Phone headset for hearing aid user

didle e i

Hi,
I'm in my 30's and have a moderate-severe hearing loss in both ears. My hearing has gradually got worse over the years and I finally gave in and got two hearing aids eight months ago.
Since I started wearing hearing aids I find it very difficult to use a phone. Unless a person speaks loud and clear I either can't hear or understand them. Its awful! I have to use the phone in work and I literally panic when the phone rings as I'm struggling so much.
I think a headset to attach to the phone might make it a bit easier to hear. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations?
Thanks.

zbluebirdz

You have some options in improving the sound quality:

1) T-Coil
If your hearing aid has the T-Coil receiver, you can get a phone that is T-Coil compatible.
Beware, T-Coil signals can be interfered by certain electrical devices.

2) Cable
Your hearing aid may be able to be "plugged" directly into the phone via a cable.

Give deafhear.ie a call/visit - they would have lots of advice and assistive equipment.

AndrewJRenko

If you can't find a technical solution, a good employer will help to explore other options. Maybe there are roles available where phone calls are not critical. Instant messenger / chat options can be very helpful too.

sickofthis

didle e i wrote: »

Hi,
I'm in my 30's and have a moderate-severe hearing loss in both ears. My hearing has gradually got worse over the years and I finally gave in and got two hearing aids eight months ago.
Since I started wearing hearing aids I find it very difficult to use a phone. Unless a person speaks loud and clear I either can't hear or understand them. Its awful! I have to use the phone in work and I literally panic when the phone rings as I'm struggling so much.
I think a headset to attach to the phone might make it a bit easier to hear. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations?
Thanks.

This could have been written by me! I wear hearing aids and tend to not mention this to people as I find people treat you like you are stupid when they find out. I recently started working in an office and was having awful trouble on the phones.. my hearing aid screeched when I held the phone to my ear and I was getting flustered and embarrassed. I missed important information during one call as I was too embarrassed to ask the person to repeat themselves for the third time! I had to come clean to my manager who is very understanding and I pass on important calls to my colleagues. I do find by taking out the hearing aid on the side I put the phone to my ear is actually better to hear on the phone with. Hearing loss is horrible, it can be very isolating and I have stopped going to pubs, noisy restaurants and concerts as they had become a nightmare ever with hearing aids..

Holiers

I don't think this is relevant to land phones but just so you know some mobile phones can be connected via Bluetooth to your hearing aids. My Mum had a Doura phone like that. The sound went directly into her hearing aid, to the extent that she couldn't pass the phone to me, but if she did I wouldn't hear anything and she still could!

zbluebirdz

Holiers wrote: »

I don't think this is relevant to land phones but just so you know some mobile phones can be connected via Bluetooth to your hearing aids. My Mum had a Doura phone like that. The sound went directly into her hearing aid, to the extent that she couldn't pass the phone to me, but if she did I wouldn't hear anything and she still could!

Would work if the hearing aid had Bluetooth (either built in or an added adapter).

Some mobile phones have t-coil built into them, so that is another option.

looksee

I think I am going to have to get a second hearing aid and I am very reluctant. At the moment if I put on a head phones (usually to talk on Skype) I just remove the one hearing aid and it is fine. To take out two is going to be more restricting, but I find that often on the phone (for which I use my non-aid ear) I am starting to have problems hearing what the other person is saying. I think I am going to have to investigate the whole bluetooth thing.