimes called clarity phones, project at up to 50 decibels or higher, making calls far louder and easier to hear. Different models project sound at different decibel ratings, and a choice can be made based on the degree of hearing loss.
Phones for the hard-of-hearing come in corded and cordless models, and both desktop and wall mounted units are available. They offer many different features, including amplified ring tones, speaker phones, additional handsets, answering machines and caller identification. Some also offer large numbered keypads, which are easier to see and use.
Many models also feature captioning, which presents a visual readout of the conversation on a large screen or display. This allows the conversation to be read, which can make it easier to use for those who are hearing impaired. Some phones also amplify outgoing calls. Safety features such as direct dial buttons are also available, making it easier to reach a family member, neighbor, doctor or emergency responder. Some models also feature a single-button emergency response feature, which dials emergency numbers when the button on the phone or on a wrist transmitter is pushed.
Amplified phones can dramatically increase safety and a sense of security for hard-of-hearing family members, especially when a caregiver is in the home only part of the time.