good phone for old, hard of hearing folk?

[Blackpuddin]

My 98-year old mum is struggling to hear me on the phone these days, even with her hearing aids in. We know from our own experience that, in terms of sonic quality, modern landline phones aren't much better that two cans with a piece of string stretched between them (even 'good' names like Panasonic, Phillips etc) but maybe you know better. Any recommendations for really good landline phones would be most gratefully received. TIA.

[mikef]

If you don’t mind not being cordless, how about a BT Big Button 200 speakerphone

[Blackpuddin]

They've got something very similar to that at the moment, i'm looking for something with a good speaker in it ideally. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[dudleybloke]

Can you get one that links to her hearing aid?

[Blackpuddin]

I thought all the modern ones were hearing aid compatible.

[mikef]

Shedloads of options here: https://www.amplifiedtelephones.co.uk/

[stevemcs]

https://www.amplicomms.com/corded

Lots of options, The BT big button never had decent amplification, The Amlicomms were always the loudest, Doro made some good phones but again not the loudest. The Geemarc CL100 was also popular, the Mybelle 650 (looks to be discontinued) we would normally sell 250 per month of the.

Sarabec or Connevans would be goo places to start.

[b2hbm]

I'm a mere youngster compared to your mum but I have the same problem on some lines and definitely when I've got a cold, like now. What we do is put the phone on speakerphone, it's then too loud to hold against your ear but at least you don't have a problem hearing and it might get you an interim solution ?

[Blackpuddin]

I am literally shouting down the phone but she cant hear me. I can hear her telling my brother who lives with her that the phone has gone dead She can hear my brother fine. When Im there with her she can hear me fine.

[colin79666]

Perhaps the hearing aids need to be looked at?

Some of the fancy ones have settings for different situations, such as phone or even have Bluetooth to link up directly. Even if just the standard NHS variety they might just need a good clean (I know this from experience with my gran) or a tweak by the audiologist.

[Rollin]

We use an Amazon Echo Show to 'Drop in' or call my Mum who is in a similar situation. It has a very loud speaker. Dropping in also means she doesn't have to rush to answer the phone. Hearing aids of any type only work when they are in.

[Blackpuddin]

Rollin said:

We use an Amazon Echo Show to 'Drop in' or call my Mum who is in a similar situation. It has a very loud speaker. Dropping in also means she doesn't have to rush to answer the phone. Hearing aids of any type only work when they are in.

Very true about the aids we've tried it with them in and out, no joy. Sadly we don't have owt to do with Amazon in our family so that option is out, thanks though. Just need a good speaker in the phone I think but as noted nobody seems to bother making them any more. A lot claim to, but we know from having bought them on the strength of manufacturer claims that it's BS.

[snuffy]

I can't help thinking of this:

[Blackpuddin]

colin79666 said:

Perhaps the hearing aids need to be looked at?

Some of the fancy ones have settings for different situations, such as phone or even have Bluetooth to link up directly. Even if just the standard NHS variety they might just need a good clean (I know this from experience with my gran) or a tweak by the audiologist.

You might be right there, it's weird how she can hear fine face to face though?

[snuffy]

Blackpuddin said:

You might be right there, it's weird how she can hear fine face to face though?

Lip reading?

[Blackpuddin]

snuffy said:

Blackpuddin said:

You might be right there, it's weird how she can hear fine face to face though?

Lip reading?

There might be some of that I guess, I wonder if she's just struggling with higher frequencies of which there might be more in phone calls than in normal speech.

[snuffy]

Maybe she's lip reading without even realising she's doing it ? Or a combination of some hearing, and watching someone's face at the same time - so the lips sort of fill in the gaps in what she's hearing (or rather, what she's not hearing)?

That's just a guess, I'm not expert in such matters.

[Blackpuddin]

snuffy said:

Maybe she's lip reading without even realising she's doing it ? Or a combination of some hearing, and watching someone's face at the same time - so the lips sort of fill in the gaps in what she's hearing (or rather, what she's not hearing)?

That's just a guess, I'm not expert in such matters.

No me neither but there may be something in that, her eyesight is ok, physically she's amazing actually, gets out of a chair better than I do and still has all her own teeth. The staff all gather round on the rare occasion she goes to the dentist.

[anonymoususer]

I found a lot of the BT branded models had lower earpiece volume than the Panasonics I had

[Blackpuddin]

Yeah, we had BT and switched to Pana but they were no better.