New smoke detectors emit a lower frequency sound in a specific pattern, called a T3 signal. But this sound may still be out of range for many people. If you are concerned that you won’t wake up when the smoke detector goes off, there is one system we recommend most often. It is made by Silent Call.

Silent Call is the only manufacturer who offers a smoke detector that emits the sound but also sends a signal to a special receiver that sits on your nightstand. A bedshaker plugged into this receiver will vibrate when the smoke detector is activated. The Signature Series offers a receiver that monitors the signal coming from the smoke detector to ensure there is communication between the two units.

This is the only system on the market that monitors the signals between the smoke detector and receiver to ensure you the system is functioning properly. Silent Call offers system components for full house alerting. You can research all of the components in the online store.

Many phones have speakerphone capability but the problem is that the speakerphone may not be of the highest sound quality. Good enough for someone with near normal hearing, but just not good enough if you depend on clarity and volume to hear.

Speakerphones offer a fast and very easy way to listen with both ears to the call. No telecoils, neckloops or other accessories to handle.

While there are several amplified phones with good speakerphones that can useful if you have a moderate loss, there are only a few that stand out if your loss is more severe.

We have tested speakerphones side-by-side to find the ones that provide the highest quality, loud, clear sound for those who need it. These phones don’t cut off the first few words each time a caller speaks, a problem with half-duplex speakerphones.

We evaluate each new phone model that offers a speakerphone because we are always looking for the best value. Right now, there are 2 models that we recommend when a client tells us that the speakerphone is the most desired feature they want on the phone.

If a client wants a cordless phone, we recommend the Clarity Professional C4230 most often because it has a speakerphone in both the handset and the base of the phone. The most popular speakerphone on a corded telephone is the Fanstel ST150 corded with business grade speakerphone.

Speakerphones are best used in a home environment.

Want to use a speakerphone at work?
Using a speakerphone at work should probably be the last resort. Everyone around you can hear a call on speakerphone and this can become annoying (just like people who talk on their cell phones in public places, oblivous to the fact you might only be one seat away). Even if you have your own office, people across the hall may be able to hear your call.

If you want to be hands-free at work or want to listen with both ears, then a headset or neckloop is the better option. There are amplifiers with headsets available but that’s the topic of another post.

Speakerphone Etiquette

• Always let your caller know you are putting them on speakerphone.
• Stay close to the phone when you talk so that your caller can hear you.
• Turn down the TV and make sure background noise is low because your caller will hear background noise as well as your voice.
• Don’t eat or type while you are talking. Callers can hear that too.
• Let callers know if anyone else is in the room.

The receiver is the part that you wear. It can have traditional headphones that go over your head and cover your ears or they look like stethoscope earpieces attached to the unit that sits under your chin. Another style uses earphones while many systems can use a neckloop so that you can use the telecoils on your hearing aids.

There are many TV listening systems on the market now and we’ve tested them all. We’re happy to report that they all do a great job of giving clean audio signals and will help you enjoy watching TV again with your family. The best one for you will depend on what you are looking for. It’s best to determine the features you like, and then look at the options on each TV system.

If you want to be able to roam the house while listening to the TV, then you’ll need the Sennheiser 820 system that uses radio frequency to transmit the sound. You’ll want to choose a model that uses 95kHZ infrared frequency if you want to be able to take it with you to a theater that uses infrared.

Many people prefer to use their hearing aid or cochlear implant telecoil, so they will need to use any system that has an output jack for a neckloop. If you have telecoils, then this option allows you to keep your aids in while watching TV and simply switch it off if you want to hear other sounds in the room.

One other note, if you have a plasma TV, then you’ll want the TV Ears PRO system with power amplifier. This system is designed to transmit without interference from the TV.

The newest addition from TV Ears is a remote speaker. This is an excellent way to get a speaker near the person who wants to hear it. You can turn the volume down because the speaker is right next to you. No need to wear a headset!

Check out all of these TV listening systems in our online store.

I do actually have an ulterior motive for watching more videos right now. I am updating the www.BeyondHearingAids.com website. Along with a lot of new content, I’m adding video to the mix. I’ve wanted to do this for almost two years but never found the time to learn something new.

If you know me, you know that I don’t have a problem talking in front of a group of people. What you may not know is how much effort I put into NOT being in front of a camera.

I spent two days in near agony stepping out of my comfort zone in February working with a videographer. Mira was experienced and helped me face my fears as we worked on taping and editing. How interesting it is now that I look at the videos and know what I’ll do differently next time. I feel like an old pro now.  

This started me to think about ALDs and how they can be intimidating to a lot of people. Sometimes people put off buying an ALD because they are uncomfortable with the idea of change. When the discomfort of missed phone calls, TV shows or family events is stronger than the fear of change, they are ready to try something new.

It takes courage to try something new, even when you expect positive outcomes. My motivation to produce the videos is to help people become more at ease with ALDs. If that works, then all the pain was worth it.

The Better Hearing Institute’s newest newsletter shares Janice Schacter’s article from the January/February 2009 issue of Volta Voices that gets an A+ in my book for consumer education when choosing a cell phone for purchase. You can read more about her from BHI’s newsletter.

Being able to use a cell phone with your hearing aid without the need for an accessory is certainly more convenient.

However, if you are not yet in the market for a new cell phone, you can enhance the performance of cell phones and hearing aids with accessories like silhouette earpieces, amplified neckloops and Bluetooth neckloops that work with your hearing aid telecoils. You get the added benefit of reducing background noise when you use your telecoil for even clearer understanding.

Cell phone accessories that are wired will plug into your cell phone’s headset jack. The jack must be a 2.5mm jack. Many cell phones will require an adapter to use these accessories. Many phones come with their proprietary adapter. Does your phone have a universal 2.5mm plug or do you need an adapter? Check this cell phone accessory site we use. We don’t profit from this site. It’s just easy to use. Your model number is usually listed on a label under the battery.

Now that you have better cell phone access, don’t be lured into thinking you are also safer.

Is Hands Free Cell Phone Use Really Safer?

Did you know that 8 states ban the use of hand-held cell phone use? The Govenors Highway Safety Association spells out the current laws for each state in regard to handheld cell phone bans by state.

Not surprisingly, cell phone use is the one of the most common driver distractions.  But according to a study mentioned on the GHSA website, drivers don’t need to hold, dial or even talk into a cell phone to be distracted. Simply listening intently is enough to impair driving!

How well do you use the cell phone with your hearing aids? Share your favorite listening accessory or cell phone model that has worked well for you. We can all benefit.

As way of introduction, I’ve been working with ALDs for the past 15 years. I started the company, Beyond Hearing Aids, selling ALDs. I began training vocational rehabilitation counselors and then audiologists on ALDs and technical training became a large part of my career. For those who like details (fair warning), you can see the list of trainings and published books and articles in the ‘About Becky’ section of the website.

I’ve assembled an expert team who supports my vision of treating our customers with the utmost respect and empower them to choose ALDs to meet their personal needs. We’ve been really good at helping people once they call us. Now we are going to become really good at sharing our experience proactively.

Personal Pet-Peeve Incites ACTION

One of my pet peeves is looking at a company’s blog and not finding current, regular posts. I’ll be honest. It really hit hard when I owned up to the fact that I was one of those companies. This year I set a goal of improving communications with my customers and while I’ve been consistent in getting the ALD Newsletter out every month, I’ve not been as faithful with other means of sharing information.

So these are the two compelling reasons for reactivating this blog. I’m excited to share ideas and information on how ALDs have a place and purpose for people with hearing loss. Like everything else I do, I welcome your comments and thoughts.

The answer is – yes you can. Here is a description of the HearBuddy DAI (Direct Audio Input) Cell Phone Accessory. It gives you the cleanest, clearest signal possible. Just plug it directly into your cell phone’s 2.5 mm headset jack. This accessory also works with cordless phones, CD players, IPODs, or other audio devices:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Product%20Catalog/Detail.asp?ItemCd=328

Hearing Aids with DAI Capability
To use this DAI cell phone accessory, you’ll need Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids that have DAI capability. Look at your hearing aids to see if they have one of these markings:

• A small circle with an arrow through it
• Three tiny dots that are jacks which accept DAI
• A small plate that you can pop out with your fingernail uncovering a connection (Sometimes a hole is drilled into the battery door to make this connection).

If you’re not sure you have DAI capability, contact your audiologist to find out.

Hearing Aid Audio Boots
If you do have BTE hearing aids with DAI capability, order your audio boot and DAI cord from your audiologist. Here’s a video showing how the audio boot and DAI cord is attached to the hearing aid:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Home/blog/BlogView.asp?BlogID=15

What if You Don’t Have Hearing Aid DAI Capability?
If you have hearing aid telecoils, but not DAI capability, try the T-Link. The T-Link is a lightweight, hands free cell phone headset. The praise from people who have tried the T-Link continues to pour in. They are saying that the sound is clear even on cell phones they can’t ordinarily use. Here’s a description:

• Built-in mic (you do not need to hold the phone to your ear)

• No batteries

• Interference free (no noise or feedback)

A single T-Link costs $49. If you want to hear even better, order a dual T-Link and use both ears while talking on the phone. (Dual T-Link ($59). Contact the Beyond Hearing Aids office to order:

1-800-838-1649 (v/tty)

1-859-371-9203 (local)

1-800-371-1363 24-hour fax
Good luck, Jane!

Once it’s known that a person has a hearing loss, people think that the condition is easily corrected by wearing hearing aids. They erroneously think that using hearing aids is like putting on a pair of glasses - suddenly fuzzy images become crystal clear!  The person who has a difficult time finding the right hearing aids (and then getting them programmed correctly) is considered stubborn, vain, hard-to-please, and inconsiderate.

Getting the Right Hearing Aids

Hearing aids can change your life. Many people shudder at the thought of being without their hearing aids. But just as there are many successful hearing aid users, there are also many who struggle to find the “best” hearing aid for a particular hearing loss. Even if you do find an appropriate hearing aid, there are no guarantees that it will be programmed correctly – and wearing a pair of hearing aids that aren’t programmed correctly can be worse than worthless. If you are struggling to find appropriate hearing aids, read Dr. Matthew Bakke’s article describing what’s involved in making a wise hearing aid decision:

http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/audiolog/1996-March/001273.html

Evaluating the Hearing Aids: Your Observations and Feedback
Knowing everything you can about your unique hearing loss and then learning about hearing aid features is only part of the process. The real work begins when you must evaluate the hearing aids and describe to your audiologist or hearing health care provider what is right and what is wrong with the hearing aids. Learning how to talk the same language is a big step forward in getting your hearing aids programmed correctly:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Home/blog/BlogView.asp?BlogID=8

Evaluating the Hearing Aids: A Wearable Computer System Â
Anyone who has tried evaluating hearing aids using their own observations understands how difficult this is. Sometimes you just wonder if you’re too sensitive or maybe just plain crazy. Did that just sound like a vampire breathing down your neck? (Relax, it’s probably just the expanders hunting for soft sounds to make louder!) Did the sound just cut out and then come back? Is one hearing aid turned up louder than another? Do trucks really sound like jet engines taking off?

Wouldn’t it be great if evaluating a pair of hearing aids could take place automatically – similar to the way a strap-on electrocardiogram gives the doctor information about how the heart is functioning as the patient goes about daily life?

A wearable hearing computer system is currently under development for this very purpose. A set of microphones records the sounds in the environment and the sounds coming out of the hearing aids.  The hearing health care professional then decides how to make changes to the hearing aid based on this specific, computerized information. (Scroll down to the sub-heading “Field Evaluation of Hearing Aids”):

http://gri.gallaudet.edu/Publications/ragu_spring2004.pdf#search=%22Matthew%20Bakke%20Field%20Evaluation%20Fitting%20Hearing%20Aids%22

Some Hearing Losses are an Easy Fit
Not everyone has a difficult time finding hearing aids that work well. People with flat or so-called “plain vanilla” hearing losses are usually easy to fit. This type of hearing loss involves an equal loss spread across the low, mid and high frequency ranges. Problems happen when the low frequencies are near normal and the high frequencies are non-existent or vice versa – the high frequencies are near normal and the low frequencies are non-existent. Take the time to learn about your audiogram so that you can understand why you’re having difficulty being a successful hearing aid user:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Home/blog/BlogView.asp?BlogID=6

Oh, and if someone else wonders why you’re having difficulty being a successful hearing aid user, hand them this article. It will do wonders for your self-esteem.

I think that people who are hard of hearing have a lot to learn from people who are culturally Deaf. People who are culturally Deaf have a strong lobbying group to get their needs met despite their small numbers. They see their hearing loss as a difference rather than a disability. They do not seek to be invisible.  As a result, they get the accommodations that they need.

Think of the many times that American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are present at graduations, conventions, and plays. On the other hand, how often do you see assistive listening devices (ALDs) or real-time captioning at these functions?

Our Differences

There are many differences between people who are deaf or hard of hearing in the United States. Here are some of them:

Difference in Numbers

Culturally Deaf: People who are born deaf or who became deaf early in life (usually before learning to speak). They rely mainly on sign language to communicate. There are approximately 300,000 to 500,000 culturally Deaf (with a capital D) people or 1.4% of all people with hearing loss.

Oral Deaf: People who are born deaf or who became deaf early in life. They rely mainly on oral communications to communicate. (Actual numbers are not available).

Late Deafened: People who become deaf later in life after acquiring language (usually after the age of 13). There are approximately 800,000 to 1.5 million late deafened people or 3.8% of all people with hearing loss.

Hard-of-Hearing: People with partial hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. There are approximately 28 million hard of hearing people or 95% of all people with hearing loss.
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Difference in Language

Culturally Deaf: People who are culturally Deaf use American Sign Language (ASL) as their first language.

Oral Deaf: People who are oral deaf are raised to maximize their oral and aural communication. They are usually fitted with hearing aids and encouraged to function as a hearing person. They use English as their first language but generally know some sign language as a second language.

Late Deafened: People who are late deafened overwhelmingly use English as their first language. A few may have learned basic sign language as a second language.

Hard of Hearing: People who are hard of hearing also overwhelmingly use English as their first language. Only 5% of hard of hearing people know how to sign.

Difference in Accommodations

Culturally Deaf: People who are culturally Deaf prefer to use ASL interpreters and use visual (rather than auditory) types of technology. They use visual devices with text messaging capabilities and captioning technology.

Oral Deaf: People who are oral deaf generally prefer a visual representation of English.

Late Deafened: People who are late deafened generally prefer a visual representation of English. They derive minimal benefit from hearing aids and technology.

Hard of Hearing: People who are hard of hearing usually prefer to use auditory devices with (or without) a hearing aid. They want to maximize their residual hearing and use amplified telephones, personal listening systems, and TV listening devices. However, they also like real-time captions at events (a text read-out of what is said when it’s said displayed on a large screen) and other forms of captioning such as rear-window captions at movies and TV closed captioning.

Difference in Identity

Culturally Deaf: People who are culturally Deaf find support within their deaf communities and are characterized by their sense of pride. Though their numbers are relatively small, they are a very visible group that garners media attention because of their strong lobbying efforts, language, and cultural identity.

Oral Deaf: People who are oral deaf function in the hearing world with regard to friends, family and employment. They generally do not have close ties to the culturally Deaf community and did not attend a school for the deaf.

Late Deafened: People who are late deafened generally do not have close ties to the culturally Deaf community. They function in the hearing world with regard to friends, family and employment.

Hard of Hearing: People who are hard of hearing function in the hearing world with regard to friends, family, and employment. Many do not know others with a hearing loss. They are characterized by their sense of shame and denial. As a result, they remain “invisible” and often do not get the accommodations they need.

What Do You Think?
Do you agree that people who are hard of hearing can and should learn from people who are culturally Deaf? If not, why not? If yes, what’s the best way to do this?

I agree that missing what your loved ones are saying is the greatest sacrifice.

For this reason, the personal amplifier is one of my favorite assistive listening devices. Personal amplifiers (PockeTalkers, SoundWizards, Directors) amplify the voice and not the background noise. They shine in noisy, one-on-one situations such as cars and restaurants. Personal amplifiers are simple; they consist of only a microphone, amplifier, and wire:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Product%20Catalog/Detail.asp?ItemCd=315

Front Seat Passenger
While driving, I hand my PockeTalker Pro to my mom (my front seat passenger) and put the earbuds into my ears. Voila! The road noise fades into the background and my mom’s soft voice comes through loud (as loud as I want it) and clear. How simple!

One Child Back Seat Passenger
My granddaughter is sitting in a car seat in the back seat. She is too young to hold the PockeTalker. To fix this problem, I extended the microphone and fastened it above her head and close to her car seat. This is how it’s done:

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Home/blog/BlogView.asp?BlogID=10

One Front Seat and Two Back Seat Passengers
You can attach 3 microphones to your PockeTalker to accommodate 2 backseat passengers and a front seat passenger. It’s easy with two Y-Adapters from Radio Shack. Here’s what you do:

Pull out the plug-in microphone on your PockeTalker

Plug a Y-Adapter (#274-310A) into the microphone jack:
      http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?numProdsPerPage=10&y=14&origkw=y+adapter&x=7&kwCatId=&kw=y+adapter&pg=1&x=6&y=5

Plug another elongated Y-Adapter (#42-2437) into the first Y-Adapter:
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http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?y=14&y=5&origkw=y+adapter&x=7&x=6&kwCatId=&kw=y+adapter&numProdsPerPage=10&pg=3

Now plug 3 directional lapel microphones into the Y-Connectors:
       http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Product%20Catalog/Detail.asp?ItemCd=121

Sharing a PockeTalker: When Both Have a Hearing Loss
My cousin Lily has a severe hearing loss. When I’d drive her to doctors’ appointments, I’d let her use the PockeTalker. The problem with this is that now I’d struggle to hear her.

We stumbled along with this unacceptable arrangement until the answer hit me: We can both use the same PockeTalker with the right accessories. Because I keep a stash of different listening devices on hand for others to try, I already had the accessories I needed to share the PockeTalker with Lily.

Sharing a PockeTalker: Add Y Connectors
The PockeTalker comes with a jack for a microphone and a jack for headphones. You can pull out the plug-in microphone and plug in a Y-Connector. Radio Shack has lots of different Y-Connectors (or adapters). Bring your personal amplifier and choose an appropriate one:

Sharing a  PockeTalker: Add an additional microphone
Next, plug the PockeTalker’s plug-in microphone into one branch of the Y-Connector and plug a directional lapel microphone into the other branch of the Y-Connector: 

Now put the PockeTalker into your shirt pocket so that the plug-in microphone is close to your collar. Meanwhile, your passenger can clip the additional lapel microphone to his or her collar.

Sharing a PockeTalker: Add an additional set of earbuds
Next, plug another Y-Connector into the headphone jack and attach another set of earbuds (or other listening option):

http://www.beyondhearingaids.com/Product%20Catalog/Detail.asp?ItemCd=108

The Versatile Personal Amplifier
Personal amplifiers are simple, economical, effective and versatile. They even come with their own special accessories so that you can hear TV and on the phone. But to me, the best thing about a personal amplifier is that I don’t have to miss what my loved ones are saying – unless I want to!