Technology Used for the Hearing Impaired

Many individuals dealing with hearing impairment are faced with a number of day-to-day challenges that most people with regular hearing take for granted. However, many products--such as specialized telephones and alarm clocks--have been created to assist deaf people. These technologies can make a person with hearing loss operate more readily in the modern world.

TDD Phones

• Known as a telecommunications device for the deaf, the TDD phone is a device that electronically displays text so a deaf person can communicate. TDD phones utilize telephone lines.

Hearing Aids

• The most traditional type of devices used for people who are nearly deaf or have extreme hearing loss are hearing aids. A hearing aid is a small device; it fits into a person's ears and amplifies sound.

Alarm Clock

• A variety of alarm clocks are designed for use by deaf people. These alarm clocks range in signaling from LED lights, very loud noise or vibration in an effort to wake deaf people.

Cochlear Implant

• Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices which provide the user with an electronic sense of sound. This is generally used when people are completely deaf or are extremely hard of hearing.

Hearing Dogs

• Sold through specialty organizations and donated by charities, dogs can be trained to assist people who are deaf. These dogs are essential to help deaf people hear things like doorbells or smoke alarms.