A Dream House for Americans with Hearing Loss

For the 48 million Americans who have some range of hearing loss, a functional living space may be at the center of their custom home design.

There are already some convenient features, like a doorbell that will vibrate your phone when someone rings it. Here are some additional ideas that you may consider incorporating into your home. 

Consider an Open Living Space

An open space will allow you to see people, or pets, in other areas of your home. This improves safety for everyone.

Your Living Room

You may want a counter space that faces the living room so that you don’t have to miss out on anything that happens. Insulated appliances can quiet the humming and rattling noises to make it easier to hear others and feel any alerts that buzz.

Rounded Seating
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Sitting in a semicircle allows everyone to face one another. This is helpful to every type of discussion, whether it’s just between two people or with a group of people.   

Don’t use Mood Lighting

Shadows and glares from the windows can hinder the ability to lip read, sign or engage in other means of communication. Having an evenly lit room can make it easier to recognize faces and gestures.

Phone Alerts

There are baby monitors with phone alerts that mirror the volume of an infant’s cry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is still in the progress of understanding video, but in the near future it may be able to identify when children are upset or need something.

Closed Doors

Knocking on a closed door only works when the person knocking and the occupant can hear. Using a motion-activated signal that lights up can let others know whether or not the bathroom is free. 

A Pitch Dark Room

Those who are hard of hearing always need light to see the visual cues that let them communicate with others. This makes them more sensitive to light. Having a dark room to go into is needed to reduce overstimulation. 

Transparent Rooms

Maybe one day, in the near future, there will be transparent tablets available that can double as windows. Alerts can be displayed and easily viewed, phone calls that are transcribed or even song lyrics that replace your doorbell or security system.  

If you are hard of hearing, try to incorporate these changes into your home. If you are in need of hearing aids or hearing aid care, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.

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