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Assistive Devices

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The Door: hearing Someone at the Door

Problems:

• Can't hear someone knocking at the door
• Can't hear regular doorbell

Solutions:

• Loud doorbell
• Flashing light
  • If in one room only, might not see it
  • If house lights flash there may be security implications
• Portable doorbell with/without flashing light
  • Got to carry it with you
  • Battery or mains
• Baby alarm

The Alarm Clock

Problems:

• Take hearing aids out at night
• Sleep on 'better' ear
• Can't always rely on partner / dog / cat
• If have an appointment, lie awake all night worrying about waking up

Solutions:

• Extra-loud alarm clock
  • Wakes the neighbours
  • Not always reliable
• Vibrating pad under pillow and/or flashing light alarm clock

Smoke Alarm

Problems:

• Take hearing aids out at night
• Sleep on 'better' ear
• Can't always rely on partner / dog / cat
• Smoke alarms produce a high-pitched sound, which most people with a hearing loss find more difficult to hear

Solutions:

• Specially adapted smoke alarm with a vibrating pad to put under the pillow, and an optional flashing light
  • The flashing light should not be used with care by anyone with epilepsy

The Telephone

Problems:

• In other room
• Watching TV
• There is other noise in the background

Solutions:

• Telephone with a flashing indicator
  • Must be in same room and fairly near phone
  • Extension bell from BT - free to BT customers
• Flashing light
  • Must be in same room
• Flashing house lights
  • Security implications
• Baby Alarm

Hearing the TV

Problems:

• Can't hear TV unless volume is turned up loud
• Neighbours / family / friends complaining
• Distortion from volume being turned up too high
• Can't hear the TV at all - can hear the sound but not work out what they are saying

Solutions:

• Headphones
  • Plug-in (can cut off sound for everyone else)
• Infra-red system for use with headphones or a neckloop for a hearing aid user
• Radio system for use with headphones or a neckloop for a hearing aid user
• Induction loop system for use with hearing aid
  • Room
  • Personal
• Sub-titles

The Kitchen

Oven timer: problem & solutions:

• Can't hear a timer bleep
• Vibrating pocket timer
  • Also acts as an alarm clock
• Vibrating wristwatch
  • Also acts as an alarm clock

Alternatives

A Total Alerting System

A Pager System

• Vibrating pager worn on belt / in pocket
• Connects to all major items in house:
  • Doorbell
  • Smoke alarm
  • Telephone
  • Alarm clock
• Expensive, but comprehensive

A Hearing Dog for Deaf People

• Specially trained to alert owner to sounds
• Responds to:
  • Alarm clock
  • Doorbell
  • Telephone
  • Timer
  • Smoke alarm

Where to find:

• Doorbell - Social Services
• Alarm clock - purchase privately
• Smoke alarm - can try Social Services, but not likely to get one
• TV aids - Social Services
• Telephone - BT for extension bell, otherwise purchase privately
• Timer - purchase privately

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