5 Best Cell Phone For Hearing Impaired

Buying a phone for a senior can be an overwhelming process, especially if they use a hearing aid. When a cell phone and hearing aid are in close range, the situation might result in interference. A buzzing noise prevents clear voice reception on the cell phone and makes hearing difficult, or almost impossible in other instances. If you are buying a phone for the elderly, it is essential to get the right cell phone for hearing impaired persons.  

The NIDCD estimates one in three seniors between 65-74 years has difficulty in hearing, with almost another majority of 75+ seniors having hearing issues. We find the compatibility challenge between hearing aids and cell phones being the primary factor in the slow cell phone adoption by the elderly. How do you get a cell phone for a hearing-impaired person when their hearing aid is incompatible with a mobile phone? 

Determining the right type of phone that someone with hearing impairment can use can be an overwhelming process. We are going to help you discover how to find the right hearing impaired cell phone for your loved ones. Along the line, we shall be highlighting the features to look for when shopping for a good phone for someone with hearing loss. We will then provide a list of the five best hearing aid compatible cell phones.

The Features to Consider In A Cell Phone for Hearing Impaired People

The majority of seniors with hearing difficulties find it almost impossible to talk on a regular cell phone, particularly when they wear hearing aids. The frequencies of most mobile phones often interfere with hearing aid devices. The Federal Communications Commission defines two Hearing Aid Compatibility standards; M and T for cell phones. Using the two ratings can help you to determine the best devices that cause the least hearing aids interference. 

Apart from mobile transmissions that obstruct hearing aids, people with hearing impairment find cell phones to be problematic because of other factors. The poor seal around the ear that allows background noise to distort sound along with a restricted phone volume are a few of those challenges. If you are shopping for a hearing aid compatible phone, make sure the preferred mobile phone has specific Hearing Aid Compatibility features. 

• Ensure the cell phone works with worn hearing aids
• Extra amplification, such as volume control and adjustable ringtone are vital
• The design of both the cell phone and earpiece 
• The ability to send text messages and other modes in disruptive voice communication 
• Video conferencing and video compatibility if the conversation involves sign language 
• Ringtones with vibration alerts to prevent missed calls
• The hands-free or speakerphone option
• Some interference reducing features like induction loops and backlight control

Top 5 Best Cell Phones That Are Hearing Aid Compatible

Hearing aids and mobile phones have a Microphone “M” feature and a Telecoil “T” feature, as mentioned above. You must compare the M and T ratings depending on the settings a hearing-impaired person would use while on the cell phone. Phones with higher ratings will give the best compatibility with hearing aids. 

The best cell phone for users of hearing aids should have a minimum of M3 and T3 ratings. If both the cell phone and hearing aid ratings are six and higher, the results would be ideal for most of the hard of hearing persons.

1. The Jitterbug Flip Easy to Use Phone by GreatCall

The Jitterbug Flip is one of the best senior-friendly cell phones from GreatCall, the medical alert specialists. The phone comes in an easy to use flip design. 

Highlights of the Jitterbug Flip Phone

• Hearing aid users can choose the call and text plan with no extra features or the health and safety plan combining 5Star emergency response to a host of other health features
• No contracts
• No cancellation fees
• Large buttons and two-way screen
• Powerful speaker for loud and clear conversations 

Features of the Jitterbug Flip Phone

• The highest hearing aid compatibility ratings at M4/T4
• Big buttons, a bright screen, and a magnifier for hearing impaired persons such as seniors
• Powerful loudspeaker ideal for hard of hearing individuals 
• Up to 50% savings in calls and texts for the health plan
• Keep your current phone number
• Free car and wall charger

2. The Jitterbug Smart2 Easy to Use Smartphone by GreatCall

If you need a smartphone that is compatible with hearing-impaired persons, the Jitterbug Smart2 is an upgrade of its Flip cousin, although it has the same senior-friendly features. 

Highlights of the Jitterbug Smart

• The best M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility 
• 5Star emergency response app
• Choose between basic phone service and the health plan
• Save up to 50% on calls, data, and text with the GreatCall health plan
• Caller ID
• Roaming services
• Long-distance calling 
• Wall and car charger in the package
• No contracts
• No cancellation fees 

Hearing Impaired Features of the Jitterbug Smart

• The 5.5-inch screen with powerful front-facing speakers is easy to see and hear
• Features voice typing for quick text messages in hard to listen to situations during calls
• Powerful 13-MP camera allowing video calls for hearing impaired and hard of hearing persons who may need to communicate with sign language 
• Offers vibration alert to ensure users do not miss incoming calls

3. The Kyocera Cadence LTE S2720 Verizon Wireless Phone

If you need a primary cell phone for hearing impaired persons, then the Kyocera Cadence LTE might be the ideal phone. The device is a simple unit for texting and calling without the frills of a smartphone. 

Highlights of the Kyocera Cadence LTE

• The strong and durable flip handset
• Comes in a 2.4-inch high-contrast screen
• External display for clock, calls, and other notifications
• Large, easy to press buttons
• Unlimited domestic calls
• Unlimited texts
• Fast speeds on the 4G LTE network
• Basic 500MB data

Hearing Impaired Features of the Kyocera Cadence LTE

• The highest M4/T4 hearing aid compatible ratings 
• Provides a dual-mic noise cancellation feature 
• Vibration alert 

4. The Apple iPhone 7

If you want extra features for a hearing-impaired compatible cell phone, the iPhone 7 might be a good match. With the stable hearing aid ratings plus a powerful loudspeaker, you will definitely want to purchase this cell phone for hard of hearing persons who need a fully functioning smartphone. 

Highlights of the iPhone 7

• 4.7-inch screen
• 12-megapixel main camera 
• 73-decibel speaker 
• Supports HD video streaming 
• Waterproof and dust resistant design 
• Up to 128 GB internal storage 
• Unlocked GSM phone 

Hearing Impaired Features of the iPhone 7

• Hearing aid compatible ratings of M3/T4 
• Powerful 73-decibel speaker 
• Vibration alert 
• Powerful 12-megapixel camera for video calls

5. Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact – Factory Unlocked Phone

The Sony XZ1 packs a host of next-generation features, making it the best phone for hearing impaired on our list. 

Highlights of the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Phone

• Factory unlocked phone
• 19-Megapixel camera with Predictive Hybrid Autofocus
• 4.6-inch High-Definition Tri-luminous display
• Superior front surround sound with SmartAmp and S-Force features
• Digital noise cancellation technology 

Hearing Impaired Features of the Sony Xperia XZ1

• Hearing aid M4/T4 compatibility 
• High-resolution audio with S-Force and Smart Amp technology 
• Digital noise cancellation 
• Supports Wi-Fi calling with Voice over LTE on T-Mobile 
• Dynamic contrast enhancer for excellent video calls for the hard of hearing persons 
• Supports Teletypewriter for the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing-impaired people 
• The slow talk technology that slows down the speech of the person on the other side of the call for excellent audio reception

The Wrap Up

Using cell phones can be a nightmare for the hearing impaired. With superior M and T ratings, along with a host of other features, the phones on our list will make the experience better for individuals with impaired hearing. The list features a selection of cell phones from the basic flip designs to the advanced smartphones so that everyone finds something to match their needs.