Phone help for my dad

Hearing Aids
#1

Hi everyone. I’m helping my dad find new hearing aids. He is 79. One thing he really struggles with is understanding people on the phone. Currently, he has a landline/cordless phone. He doesn’t have a cell phone. He doesn’t use a computer, so his main way to communicate is by phone, but it’s gotten so hard.

He wears Zounds hearing aids, but they have many limitations. For example, they don’t have telecoil and there are no streaming options. The audiogram in my profile is for him, in case you want to see it (he gave me permission to share it).

I was hoping to get him new hearing aids through Costco, and wanted the KS10s because they had both telecoil and Bluetooth streaming, as well as accessories such as the partner mic. They were also within my price range. But now they are gone, and I’m not sure what to do. So I had a few questions:

  1. Is there a way to stream a landline/cordless phone to hearing aids? Or is cell phone streaming the only option?
  2. How does the quality, ease of use, and reliability of Bluetooth streaming of phone calls compare to telecoil? I would like to encourage him to get a cell phone eventually, but I was hoping not to overwhelm him with too much new technology all at once. (The KS10s would have been nice because we could have practiced with them for 6 months, and added a cell phone if telecoil wasn’t enough, before he had to decide whether to keep them or not).
  3. Are caption phones helpful? We are in the US, so I think one of those phones might be free?
  4. Are any of the other Costco aids worth it now that Phonak is gone? Do any offer both telecoil and Bluetooth? Do they have the same 6-month return policy?

Thanks in advance for your help! I’ve actually been reading posts on this forum on and off for more than a year, and you all seem so knowledgeable. I have time over the next few months that I can spend in the same town as my dad, so I’m really hoping I can help with his hearing aids finally. Also, even though he doesn’t currently use much technology, he is very smart, and I think he can learn a lot of new things with the aids if I can help at first, and if he doesn’t feel pressured to make a decision too quickly.

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#2
  1. Maybe. It’s been a topic of discussion multiple times on the forum. Would take a special phone
  2. I believe streaming offers better sound clarity, but have no experience.
  3. If he has good vision, a caption phone could be helpful. Phones that have a volume control can also be helpful.
  4. All the Costco aids are decent. They all have Bluetooth for streaming to iPhones and some Android (ASHA compatible) phones. Not sure about telecoil. They all come with a 180 day return policy. I’d encourage you to get him an appointment at Costco and see what they suggest.
    I’m assuming he’s not a veteran. If he is, you should check out VA.
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#3

I’ve always used telecoil for landline phones even tho I have Bluetooth Aids. Much easier to deal with then trying to connect with Bluetooth.

Telecoil is easily activated when a call comes in. With Bluetooth, you’ll have to be prepared for when a call comes in to set up Bluetooth unless he stays connected at all times.

Don’t really use a landline phone these days tho since my iPhone has Live Captions and my hearing got worse.

I know you don’t want to overwhelm him but I feel he may enjoy a cell phone more because he could Video Call like FaceTime or WhatsApp. Seeing people’s faces is always easier and nicer.

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#4

Back at the start of 2017 I got a gadget to connect my NHS Oticon hearing aids (pre steaming tech) to my mobile phone, and at that time it was possible to get another gadget to connect to the landline. The sound would go direct to the hearing aids

I dont know what the current situation is but in the UK a suitable website to glean knowledge from is www.connevans.co.uk

However, I think the earlier suggestions of a mobile phone would actually be easier - cut out “the middle man” of gadgets. Sound from the mobile phone via bluetooth to the hearing aids is really very good - even in comparison to a landline phone with extra volume controls

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#5

Is he a military veteran?

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#6

Thank you for the feedback! I’ll look into the cell phone option more.

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#7

No, he’s not a veteran.

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#8

Hi, Thumper. I can’t answer your questions – and I also can’t stress enough how important it is that you find a way for calls to stream to his hearing aids.
I don’t have experience with using a telecoil, but I did have a government-provided landline with volume control – it didn’t help me. I gave up using the telephone because it was SO frustrating (and isolating).
Life changed when I got my KS6’s several years ago – cell phone calls could stream to my hearing aids!!!
I currently have the Jabra Enhance from Costco – they work perfectly with my iPhone. I comprehend more on the phone than face-to-face, and the trend to online appointments, meetings, etc. has enabled me to participate far more effectively than I was able to in person.
IMO it would be worth investing in a cell phone AND hearing aids that work with it.
Good luck to you and your Dad.

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#9

I have a caption phone. CaptionCall. It is free to anyone with a hearing problem. He can hold it to his ear and see the captions on the screen. I have friends in their 90s who don’t have a cell phone but can use the caption phone. My phone needs my computer but some of my friends who don’t have a computer are also able to get caption phones. Good luck.

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#10

This is the way. A live person captions the whole conversation on a large LCD. I have used caption call before and it’s great. You will probably need internet service, but it won’t use much. There are competing products in the market as well. I sure wish Canada would get with this program. My mom could really use it.

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#11

Thank you! This is really helpful.

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#12

Thank you! It’s great to know that streaming calls can make such a difference.

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#13

@Zebras: As usual, a thoughtful, helpful, and empathetic suggestion, your own further losses notwithstanding.

(Hats off and kindest regards to our Zebes!)

[BTW This post is not in jest, @Zebras !]

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#14

Thank you! Thank you!

:call_me_hand:

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#15

@Zebras: Fooled you, didn’t I, Zebes?

[What does the hand signal mean?]

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#16

Peace!

20 20 20 business

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#17

@Zebras: The signal I typically use is different.

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#18

@SpudGunner

Oh really?

Might be different in different areas of the world?

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#19

@Zebras: No … THIS is definitely a chain-yanker - I’m referring to “The Bird”. Would it surprise you to learn that it’s my most-oft-used hand gesture? Hmmm?

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#20

Some years ago, Phonak and Widex had special phones, compatible to their hearing aids, and Signia might work with Siemens phones via bluetooth. I still have the TA2 from Humantechnik, which is very loud, so that I can use it without wearing my hearing aids. I don’t know where you can buy it, as Humantechnik is in Germany, but maybe there is anything similar. You can also plug in a neckloop. Direct streaming is possible via audio boot. Here is a desription in English: https://www.humantechnik.com/en/products/telephone-amplifiers/ta-2/

grafik

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