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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / June 2005Partly OT - telephone for hearing impaired
For the arthritis part of my problem, I need a phone that has a speaker phone. I have two such phones right now, one corded and one cordless. It is getting harder to understand what people are saying and I finally realized that maybe the problem isn't the phones, but that my hearing isn't as good as it used to be. I am 64 years old. Most phones add so many bells and whistles that I don't need and the price goes up for features I don't really want. I just want a speakerphone with clear, easy to understand sound. I was hoping to find what I want for under $100. So far I have found two phones that sound like they would work. Both cost over $100. The Panasonic KX-TG2386B is a cordless phone, voice enhanced and sound amplified with speakerphone. The ClearSounds 40XLC is a little cheaper. It is a corded phone with speech amplification and speakerphone. I know Panasonic makes reliable products. I never heard of ClearSounds before. My questions: Can anyone tell me about either product? Does anyone know of a reliable phone with speakerphone and easy to understand sound for under $100? Thank you in advance for any advice. Ellen Ellen wrote: > For the arthritis part of my problem, I need a phone that has a > speaker phone. I have two such phones right now, one corded [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > and easy to understand sound for under $100? > Thank you in advance for any advice. I obtained a FREE corded phone from the state, after a doctor filled out a form that every doctor should have a supply of. There is a tax on every phone bill, every month, to fund this program. There is no income qualification. On my phone, the bell volume and speech volume and tone are adjustable. It has a 10-number memory and BIG push buttons. It's not a speaker phone, but I can hear every word every caller speaks, which is not possible with any other phone. So, check about this availability in your state. It may be nation-wide because of ADA, although my mother had one long before ADA became law. Possibly it's nation-wide under some FCC R&R. ... Windows NT: [N]ot [T]oday. [N]ot [T]omorrow, either. > Ellen wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > had one long before ADA became law. Possibly it's > nation-wide under some FCC R&R. Just want to add that the phone supplied thru the state program is also better quality than any you are likely to find in the stores. Jo I just ordered a Motorola MD681 5.8GHz Cordless Speakerphone w/Answering System from Amazon.com for $79.88 and then it has a $30 rebate. It has a speakerphone both in the base and the handset. It also has volume controls. I can't vouch for it's clearness yet, but I read a lot of reviews and people said it was a great phone. That's why I bought it. My friends are always telling me they can't hear me on the phone I have now (which is about 4 years old). I should receive it in a few days so I can let you know how well it works. The price was great, that's why I got it, but you have to buy it before 6/30 to get the rebate. I'll give a full review when it gets here :) Carole > For the arthritis part of my problem, I need a phone that has a speaker > phone. I have two such phones right now, one corded and one cordless. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Thank you in advance for any advice. > Ellen > For the arthritis part of my problem, I need a phone that has a speaker > phone. I have two such phones right now, one corded and one cordless. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Thank you in advance for any advice. > Ellen Ellen, my wife is a Professor of Audiology, so I checked with her on this. She said that the ClearSounds brand is not known for providing quality sound and does not recommend it. She suggested that you visit an audiology program that maintains an Assistive Listening Device center. Most university based audiology programs have one, as do many state school's for the deaf. If you let me know where you live, she'll try to find one for you. If you are in the DC area, she would be happy to see you at Gallaudet. The benefit of an ALD center is that they can get you a phone that is matched to your hearing loss. They can also work through state programs to help with funding, and you can try it out right at the center. Let me know if we can help in any way. Walt Hanks There is a site called www.hearmore.com, it is a site my audiologist sent me too. You can get a full size catalog free from them, if you like to look... I had a walker 400 but it just wasn't getting it for me, so I switched to a clarity 435 with a booster on it. I works pretty good but then again, sometimes it don't. I use amplification with clarity headset as well. I also have an over the hearing aide adaptor for my cell phone, works pretty good too. Verizon set me up and with their LOUD ringers I get along pretty good for hearing impaired person, who was told she should be considered deaf.. thanks for listening LOL janers > There is a site called > www.hearmore.com, it is a site my audiologist sent me too. You can get a [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > janers I'm finding that since I got the cochlear implant, I can hear a lot on the phone my using the speaker. Two of our cordless phones have speaker phone built in. I think my cell phone does too, but haven't tried that yet. I'm having lots of fun. I heard my Siamese cat meow at me for the first time in years last week. I had a nice conversation with him. Charlie says Jake the cat should be very happy now, that he has been getting up on the counter every morning calling me all along. Jo Jo, I had wondered how you were doing with the implant. So glad you are beginning to hear. Hope it will just keep on betting better and better. Gwen > > There is a site called > > www.hearmore.com, it is a site my audiologist sent me too. You can get a [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Jo This is probably a stupid question but since I find it harder to hear anyone on speaker phone, why if you already have hearing issues would you want to use that instead of a phone next to the ear itself. And Jo -- so good to see you post about your success with the implant. Duckie > I'm finding that since I got the cochlear implant, I can hear a lot on the > phone my using the speaker. Two of our cordless phones have speaker phone [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Jo  Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) > This is probably a stupid question but since I find it harder to hear > anyone on speaker phone, why if you already have hearing issues would you > want to use that instead of a phone next to the ear itself. > And Jo -- so good to see you post about your success with the implant. > Duckie With the hearing aid I got feedback if I put a phone up to it. With the implant, the speaker creates a sound level that it is already set for. Maybe at some future point one of the four available setting can be set for phone use. This thing is such a new model that I don't think all the programs and accessories are even out yet. It doesn't even have a storage box yet. I got the first of this model implanted in Northern California. The web site talks about cables that give a direct connection to a computer or TV or CD player. But I'm guessing they don't want to overwhelm me with too many things at once. Jo Walt, thank you for the offer. I appreciate the many suggestions offered here. I live in Phoenixville, PA, which is near King of Prussia, an hour west of Philadelphia. I try very hard to avoid doctors. I hate the long waits and they usually don't have anything to offer me, but maybe in the area of hearing loss they are more helpful than with RA. (This is just my experience, I know some people with arthritis have been helped by doctors) Ellen > Walt, thank you for the offer. > I appreciate the many suggestions offered here. I live in Phoenixville, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > know some people with arthritis have been helped by doctors) > Ellen I agree with the long waits for doctors. The last time I saw my doctor in NYC, I had an appointment for 12noon and got to see him at 4:15. I was livid. I have to say that out here in Washington, I have been amazed. I see doctors all the time and I've never waited more than 5 minutes. I don't even bother taking a book anymore :) Carole :) > Walt, thank you for the offer. > I appreciate the many suggestions offered here. I live in Phoenixville, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > know some people with arthritis have been helped by doctors) > Ellen Wendy (my wife) will call her friend at Children's today and get a recommendation for you. But, there are a couple of things you need to know: First, Audiologists are not physicians and there is no need to see a physician before seeing an audiologist. If the audiologist feels you need a medical evaluation, he or she will tell you so. Second, untreated RA could be the cause of your hearing loss. RA is a serious disease that can shorten your life. As much as you might dislike doctors, I strongly urge you to find a rheumatologist you like and start treatment. Susan Hoch at Hanneman is one of the best there is. I'll get back with the recommendation later today. Walt > Second, untreated RA could be the cause of your hearing loss. RA is a > serious disease that can shorten your life. As much as you might dislike [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Walt The best of support and advice. A person can be their own worst enemy. RA must be controlled. Hearing, voice, sight can all be involved with RA, Pa, inflam.arth. as a whole AND IT takes an RD to do it best. Harv > Walt, thank you for the offer. > I appreciate the many suggestions offered here. I live in Phoenixville, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > know some people with arthritis have been helped by doctors) > Ellen Please, if you have any hearing left, remember hearing loss can be part and parcel of RA. It most likely caused mine. A good DMARD might preserve the hearing you have left for a while. Walt, tell Wendy I got the new "Cochlear Freedom" implant. Its really nice. And will be better once my audiologist and I both learn how it works. I can hear the TV in the bedroom. Cannot hear the TV in the family room, but get every crackle if someone is eating a bag of chips. Jo Jo ... Cannot hear the TV in the family room, but get > every crackle if someone is eating a bag of chips. > > Jo delightedly LOL! does the sound give you the munchies?<vwg> i'm loving your progress with your new implant, jo. kate > Jo >> Jo > > delightedly LOL! does the sound give you the munchies?<vwg> i'm loving > your progress with your new implant, jo. > > kate Oh yes,,,, you can feel the joy of hearing the cat,,,ect. I just love it. It is like doing the stairs after a steroid shot,,,,, because you can. Harv > Walt, tell Wendy I got the new "Cochlear Freedom" implant. Its really nice. > And will be better once my audiologist and I both learn how it works. I can > hear the TV in the bedroom. Cannot hear the TV in the family room, but get > every crackle if someone is eating a bag of chips. here I am, a couple of thousand miles away, and I am so excited to read your words about how your hearing is improving day by day with the implant. The excitement must be overwhelming for you and your family! Hoping for many happy days with your implant! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare >> Walt, tell Wendy I got the new "Cochlear Freedom" implant. Its really >> nice. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > excitement must be overwhelming for you and your family! Hoping for many > happy days with your implant! It is a truly strange mixture of excitement, apprehension, delight, frustration, etc. Tomorrow is my final surgeon visit, once cleared, I can get back on my MTX that part of me has been really missing. (The rest of me is going to miss the Vanilla Martini's I've been having instead) Jo > It is a truly strange mixture of excitement, apprehension, delight, > frustration, etc. > > Tomorrow is my final surgeon visit, once cleared, I can get back on my MTX > that part of me has been really missing. (The rest of me is going to miss > the Vanilla Martini's I've been having instead) heehee, well you can still have them occasionally! (one of the glories of dropping Arava is that I can now drink something a *little* more often - but I keep waiting for the right occasion! If our current afternoon heat holds much longer, a cold one of those beers Mike just bought might be in my future......... what a mix of feelings you are having to deal with through this - my hat's off to you! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare |
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