You may wonder how a person who has trouble hearing knows if the doorbell is ringing? Or when a baby is crying? Hearing loss is a challenge, and independent living with a hearing loss is often a discouraging task. New technology is vastly improving life at home for those who have a hearing loss. Devices that help a person wake up, avoid trouble, use the phone, and know when someone is at the door are now a reality. These products are available through vendors for the deaf and those with hearing loss. Some manufacturers will let you purchase directly from their websites.
Getting Up In The Morning
Innovative alarm clocks that use a vibrotactile device are great for waking up an individual with a hearing loss. The vibrotactile device fits under the mattress and wakes up the person sleeping through movement as opposed to sounds. A vibrating watch is also available that uses vibrations and visual representations to wake up sleepers. For those who enjoy waking up with natural sunlight, a wake-up light might be a great idea.
Responding To Danger
New technology is improving emergency devices too. There are devices designed for alerting those with hearing loss to emergencies such as fire, carbon monoxide, and severe weather. These devices use low-frequency audible alarms, strobe lights, and bed shaker attachments to keep you safe in the event of an emergency. The strobe lights and bed shaker activate when smoke or carbon monoxide is present within the home.
Using The Phone
People with hearing loss can now benefit from the use of captioning apps for their phones. These apps can translate a phone conversation or even an in-person chat to text.
Smartphone
New smartphone applications can make conversations more comfortable using real-time captioning. There are apps available that translate speech to text. A computer voice recognition system provides captions. The majority of these apps are free. Apps are also available that take this process a step further by transcribing in-person conversations that a smartphone picks up.
Landline
A captioned telephone is a useful tool for those who have difficulty hearing a landline phone. The phones translate the spoken word into visual text. A phone with a screen attached, these devices transcribe what the other person is saying. These phones are free for individuals who have documentation from a medical professional.
Expecting Company?
A door signaler may be the answer. These devices will notify you of the arrival of visitors at your door. Some of the devices feature a viewing screen while others connect directly to your doorbell and light up when the doorbell rings.
Natural Disaster
For a person with hearing loss, a weather alert machine is an essential item. These receivers connect to weather stations and issue an alarm in the form of vibration or a loud alarm. Strobe lights, sirens, and vibrating devices can also be activated.
Technology is making life at home much more comfortable for those who experience difficulty hearing. With new devices continually arriving, the future of independent living for the hard of hearing is looking up.
