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In today's market, there are various styles of phones for hard of hearing and the choice you make is often dictated by your personal specifications, like your level of hearing loss and even level of sight. They range from basic devices to premium phones that will cost you more, but offer more features that will assist and improve your communication with loved ones.
Most hearing aids that we supply can also have a matching landline phone produced by the same manufacturer which will help to provide the most effective hearing possible for you on the phone. Contact us if this is something you wish to discuss, or if you just wanted general information about phones then read below.Â
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The phones for hard of hearing have come a long way and now they work very similar to hearing aids in regards to filtering unwanted background noise, so words are more clear. Modern hard of hearing phones cater to varying levels of losses and can really improve the quality of your communication and lifestyle. However, if you have a more severe loss you will probably need one that offers a larger dB volume so you can successfully communicate. Â
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A great example of a cordless phone would be the Widex PHONE DEX - a telephone for hard of hearing, seen in the image below. This type of telephone is designed for people with hearing loss. You can pair it with your hearing aids or use it as a conventional phone as well.Â
While landline phones for hearing loss don't offer the freedom of smartphones, they do offer those additional features like very loud ringers and lights that indicate an incoming call. Telephones for hard of hearing like this one, provide you with excellent speech understanding in both ears.Â
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Here are a few more specifics to consider when choosing a cordless phone for hearing loss:
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We have a lot of queries about the best phones for hard of hearing and dexterity. We thought it might be beneficial to talk a little bit about the Doro mobile, as it is such a great example and patients have liked the simplicity of the technology.Â
The Doro phone is a user-friendly mobile phone that appeals to those who are hard of hearing, have trouble with dexterity, vision impairment and ideal for the older generation who are active. They are designed and created with seniors in mind with a louder sound, large buttons, separated keys and digital hearing aid compatibility.Â
The Doro phone's main priority is to make life easier for the elder generation, giving them and the ones they love peace of mind. However, they do also appeal to all ages as they are great for those who have difficulty with sight. Bigger buttons also allow for a more simple solution for communicating.
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These mobiles offer the Android smartphone experience combined with an easy-to-use interface, built-in assistance and extra security safety features. They started off with a lack of the innovative features you’d get with today’s smartphone, like touchscreen displays and high-res cameras – but they are what they are and provide a device that is great for calls and texts for active seniors.
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Now Doro offers simple smartphones that give consumers the best of both, so you can now benefit from some smartphone features in a user-friendly package – making Doro phones a popular simple mobile phone brand.
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In today’s market, Doro phones can cost from around £25 to £180 – it all depends on what you want and what you need your mobile phone for. For instance, if you are wanting to link hearing aids you might be limited on what model you can go for, as not all will be compatible with all hearing aids and - more importantly - the devices you are currently wearing.
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At the end of the day, like with a lot of technology, you have to way it all up. What do you want from your phone? What do you need it for? Do you find using modern smartphones difficult? It is important to remember that sometimes the cheaper smartphones have numerous features that are tricky to use due to being a lower specifications option.
The best thing to do is visit a mobile phone store and have a look at their Doro phone options, as well as comparing them to a cheaper smartphone alternative. Then ask a member of staff to go through some of the main features you’d use every day and see if the Doro phone is right for you.
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Here are some more examples of the main phone brands that are ideal for those who are hard of hearing. They include some of the features of the Doro phone as well as powerful voice and ringer volume, big buttons and adjustable options.
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If you are a hearing aid wearer and are thinking about purchasing a smartphone like the Doro mobile phone, speak to your audiologist as you’ll need to double check your hearing aids are compatible with said device. Or failing that, what hearing aids are compatible with each Doro model.
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When looking for a phone for hard of hearing there are various specifics to consider. Here we look into what options are available and which might be better for you. To make it easier we have broken guidance into hearing loss levels.Â
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If you have this level of hearing loss, which is usually age-related, you might not need to do anything in particular when using your mobile phone with your devices. Your hearing aids microphones will just pick up the sound from the phone. That being said, you are more than likely going to get some degree of background noise here.
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If you have this kind of severe hearing loss and frequently use your mobile you would naturally desire clear speech and sound. We would recommend wearing hearing aids that include Bluetooth for that extra boost and a telecoil feature.Â
Hearing aids which include telecoil can direct sound to the devices processing technology without the need for a microphone. It also offers a much-improved signal to noise ratio, as well as reducing feedback.
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From experience, many of our patients who have hearing loss and wear hearing aids opt to use their smartphones to communicate everyday at home and on the go rather than purchasing a phone specifically for hard of hearing. They connect and pair their iPhone or Android mobiles (as well as other wireless devices) to their hearing aids and stream calls, audio and much more via Bluetooth technology.
They can also manage their hearing aid devices by boosting their hearing in a challenging environment or adjusting settings and volume. They generally have a cordless phone for hard of hearing at home for landline calls. All modern hearing aids have Bluetooth and offer premium connectivity and connection to loved ones.
More on Bluetooth and smartphone technology here
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We are here to support you and your hearing healthcare and we can also put you in touch with your local audiologist who can then advise you on the best phones for hard of hearing in your consultation.Â
You can also call one of our experts free on 0800 567 7621 for any advice about hearing healthcare and hearing solutions. Alternatively, fill out the contact form further down the page and we will contact you as soon as we can.
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Read Next:Â Bluetooth Hearing Aids
When we refer to a product as 'New', we mean that the product is new to the market.
When we refer to a product as 'Superseded', we mean that there is a newer range available which replaces and improves on this product.
When we refer to a product as an 'Older Model', we mean that it is has been superseded by at least two more recent hearing aid ranges.