Cordless Phone for Hearing Impaired

[CountryBoy]

I find that at the age of 73 I am hearing impaired and need a phone to address the issue.

Does anyone out there have a phone they could recommend?

I have found these companies

Amplicom PowerTel 720 Assure+ Amplified Phone
Clarity D704 Amplified Cordless Phone
ClearSounds A400 Amplified Phone
Geemarc AMPLI250 Amplified Phone
PowerTel PT501 Expansion DECT 6.0 Telephone Handset
Serene Innovations CL-60 DECT 6.0 Amplified Phone

but on Amazon there are horror stories of bad experiences consumers have had with these products.

Am not really sure where to turn but would be grateful for guidance.

Thanks.

cb

[robertalpert]

I have no experience with the issue. But you might get some suggestions from a local audiologist.

What sort of issues have users of those telephones reported?

[JMacDonald]

In California, phones for the hearing impaired are provided free with verification from an audiologist. If you check with an audiologist in your area, there may a program that can help you. At least the audiologist can help find you a phone that will help.

[CountryBoy]

JMacDonald »

Many thanks for the suggestion; I just made an appt. with the audiologist. So I will find out what is up on the medical front.

However I am still interested in the experience of people and what phone they found really worked. So often in the reviews the people say that after 2 yrs. the phone is no longer working, etc. So I am interested in phones that have a good track record.

Thanks.

[Watty]

JMacDonald »

Many thanks for the suggestion; I just made an appt. with the audiologist. So I will find out what is up on the medical front.

However I am still interested in the experience of people and what phone they found really worked. So often in the reviews the people say that after 2 yrs. the phone is no longer working, etc. So I am interested in phones that have a good track record.

Thanks.

One buzzword you should research and ask the audiologist about is "T coil" or telecoil which basically causes the telephone to use radio waves to transmit the phone call directely to your hearing aid. Note: even if your telephone is "T coil" compatable there may be a menu option that you need to select to turn on the "T coil" and your hearing aid will need to be in the T coil mode.

[CountryBoy]

That is news to me.........

[MathWizard]

Here is an article on T coil from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =128268480

I've been looking at this for my MIL, and for me when I need them.

[robertalpert]

T-coil is one of the technologies for telephone / hearing aid connection. There may be other formats (eg bluetooth).
It may depend on which technologies your hearing aids are compatible with.

[magazinewriter]

My uncle and mother are both hard of hearing and I purchased Clarity hearing amplifier devices that attach to their corded landline phones. They have worked out great, particularly for my uncle who is very hard of hearing and only has one eardrum due to a serious car accident.

So although I don't have experience with the cordless phones you listed, I would try the Clarity phone.

In case you have a corded phone and would like to try the amplifier I bought for my mom and uncle, here is a link

http://www.amazon.com/Clarity-CLARHA40- ... +amplifier

[CountryBoy]

Many thanks to people for their suggestions; I am learning.

Still hoping to hear from people with experience on a cordless phone for the hearing impaired that is truly reliable.

Thanks.

[laternser]

Walker Clarity W300 (or W1000).

Family member profound hearing loss.
She can use this phone without her Hearing Aide.

Even non-impaired individuals will benefit.
Owned for over five years.

(Answer better late than never.)

[CountryBoy]

Thank you.

[laternser]

I posted the wrong model number earlier today.

The correct number is the Walker Clarity A300 (followed by the Walker Claity W1000 ... which I did not purchase.)

Get the A300 from eBay. Often posted with very reasonable prices.

[22twain]

The latest "big thing" is hearing aids that can in effect be used as Bluetooth earphones for an iPhone or iPod, and can be controlled via an app:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/04/tech/inno ... ring-aids/