Best Phones for the Hard of Hearing

Phones for the hard of hearing can help ease communication for both the hearing impaired and the elderly. Their easy to use features and enhanced audio make it simple to stay in touch. In this guide, we advise on the best phone for hard of hearing people and highlight some essential models that we supply.

Which Is The Best Phone For The Hard Of Hearing?

Three favorites from our current store are:

• The Clarity P300 Amplified Photo Phone suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss, providing voice amplification of up to 26 decibels for incoming calls, a bright visual ring indicator and large, easy to dial buttons.
• The Clarity E814CC Amplified Combination Phone has a desk phone and cordless handset as well as a built-in answer machine and up to 40dB amplification, as well as a host of other features.
• The Geemarc Amplidect 350 Amplified Cordless Phone features a handsfree speakerphone, clock, torch, caller ID, and phonebook with up to 50 names and numbers and a range of an incredible 80 meters outdoors!

However, the answer is rarely straightforward because at Hearing Direct we are able to offer you so many high-quality models.

Click here to browse our entire collection of amplified phones for the hearing impaired. Hard of hearing phones cater for varying levels of losses. A more severe impairment may need a phone that produces greater dB volumes to effectively communicate. Whether or not you wear hearing aids, conversations with loved ones on the phone should be easily accessible for all and the majority of our amplified phones are hearing aid compatible. For those with visual impairments, big button phones offer an alternative and simple solution for communicating with loved ones.

You may also wish to check out: The Best Amplified Phones for Seniors

4 Top Tips To Find The Best Phone For The Hard Of Hearing

Our range of devices offer a solution for everyone, and you may find the following suggestions and advice helpful. Our top tips on phones for hard of hearing people will help you find the right make and model to match your needs.

1. Choose a dedicated phone:

You will need to identify the required amplification needed to maximize the benefit of the phone. Standard telephones generally do not have extra-loud functions or hearing aid compatibility so they can be challenging to use with hearing loss. It will be essential to choose a model that enables you to set voice and ringer volume at a high enough level for you to hear clearly. Additionally, many of our products are telephones compatible with hearing aids using the ’T’ setting.

2. Consider whether you need a desk or a cordless phone or a phone that combines both:

Phones for the hearing impaired are available in two main options: corded or cordless. Often manufacturers will offer a combo pack to take advantage of the separate benefits of both. The main difference is that desk phones, due to their size, often include other sensory cues that are useful for the hard of hearing and the visually impaired such as flashing lights to indicate an incoming call, large buttons, a larger visual display and a backlit keypad.

Some amplified cordless phones may share these features, however, due to the smaller size of the handset, the features are generally more subtle.

Benefits of desk phones:

• Do not require battery power to operate
• Often include other sensory cues in a prominent manner
• Models that are wall mounted are less likely to get misplaced
• More desk phones include a built-in answering machine than cordless phones
• Greater maximum volume output

Benefits of cordless phones:

• Can be taken from room to room and even to the garden
• Some models can be extended with extra handsets
• Ideal for answering calls without having to move quickly to the phone location

3. Plan your budget in advance:

As with most new phones, prices will vary from one model to the next and from one manufacturer to the other. The easiest way to find the best hearing impaired phone for your budget is to consider the necessary features you require to help manage your hearing loss. Phones will vary in prices based on:

• Type of phone (cordless vs. desk phone),
• Maximum amplification level,
• Built-in answering phone,
• Whether you need advanced features such as outgoing speech amplification, headset and shaker outputs, ringtones and so on.

4. Level of user experience required:

Depending on the age and background of the user, it is common for the hard of hearing to look for simple models. For this reason, extra-loud, amplified phones are often bought for the elderly because they are simpler to use. Therefore, when deciding on the best phone, the level of the device’s complexity and the intended user must be taken into account. When considering all of these recommendations and shaping your basic requirements, you may also consider the following list of the most important features and characteristics that a phone designed for the hard of hearing should have:

• Telecoil compatibility
• Visual ring indicator
• Increased ringer volume
• Handsfree speaker option
• Vocalised keypad
• Backlit keypad
• Large display and buttons to dial
• Caller ID
• Built-in answer phone

Top Phones For Hard Of Hearing

Corded Phone

Combination Corded + Cordless Phones:

Cordless Phones:

The Geemarc Amplidect 350 Amplified Cordless Phone has been designed specifically to allow for maximum hearing aid compatibility when used with a hearing instrument in the T position, keeping interferences to a minimum, for a clear sound free of feedback. Volume control and tone control are adjustable with large push-button controls on the side of the amplified telephone. A boost button also allows you to automatically revert to the default setting – until the conversation is ended. It will then automatically revert to your usual settings.

Features include a high-quality handsfree speakerphone, clock, flashlight, high-resolution backlit caller ID display, and phonebook with up to 50 names and numbers and up to 7 languages to choose from. Enjoy telephone conversations everywhere in your home up to an incredible 80 meters outdoors!

Check Your Hearing For Free

At Hearing Direct, we have created our very own online hearing test so you can test your hearing for free and in the comfort of your own home. All you will need is a few spare minutes and some ear or headphones. Once the test is complete, you will get your results instantly via email. Depending on the outcome of the hearing test, you may be encouraged to take further action.

About Hearing Direct

We are one of the world's leading hearing aid specialists. HearingDirect offers a wide range of affordable products, as well as information resources to help improve the quality of life for the hard of hearing. We sell:

• Hearing aids,
• Batteries,
• Accessories such as earplugs,
• and amplified devices such as super loud alarm clocks and amplified phones.

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Author: Gary Hill

Gary comes from 16 years’ experience in the hearing aid industry in both manufacturing and retail. Before co-founding HearingDirect, Gary was Marketing Director for a leading global hearing aid brand; GN ReSound where he worked for the UK sales division and latterly in their global headquarters in Copenhagen. He was responsible for developing and launching major global hearing aid models, conducting extensive research into the needs of the hearing impaired community and their performance demands of hearing aids and other devices.