Alerting Devices for the Hard of Hearing

Hearing loss is not only a health concern, but it’s also a safety concern. Fortunately, in addition to hearing aids, there are specialized devices that can alert, wake, notify or warn you about a visitor or an emergency. 

Before modern technology, people with hearing loss usually had to depend on others in order to safely navigate and connect to their environment. Luckily, technology has quickly advanced, and that includes hearing aid technology that allows those with hearing loss to lead a more independent life.

Currently, there are amplification devices, assistive listening devices (ALD), captioning, FM systems, hearing aids and infrared systems available to hear everyday sounds and enjoy entertainment. 

Devices that can alert allow those with hearing loss to remain connected with others and feel more secure in cases of emergencies. These devices utilize:

1. Visual cues 
2. Vibrating systems 
3. Louder sounds - an increase in amplification and use of lower frequency sounds, because most people with hearing loss are unable to hear high frequency sounds.

Alarm Clocks for the Hard of Hearing

The typical alarm clock can be unhelpful for anyone with hearing loss. There are appropriately designed alarm clocks for those who have hearing loss which feature:

1. Built-in strobe lights, or a lamp
2. Bed shakers or other vibrating alert systems

Carbon monoxide, Fire and Smoke Alarms

Some of these devices must be purchased separately. In other cases, you can get them as part of a combination fire and carbon monoxide detection system. Most of them feature extra loud alarms and flashing strobe lights, based on your personal needs. There are fire alarms that will alert you by vibrating your bed. It uses a component that rests underneath your pillow or mattress and shakes you awake if there’s a fire in your home.

There are also alerting devices that can recognize the pitch of your existing smoke alarm and emit a louder, lower-pitched noise that will be more reliable to wake you. There are some devices that will shake in order to wake you, and the digital display will light up in orange and read “FIRE.”

Signals for Doorbells

There are signals for doorbells that can function with or without an existing doorbell. There are also security signals that will notify you when a window is opened in your home. Signals for doorbells can include a flashing strobe light, an alert that is linked to your smartphone or even one that has its own receiver. There are some systems that can be kept in a common area inside your home and you can be alerted via message and/or a flashing light if someone is calling you or ringing the doorbell.

Signals for the Phone

A signal for your phone can be connected directly to an outlet and phone line, or connected to the side of a phone in order to directly receive sound. Today’s smartphones provide more exclusive, sensible and advanced choices than old models of phones did in the past. 

The Latest Phone Technology

Recently, tech companies have created discreet, modern and high-styled bracelets and smartwatches that can make a signal to users if their smartphone is ringing. Whether you use hearing aids or not, this can be helpful if your smartphone is switched to silent mode or stashed in your bag or purse. And obviously, if you do have hearing loss this can be very useful if you don’t or can’t hear your phone ringing. 

Signals for an Infant’s Cry

The average baby monitor usually does not produce enough sound for those with hearing loss to figure out that their babies are crying. There are now transmitters and receivers available to detect a baby’s cry and send it to a central alert device.

Signals for Weather Alerts

Severe weather storms are not always obvious to people with hearing loss, due to the inability to hear thunder. People aren’t always watching TV or listening to the radio, so these warnings can easily be missed. Weather alerts radios can be used on their own or connected to other accessories like strobe lights or bed-shakers.

Additional Alerting Devices 

Just to recap, there are devices that can notify you to any noise or movement. Some of them can be located inside your home, or on your smartphone. They can be specially programmed for anything from your phone ringing to a baby’s cry. There are also motion detection features.

As more technology evolves for people with hearing loss, greater improvements are being made in the aesthetics, performance and accuracy.  

If you are in need of hearing accessories or hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. 

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or an assistive listening device, please contact us before visiting one of our office locations. 

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