The 5 Best Hearing Impaired Alert Devices

Most people in the world rely on sound to alert them when something is happening that needs their attention. Through other methods, alert assistive technology for the deaf or hearing impaired can add to the comfort, convenience, and quality of life for users. Even more important than that, though, is the level of safety these products provide. These devices let hearing impaired people know when something is happening, eliminating a barrier that could keep them from receiving necessary information.

The Top 3:

Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box5) Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box

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Krown DoorKnocker 125 for the Hearing Impaired by Diglo4) Krown DoorKnocker 125 for the Hearing Impaired by Diglo

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Silent Call Medallion Series Vibra-Call 3 Vibrating Body Worn Receiver3) Silent Call Medallion Series Vibra-Call 3 Vibrating Body Worn Receiver

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#5 Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box

If your voicemail is full and you've lost count of how many missed calls you have, the Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box is the answer you're looking for. This device can be easily connected to any line phone without expensive or complicated installation. With this ringer, you won't lose an incoming call again. Once connected to your residential line phone, it will automatically ring at 95 dB to let you know you have a call. 

Designed to alert you whenever a call is coming, the Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box features a bright neon light that grabs your attention, and lets you know you have to answer the phone. Place this ringer on your living room wall to let the sound reach every part of the house, or keep it on your nearby table for the best convenience. The stylish and discreet design of this ringer is an easy match with your decor.

Starting using the Loud Telephone Ringer Light Box is quite simple. Only connect it to your phone line and it will start ringing once a call is received. Place one on every phone station at home to create an easy-to-hear experience where you can hear them ring no matter where you are.

Features and Benefits

  • 95 dB ringtone allows you to hear incoming calls no matter where you at
  • Easy to mount on a wall or keep on the table for discreet placement
  • Bright neon light flashes when receiving incoming calls for extra awareness
  • Compatible with all line phones

Customer Feedback

Pros

  • Easy to install and connect to any line phone
  • The compact design makes it perfect to keep on the phone table
  • The stylish look matches almost every home decor

Cons

  • Can't be connected to mobile phones
  • Doesn't feature vibration

#4 Krown DoorKnocker 125 for the Hearing Impaired by Diglo

Maybe you're looking for something more discreet but still effective to let you know when your guests are at the door. The Krown DoorKnocker 125 for the Hearing Impaired by Diglo is a solution that benefits both small residencies and hotel rooms thanks to its easy setup and strong flashing. The compact design of this device makes it easy to carry and install on your door. No expensive or tricky setup processes are required.

The Krown DoorKnocker 125 will help you notice when your guests are waiting at the door as soon as they knock. This device keeps your environment private and stylish while delivering quick alerts. Furthermore, it's safe and thanks to its long-lasting battery, it will stay activated even during power outages.

Thanks to its lightweight properties, is perfectly suitable for hotel rooms. It won't add a lot of weight or take up too much space in your baggage. The Krown DoorKnocker 125 requires no tools for installation. Simply place it above your door and let the acoustic vibrations of someone knocking at your door activate its alert mechanism. This device is a top choice if you're looking for something efficient, discreet, and reliable. 

Features and Benefits

  • A small and portable design is easy to place at any door to alert you when visitors are waiting
  • Quick setup makes it perfect for traveling and residence use
  • Uses a flashing LED to alert you as soon as your guests are at the door
  • Built-in battery lasts several days and keeps running even during power outages

Customer Feedback

Pros

  • Installation requires no tools or connections
  • Extremely lightweight to take with you on trips
  • Compatible with most doors in hotel rooms or small residences 

Cons

  • Users need to be close to the door to see the light flashing

#3 Diglo HomeAware Sonic Alert HUB Unit with Bed Shaker

Stay aware while doing your favorite activities at home, spending time in the backyard, or cooking a new recipe, the HomeAware Sonic Alert HUB Unit with Bed Shaker offers 1,000 ft. coverage that keeps you safe and grants you quick access to what's happening in your surroundings. The easy-to-read LED screen of this device lets you quickly recognize if someone is waiting at your door, if it's time to see your baby, or if the smoke alarm has been activated.

The HomeAware Sonic Alert HUB Unit by Diglo uses a strong flashing strobe that easily catches your attention and it's easy to see even when outdoors. Take advantage of this device's 1,000 ft coverage to live confident and aware no matter what room are you in. This HUB comes with a convenient USB port to charge your phone or any device if needed.

Equipped with an effective ringer that reaches up to 110dB, it helps users with hearing challenges to listen to incoming alarms and calls. The HomeAware Sonic Alert HUB Unit uses a caller ID that displays on the easy-to-read screen who's on the phone. The compact size, bed shaker, and phone line connection make this device your perfect companion, especially useful when kept at a night table.

Features and Benefits

  • The wide range covers 1,000 ft to keep you connected at all times
  • LED screen lets you quickly identify the alarm that's being triggered
  • Includes a USB connector to charge your devices 
  • Features a bed shaker that notifies important alerts when you sleep

Customer Feedback

Pros

  • Ringer reaches 110 dB and quickly alerts low-hearing users
  • The flashing strobe is easy to see even when outdoors
  • Can be paired to a receiver for extra 1,000 ft coverage

Cons

  • None found

#2 Krown KA300 Alert System for Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety

krown-ka300-alert-system

Earning the #2 spot on our list, the Krown KA300 Alert System for Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety by Diglo provides visual, auditory, and vibrotactile alerts to fire and carbon monoxide dangers.

Designed to connect to a facility’s alarm system for carbon monoxide and fire emergencies, this alert system employs a loud auditory alarm, a bright strobe light, and a strong bed shaker. The flexible easy-install system is ideal for small to midsize public or private facility like a college dorm, hotel, apartment building, or school. It has a range of 100 feet and a battery backup for the audio alarm and vibrotactile alerts.

This UL-listed device for the hearing impaired has three receiver memories and three display channels, plus a time-condition signal to combat false alarms. It accommodates 1,024 transmitter code combinations so includes just about any facility’s alarm system. It comes with a carrying case, an AC adapter, a 9V alkaline battery, and a 9V rechargeable battery. 

The connectivity with existing alarm systems, ease of installation, and potential life-saving capabilities have landed the Krown KA300 Alert System for Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety at the top of our list of the best alert devices for the hearing impaired

Features and Benefits

  • Easily installs in homes, apartments, hotels, and dorms
  • Seamlessly connects to existing alarm systems
  • Valuable safety tool for hearing impaired and deaf users
  • Visual, auditory, and vibrating alerts
  • Prevents false alarms with time-condition signal

Customer Feedback

Pros

  • Comes with backup battery
  • Instills confidence for parents while child is living in college dorm where this system is used
  • Easy accommodation for facilities to install to protect deaf residents
  • False-alarms are minimized
  • No need to buy a whole new system to add this safety component

Cons

  • Strobe alert feature doesn’t work on backup power
  • Didn’t seem as durable as expected

#1 Silent Call Medallion Series Vibra-Call 3 Vibrating Body Worn Receiver

Centralizing all your alerts, alarms, and notifications has become easier with the Silent Call Medallion Series Vibra-Call 3 Vibrating Body Worn Receiver. This device gathers them all in one place, and makes it easy to identify each one that's to its unique vibration pattern system that assigns a different vibration pattern to every alert, alarm, or notification.

Easy to carry around, you can choose to wear the Vibra-Call 3 by Diglo on your belt or keep it inside your pockets. This device will start vibration automatically as soon as the alarm is triggered. The Vibra-Call 3 is conveniently rechargeable - just place it on its charging station before going to sleep to access a complete day of awareness. 

Sync all your devices in the Vibra-Call 3 to receive notifications from your doorbell, smoke alarm, phone, and many more. You'll never be late again, this device includes a bed shaker that wakes you up without being irritating. Recover independence, control your surroundings, and become more alert with the Vibra-Call 3.

Features and Benefits

  • The portable design makes it easy to carry and use on the go
  • Recharges overnight thanks to the included charging station to ensure a complete day of use
  • Comes with several unique vibration patterns for easy tagging and detection
  • Can be worn on a belt or pocket to offer a discreet style

Customer Feedback

Pros

  • Centralizes all alarms and alerts in one single place
  • Assigns an individual vibration pattern for each alert type
  • Easy to carry around on a belt or inside pockets

Cons

  • Not great for users who have lots of land, as the device has a 200 foot range

Features to consider when purchasing an alert device for the hearing impaired

A hearing-impaired alert device is actually a multi-part system with a transmitter a receiver, and potentially an additional device in the case of a vibrating alert. The transmitter interprets the event, and the receiver passes on the notification from the transmitter to the user. There are some key features to consider when choosing which assistive device is your best option.

Coverage

Determine the square footage of coverage area between the transmitter and receiver. You might want to install additional transmitters and receivers to cover the areas you want to be monitored and the areas where you spend the most time. For example, you might want to have a fire alarm transmitter installed on every floor of your home and a receiver in every bedroom.

Potential Signal Obstructions

In addition to distance obstructing a clear signal between transmitter and receiver, sometimes thick walls can obstruct the signal. Determine where you’ll be placing the equipment and the signal strength to determine how to work around any potential disruptions in the signal.

Some brands won’t accommodate a location change and you can only receive alerts in one room, so if you are not sedentary, make sure your alarm signal will find its way from the transmitter to your receiver.

Ease of installation and use

There are hearing impaired alert devices that can be packed up and taken along on trips, and some need to be permanently installed by a professional electrician. Others are plug-and-play wireless devices, and there are battery-operated options too. Keep in mind the flexibility you need when deciding which alert devices will be the best fit for your lifestyle.

Additional options

The most standard alert for the hearing impaired is a visual alert, like a flashing strobe light, but there are devices that offer additional add-ons like vibrating alerts or shakers. Alerts can also be part of larger systems that incorporate multi-purpose devices that can be added to the system to signal you when your baby cries, or there is a knock at the door, or the carbon monoxide level in your home has reached a dangerous level.

FAQ

What does a hearing alert system do?

A hearing alert system notifies hearing-impaired people of regular household events like a ringing phone, an alarm clock, a crying baby, a door opening, or a smoke detector going off.

How do hearing alert systems work?

Assistive alert systems transmit alerts to the receiver that creates signals in the form of loud auditory alarms in low or high registers, flashing strobe lights, and/or vibrations so the user knows there is a situation that warrants attention. The level of sensitivity to pick up sounds can vary or even be manually set, and some systems provide the option of precise programmable warnings for different kinds of alerts.

How do visual alert systems help deaf people?

Visual alert systems use a deaf person’s other senses to keep them informed about what’s happening in their environment, so they know what’s happening and can take appropriate action.

Who needs a hearing alert system?

With millions of people dealing with hearing impairment, including half of the people over 60, signaling alert systems are beneficial to anyone who can use these communication tools to be self-reliant, enjoying the freedom and independence that comes from knowing they will be alerted to situations that will keep them safe and able to manage activities of daily living.

Summary

Alert devices for the deaf or hearing impaired allow users to be safe and accomplish daily tasks. Hearing-impaired individuals can enjoy the independence, confidence, and self-reliance that comes from knowing they will be alerted to events that need attention and action.

There are different kinds of alert devices for the hearing impaired, and each of the products on our list leads in its market segment. We chose the Krown KA300 Alert System for Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety for our top spot because its life-saving capabilities make it one of the most significant additions to the life of a hearing-impaired person.

View Rehabmart’s full line of Hearing Impaired Alert Devices, Bed Shakers, Doorbell Signalers, and Medical Alert Systems for more products.

Author:

Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.

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