Hearing Impaired Phones

1. Determine the degree of hearing loss you need to accommodate.
2. Decide if you want a corded or cordless phone.
3. Consider shopping for accessories for existing phones for the hearing impaired rather than replacing them with new phones.

Know what level of hearing phones will need to accommodate

Phones for hearing impaired people are able to accommodate several levels of hearing loss, from mild to severe. Also note that people with severe hearing loss may have trouble hearing phones ring even when amplified and several options are available to help the hearing impaired in this area.
Try: Shop with a phone retailer such as Hear Me Clear that allows you to shop by degree of hearing loss. Simply choose mild, medium or severe hearing loss and then select the type of phone you'd like to buy. Look for alert systems that notify hearing impaired people of telephone calls.

Decide between corded and cordless hearing impaired phones

Telephones for the hearing impaired are available as amplified cordless phones, amplified corded phones or hearing aid compatible cellular phones. Most cordless and corded hearing impaired phones offer not only amplification, but also clarification to allow users to more easily distinguish low and high pitches and cut down on background noise.
Try: Shop with retailers such as EnableMart that offer both cordless amplified phones and corded amplified phones to compare features. Hearing aid compatible cell phones at Jitterbug typically come with other features such as large buttons, easy-to-read displays and 24-hour call assistance.

Check out accessories for phones for the hearing impaired

Phones for the hearing impaired often can be modified, rather than replaced by amplified phones. In-line telephone amplifiers can turn regular phones into hearing impaired telephones instantly. Just add an amplifier to existing phone lines between the phone base and the phone jack. Or, replace a regular telephone handset with an amplified handset to aid a hearing impaired person.
Try: Hear Me Clear offers several different options for  in-line telephone amplifiers. Amplified handsets are available in multiple styles and models.

• Talk to the potential user of hearing impaired phones before you buy to know what individual needs you might need to meet. Many people with hearing impairments prefer to use a hearing aid and hearing aid compatible phones rather than amplified phones, while many people prefer amplified and modified phones. Preferences about hearing impairment accommodations are highly personal, so respect hearing impaired people and offer as many options among telephones for hearing impaired people as you can.