Are you finding yourself talking less on the phone because you have trouble hearing? Hearing loss, over time, can make you feel isolated. Don’t break up with your phone. There are ways to work it out so you can stay in touch with the ones you love.
It’s All About Communication
They say communication is the essential thing in any relationship, and that is certainly true with your phone. The question is what can you do to make things better.
-
Do the voices sound too soft? Check to make sure the volume is all the way up on the phone.
-
If the volume is already on high, have you tried an accessory like headphones or a Bluetooth? It’s a relatively inexpensive way to improve the sound quality on the phone, and that might be all you need.
-
Have you had an ear exam? Not all hearing loss is permanent, so get a proper diagnosis. It might be something as simple as too much earwax or an ear infection.
Once you rule out some of the more obvious problems, you can look at other solutions that will get you back on the phone.
There’s an App for That
Actually, there’s more than one app. There are many apps you can download that work to get you, and your phone back on the same page, some of which are pretty cool.
Some apps turn what the person you are talking to says to text you can read. These apps are far from perfect, but you should be able to work with them. Brands to look up include:
-
Note, Listen for Deaf
Not all voice to text apps are free, but most are reasonably priced.
There is a Phone for That
Some phones do the same thing as an app for those looking for a landline solution. They can amplify the voice on the other end, making it easier to hear. They also work to equalize the tone, so high pitched sounds that tend to drop off become clearer.
A captioning phone is another option. The captioning service requires a unique phone that has a screen. Captioning works with a third party operator that either repeats the words said so speech recognition software can translate them into text or types them directly into the system. Those words then pop up on the screen. Most captioning devices require internet service, as well.
Text-to-Voice Teletype (TTY) is an old-school phone system that is still around and works similarly to the captioning phone. It requires a TTY device that sits next to the phone to display the text, though.
Hearing Aids Are the Best Option
It used to be that every time a hearing aid got near a phone, there would be ear piercing feedback, but those days are over. The latest technology can work with a hearing aid compatible phone to enhance the sound, and remove interference like background noise. Even better, they are wireless and work even when you aren’t on the phone.
Modern, quality hearing aids can also have a more advanced program that allows them to be compatible with almost any phone whether it’s a landline or smartphone. You hold the phone up to the hearing aid, and let the technology work its magic by streaming the sound from one device to the other.
Many digital hearing aids are also Bluetooth compatible. You pair the phone up with the hearing aids just like you would wireless headphones or earbuds. When the phone rings, the sound goes directly to your hearing aids.
There is no reason to let hearing loss ruin a perfectly good relationship. Do what you must to make up with your phone, and start talking again.
