Best Phones for the Hard of Hearing

Phones for the hard of hearing can help ease communication for both the hard of hearing and the elderly. Their easy to use features and enhanced audio make it simple to stay in touch. In this guide, we advise on the best phone for hard of hearing people and highlight some essential models that we supply.

Which Is The Best Phone For The Hard Of Hearing?

From our current stock, we recommend:

• Doro Magna 4000 - one of THE loudest phones in production today, boasting a powerful 60dB voice volume with a 90dB ringer volume.
• Geemarc AmpliDect 295 Combi Photo Amplified Cordless Telephone - a cordless phone and accompanying corded phone with big buttons and loud ringer +30dB and receiving volume +10dB.
• Emporia GD61AB Cordless Phone with Answering Machine - Lightweight cordless phone with ringer volume of 81db and adjustable receiver volume of +30db
• Doro 1360 mobile phone much louder than generic mobile phones with 35dB voice volume and 83dB ringer volume

However, the answer is rarely straightforward because at Hearing Direct we are able to offer you so many high-quality models.

Click here to browse our entire collection of amplified phones.

Hard of hearing phones cater for varying levels of losses. A more severe impairment may need a phone that produces greater dB volumes to effectively communicate. Whether or not you wear hearing aids, conversations with loved ones on the phone should be easily accessible for all.

For those with visual impairments, big button phones offer an alternative and simple solution for communicating with loved ones. If you are out and about a lot then a smartphone specially designed for the hard of hearing and for ease of use may be an excellent solution.

Have a look at our selection of Amplified Mobile Phones and Smartphones

You may also wish to check out our blog post: Phones for Seniors

4 Top Tips To Find The Best Phone For The Hard Of Hearing

Our range of devices offer a solution for everyone, and you may find the following suggestions and advice helpful. Our top tips on phones for hard of hearing people will help you find the right make and model to match your needs. 

1. Choose a dedicated phone:

You will need to identify the required amplification needed to maximise the benefit of the phone. Standard telephones generally do not have extra-loud functions or hearing aid compatibility so they can be challenging to use with hearing loss. It will be essential to choose a model that asserts voice and ringer volume at a high enough level for you to hear clearly. Additionally, many of these phones are compatible with hearing aids using the 'T' setting.

2. Consider whether you need a desk phone, a cordless phone or a phone that combines both:

Phones for the hearing impaired are available in two main options: corded or cordless. Often manufacturers will offer a combo pack to take advantage of the separate benefits of both. The main difference is that desk phones, due to their size, often include other sensory cues that are useful for the hard of hearing and the visually impaired such as flashing lights to indicate an incoming call, large buttons, a larger visual display and a backlit keypad. Some cordless amplified phones may share these features, however, due to the physical limitations of the device, these features are more subtle.

Benefits of desk phones:

• Do not require battery power to operate
• Often include other sensory cues in a prominent manner
• Models that are wall mounted are less likely to get misplaced
• More desk phones include a built-in answering machine than cordless phones
• Greater maximum volume output

Benefits of cordless phones:

• Can be taken from room to room and even to the garden
• Some models can be extended with extra handsets
• Ideal for answering calls without having to move quickly to the phone location

3. Plan your budget in advance:

As with most new phones, prices will vary from one model to the next and from one manufacturer to the other. The easiest way to find the best hearing impaired phone for your budget is to consider the necessary features you require to help manage your hearing loss. Phones will vary in prices based on:

• Type of phone (cordless vs. desk phone),
• Maximum amplification level,
• Built-in answering phone,
• Whether you need advanced features such as outgoing speech amplification, headset and shaker outputs, ringtones and so on.

4. Level of user experience required:

Depending on the age and background of the user, it is common for the hard of hearing to look for simple models. For this reason, extra-loud, amplified phones are often bought for the elderly because they are simpler to use. Therefore, when deciding on the best phone, the level of the device's complexity and the intended user must be taken into account.

When considering all of these recommendations and shaping your basic requirements, you may also consider the following list of the most important features and characteristics that a phone designed for the hard of hearing should have:

• Telecoil compatibility
• Visual ring indicator
• Increased ringer volume
• Handsfree speaker option
• Vocalised keypad
• Backlit keypad
• Large display and buttons to dial
• Caller ID
• Built-in answer phone

Top Phones For Hard Of Hearing

Corded Phones:

The Doro Magna 4000 is one of THE loudest phones in production today, boasting a powerful 60dB voice volume and a 90dB ringer volume. That's about 6 times louder than a standard phone!

Combination Phones:

We dispense a great selection of corded desk phones, cordless phones for the home, and easy-to-use extra loud mobile phones.

If you prefer combo or cordless phones, you may be interested in models such as the Geemarc AmpliDect 295 Combi Photo Amplified Cordless Telephone. Some of its top features include:

• Receiving tone can be increased to up to 10dB
• Volume control can be adjusted to +30dB
• A backlit display with large characters
• Backlit keypad with easy to use big buttons
• Outdoor range of 300 metres
• Indoor range of 50 metres
• Speakerphone

Cordless Phones:

The Emporia GD61AB Cordless Phone with Answering Machine is a handy, lightweight cordless phone with an illuminated display screen and Caller ID. The phone is hearing aid compatible, and has a ringer volume of 81db and adjustable receiver volume of +30db. A flexible telephone option that provides not only a cordless handset but a digital answering machine with up to 30 minutes of capacity.

Smartphones and Mobile Phones:

The Swissvoice C50s Comfort and Care Smartphone and Base is an extra loud smartphone with some added features, designed specifically for seniors. This easy to use mobile phone charges on a simple base station. Hearing aid compatible, the C50s not only provides an extra loud handset volume (+35dB) and ringers (+90dB), it also offers comfortable, tactile keys for easy dialling. Special functions include an SOS button on the back of the phone, that can be pre-programmed to contact specific people during an emergency. If selected, the Swissvoice Premium Service enables loved ones to access the phone remotely to provide additional assistance if required.

One of our most popular mobile phones, the Doro 1360 mobile phone is designed with hearing loss in mind. The phone is extra loud, having a 35dB voice volume and 83dB ringer volume. There's a built-in camera facility, FM-radio, torch and assistance button. The tactile, high contrast keys are widely spaced for fingers that are less dextrous than they used to be.

Depending on your country, a different selection of phones for hard of hearing may be available. We recommend selecting the relevant store based on the location the item will be shipped to.

Check Your Hearing For Free

At Hearing Direct, we have created our very own online hearing test so you can test your hearing for free and in the comfort of your own home.

All you will need is a few spare minutes and some ear or headphones. Once the test is complete, you will get your results instantly via email. Depending on the outcome of the hearing test, you may be encouraged to take further action.

About Hearing Direct

We are one of the world's leading hearing aid specialists. HearingDirect offers a wide range of affordable products, as well as information resources to help improve the quality of life for the hard of hearing. We sell:

• Hearing aids,
• Batteries,
• Accessories such as earplugs,
• and amplified devices such as super loud alarm clocks and amplified phones.

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Author: Gary Hill

Gary comes from 16 years' experience in the hearing aid industry in both manufacturing and retail. Before co-founding HearingDirect, Gary was Marketing Director for a leading global hearing aid brand; GN ReSound where he worked for the UK sales division and latterly in their global headquarters in Copenhagen. He was responsible for developing and launching major global hearing aid models, conducting extensive research into the needs of the hearing impaired community and their performance demands of hearing aids and other devices.