From the familiar chime of a doorbell to the urgent blare of emergency alarms, our world primarily relies on sound to alert us. This auditory landscape presents significant challenges for individuals with hearing loss, hindering their ability to fully engage with their environment.
When seeking alert system solutions, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community faces two primary hurdles: affordability and versatility.
Let’s explore some of the alert system options currently available:
The Bellman and Symfon Alarm Clock Pro will wake you up with a combination of increasingly loud noises, varied tones, flashing lights, and strong vibrations.
- Geemarc Amplicall Sentinel Baby Monitor - $291.90
The Geemarc Amplicall Sentinel Baby Monitor is equipped with a motion-sensor alarm, feeding time alerts, and a powerful flashing light. This is designed to catch your attention using visual signaling as opposed to auditory.
The CentralAlert is a wearable system in the form of a pager that alerts users to phone calls and text messages through vibrations and a detachable bed shaker. Cell phone needs to be connected to the docking station for the pager to properly work.
- Lifetone HL Bedside Fire Alarm and Clock - $249.95
The Lifetone HL Bedside Fire Alarm picks up on your home's fire alarm and sends 3 warning signals: strong vibrations, a flashing light that
reads “FIRE”, and a bed shaker, which can wake even the deepest of sleepers. It is ideal to have one deceive in each bedroom where a Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual will be sleeping.
The Safeguard Door Chime is designed with adjustable sound and strobe light features. It offers three modes: sound only, strobe only, or both. Receivers can be placed in different rooms around the house to ensure the doorbell can be heard at all times.
The market offers a growing array of products designed to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals stay connected. It’s encouraging to see such a variety of devices promoting independence. However, the cost of these essential tools can quickly accumulate.
The Safewave Band is the first portable vibration-based alert system designed for the Deaf+ community. This innovative watch band provides essential notifications through vibration, connecting seamlessly with smart home devices like cameras, baby monitors, and smoke detectors. You can also stay connected with calls, messages, and alarms through your smartphone. Enjoy peace of mind with a one-time cost of $50 and a monthly fee of $10, knowing your most important alerts are always accessible.
