Advancements in technology made it possible for patients with hearing loss to optimize their homes for their condition. Smart home technology became a need and a must because it simply improves the quality of life and helps in finding solutions to many barriers to communication.
Hearing impaired devices for home are devices that can help people with hearing loss to hear better and participate more fully in their home life. There are many different types of hearing impaired devices for home.
Now a days there are devices, gadgets and accessories that make the patient’s home smart enough to be hearing assistive.
What is hearing impairment?
Hearing impairment is the total or partial deficit of the hearing function. It varies based on the degree of hearing loss. It can range from mild hearing loss to severe hearing loss. it can be hereditary, congenital or acquired at some point in life.
Hearing aids might not solve all of the patient’s communication problems. You may still find difficulty hearing the TV, your alarm clock, callers on the telephone, a knock on your door, or communication in extremely noisy situations. You need to have additional hearing medical devices in order to extend the hearing aids functionality.
Innovative Hearing Impaired Devices used at Home
Hearing aids
They are small electronic devices that are worn behind or inside the ear. They help the person hear better in noisy and quiet environments by amplifying sounds and improving speech comprehension.
There are many different styles of hearing aids. They help all types of hearing losses: mild, moderate, severe and profound.
Widex RC-DEX Remote Control is an accessory for a hearing medical device used that allows you to adjust the settings on your hearing aids without having to remove them. You can attach them to a keychain so you can carry it more easily. It can be used to have access on basic controls like adjusting volume and switching programs. Even seniors with dexterity issues can use it.
TV Unit
Sometimes you might face problems hearing the television clearly, even when you are using your hearing aids. If that happens, you can consider using a TV streaming device.
Such devices are:
Wireless
Send signals directly to the hearing aids or to an intermediary device
Allow the listener to adjust the volume of the television to their preferred level without impacting the loudness for others around
Hearing loops
A hearing loop or also known as an audio induction loop is a special type of sound system that people with hearing aids can use. It offers a wireless and magnetic signal which is selected by the hearing aid when it is set to “T” (telecoil) setting. They are from the most popular options for accessible audio in public places.
If you use hearing aids, hearing loops for your home can connect to your TV’s audio connections. It streams the sound from the TV directly into your hearing aids, helping you to hear the TV more.
You just have to have the hearing loop setting switched on your hearing aid. You might need the help of your audiologist in the beginning to activate the hearing loop setting.
TV and Bluetooth streamers
If you also use hearing aids, Bluetooth streamers are very helpful. You can connect them to your television which will send the audio directly to your hearing aids. The only thing is that they should be compatible with your type of hearing aid you are using.
Widex TV-DEX Television Streamer
It is also an accessory for television streaming without any distortion or echo, giving high-quality audio stream from the TV right to the hearing aids. It contains a unique feature, which is its “room off” function. This turns off the hearing aid microphone so you can hear the TV without any background interference from the environment.
Captions
Words are displayed on the television screen that follows the audio portion of the program being watched. The person can read the captions to follow the action and dialogue simultaneously.
Cellular telephones
You can choose specific hearing aids that can connect directly to your smartphone or through a certain accessory.
This allows you to hear any conversation through your hearing aids as if they were headphones.
It offers you the chance to hear the telephone conversation using both ears and not just one.
Amplifier is a tool used that can help you listen and talk easily on the telephone. Some phones have amplifiers that are built in. You have the option to attach the amplifier to your phone as well.
If you use hearing aids, you can work with amplifiers, but it may require special settings.
Widex Phone-DEX 2 Landline Phone Streamer
This accessory is a Widex medical equipment that can stream call audio to your hearing aids with PHONE_DEX2. It is engineered by Widex to work with any hearing aid model. It comes with the following features:
SOS button
Amplified sound
25- minutes of voicemail capacity
Alarm function
Alerting devices
Alerting devices help you stay in touch with your environment and inform you of important signals. To recognize these signals is very important for your independence and safety, as well as the safety of others around you.
These connectivity devices can be acquired through your audiologist. You can search for the desired device and select the device you want based on your needs. Your audiologist can assist in selecting the device most appropriate for your condition.
- Smoke/fire alarms
There are many types of smoke alarms that are available to alert people with hearing loss. They include flashing lights, bed vibrators, extra loud signals and release of certain smells. With the help of your audiologist, you can determine the best system to be used for you and your house.
- Doorbells
Certain devices allow hearing aids to be programmed in a way where they can announce when someone is at the door. This happens through flashing a light, ringing louder, or vibrating.
- Alarm clocks
There are specific alarm clocks that permit volume and pitch adjustment of the tone of the alarm. This makes it more audible for those with hearing loss.
A small vibrator can be also placed under the pillow. A light can be flashed to wake you up in the morning in case your alarm goes off.
Beside hearing aids and medical intervention, many medical equipment supplies, devices and services are accessible to help improve and support our communication in daily life. Choose the ones mostly convenient for you to live more independently and communicate more confidently.