There are a few common types of cordless phones available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. One type is an amplification phone, which makes sounds louder for the user. Some phones have features intended for those with difficulty hearing, such as adjustable ringer volumes and message playback speeds. Many types of cordless phones for the hearing impaired incorporate visual aids as well, such as lights, that help notify the user that the phone is ringing. Additionally, an individual may find handset-style cordless phones and headset models designed for those with hearing challenges.
One type of cordless phone provides an amplification of voices and other sounds to make it easier for an individual with hearing challenges to hear sounds coming through the phone. Typically, these phones do not amplify the user's voice, however. This means the person on the other end usually hears the conversation at a normal decibel. The level of amplification provided depends on the phone’s manufacturer and the model a person chooses.
Some cordless phones for the hearing impaired include additional features that make them more useful for those with difficulty hearing. For example, some of these phones have ringers that can be adjusted to suit an individual's level of hearing ability or to work in conjunction with a hearing aid. Some also include answering machines that allow a person to playback his messages at a slower speed than normal. This way, the user has more time to decipher what the caller said.
When an individual is in the market for cordless phones for the hearing impaired, he may also find phones that include technology capable of changing the decibel of different types of sounds. For example, some cordless phones for the hearing impaired may adjust loud sounds so that they sound softer. As the same time, this type of phone may adjust soft sounds to sound louder. Additionally, many have visible ring indicators that display lights when they ring. This way, a person may notice the lights and realize his phone is ringing, even if he cannot hear it well.
An individual isn’t restricted to just one phone style when he’s comparing cordless phones for the hearing impaired. There are traditional-style cordless phones from which a person may choose as well as headset-style cordless phones for the hearing impaired. The traditional-style cordless phones include a handset a person must hold to have a conversation. A headset model, on the other hand, fits over the user's head and allows him to carry on a conversation hands-free.
It is important to note that many deafness advocacy groups are moving away from using terms such as hearing impaired. This is due to the fact that some people find this term offensive or demeaning. Instead, many prefer such terms as hard of hearing or deaf.
