| If you or someone you know is hearing-impaired, you | | | | amplified cordless phone by the end of this year. Their |
| may be familiar with the frustrating habit of requiring | | | | A600 FreedomTalk phone will offer access to |
| people to repeat themselves, or straining to understand | | | | improved reception from digital high-speed phone lines |
| conversations via telephone. Before the advent of | | | | and include an amplified answering machine as well. |
| amplified cordless phones, the quality and satisfaction | | | | Meanwhile, Clarity, a division of Plantronics, continues to |
| of such conversations was somewhat limited, but now | | | | offer feature-rich amplified cordless phones that |
| there are companies and products available to help | | | | incorporate their forty years of experience in |
| those with hearing problems enjoy talking on the phone | | | | telecommunications. In particular, their Clarity |
| once again. | | | | Professional line of phones has the best options |
| Enter the likes of ClearSounds, Clarity, and Geemarc, | | | | available, such as dual speakerphones, a digital |
| three specialty vendors who cater to the needs of | | | | answering machine, a concave earpiece for improved |
| hearing-impaired customers who require amplified | | | | sound quality, and 5.8GHz digital transmission to |
| cordless phones to help them communicate | | | | eliminate interference. |
| effectively. These companies have the reputation and | | | | What are some of the convenient accessories that |
| experience to offer quality handsets that give | | | | might be used with amplified cordless phones? Clarity |
| convenience and mobility to their unique consumer | | | | makes a Lamp Flasher and Bed Shaker Combo as an |
| industry. To get an idea of some of the products | | | | extension of some of their phone models. The |
| these companies provide, let's take a closer look at | | | | Wireless Remote Lamp Flasher connects the phone |
| some of their best models. | | | | with any standard lamp up to fifty feet away, providing |
| Geemarc has their AmpliDECT series of cordless | | | | an extra signal for incoming calls. The Bed Shaker |
| phones that can be easily matched with additional | | | | connects directly with the phone module to act as an |
| handsets to give users maximum freedom and mobility | | | | alarm clock alert or as an additional ringer device. |
| when using phones at home. Like many of the other | | | | In general, consumers searching for these phones |
| phones mentioned here, their handsets are compatible | | | | should look for basic features common to the |
| with hearing aids, feature amplified signals up to forty | | | | hearing-impaired and the elderly. Big buttons, large |
| decibels, and have illuminated dial keys and lighted | | | | displays, and compatibility with Caller ID and hearing |
| indicators to help avoid missed calls. | | | | aids will be particularly attractive, and price-conscious |
| The ClearSounds A55 bundle is also expandable for | | | | buyers will want to make sure these are covered |
| up to two additional handsets that can transfer calls | | | | before investing in digital technology, memory features, |
| easily. It also features an optional jack for an | | | | and answering machines, which will require a little more |
| accessory vibrating ringer pad. The company is also | | | | money. |
| gearing up to release the industry's first fully digital | | | | |