Hearing aid compatible phones make an enormous difference in ease of communication for those who are hard of hearing. If you or someone you love needs amplified, hearing aid compatible phones, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, nowadays there are so many options available in hearing aid compatible phones that deciding which one to buy can be overwhelming.
What makes a phone hearing aid compatible? According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, a hearing aid compatible phone provides internal means, meaning without the use of external devices, for effective use with hearing aids. Most modern hearing aids are designed to be compatible with telephones that meet the FCC’s technical standard for hearing aid compatibility. This is usually accomplished by inserting a telecoil in telephones which detects, or is compatible with, a similar telecoil in the hearing aid, allowing the hearing aid to “couple” with the telephone through an electromagnetic field.
Sounds simple enough. However, most people who need a hearing aid compatible phone also need the phone to have specific features in order to use the phone with ease and convenience. One of the most important of these features is extra amplification, which generally ranges from 20 decibels (dB) to 60 dB, depending on the level of hearing loss the user experiences. Other features which can play a significant role in the phone’s usability and value include easily seen and dialed keys, extra-loud and visual ringers, operability during power outages, portability, and higher-tech options like call waiting and phone number storage.
Clearly, there are many decisions to be made before purchasing a hearing aid compatible phone. To make the process easier, here’s a handy comparison of three of the highest customer-rated hearing aid compatible phones available on Amazon.com.
- Five star average customer rating
- Designed for moderate to severe hearing loss – amplifies sound up to 40 decibels
- Ideal when dialing’s an issue - pictures can be placed inside each of 10 oversized one-touch dialing keys
- Secure in emergencies - 911 key works even if the unit is unplugged from the phone line
- Miss fewer calls – bright LED lights activate when calls come in
- Bottom line – AT&T Future Call Amplified Hearing Aid Compatible Phones
Ameriphone Clarity Big Key Amplified Hearing Aid Compatible Phones
- Four and a half star average customer rating
- Designed for moderate to severe hearing loss – amplifies sound up to 43 decibels, and has special settings to super-clarify high-frequency sound
- Easy to dial even with low vision - features high-contrast, backlit, extra-large keys
- Secure in emergencies - battery backup makes phone work even during power outages
- Miss very few calls – bright LED lights activate when calls come in, and ringer can be set to 95+ decibels
- Bottom line – Ameriphone Clarity Big Key Amplified Hearing Aid Compatible Phones
Uniden Corded/Cordless Amplified Hearing Aid Compatible Phones
- Four star average customer rating
- Designed for mild hearing loss – amplifies sound up to 20 decibels, and has volume-boost and equalizer settings to fine-tune sound
- Easy to dial with mild vision loss - features high-contrast, backlit keys and large LCD displays
- Secure in emergencies - cordless unit works during power outages and when phone lines are down
- Miss fewer calls – bright LED lights activate when calls come in
- Plenty of features – includes digital answering system, caller ID, call waiting and forwarding, speaking call announcements, and stores 70 phonebook entries
- Bottom line – Uniden Corded/Cordless Amplified Hearing Aid Compatible Phones
Read our post on phones for hard of hearing folks to learn more about the options available in amplified telephones.