Coping with deafness

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I wouldn't wire a mains lamp to a normal bell push, might have electrifying results, especially if it's raining. Nothing wrong with a low voltage relay which then controls a mains lamp.

Speaking from complete ignorance, but I think you can get a doorbell which calls your mobile phone. If your neighbour had a mobile set on vibrate would that work? Means you can send the Jehova's window cleaners on their way without getting up as well.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Bazyle on 02/08/2020 12:22:25:

Presumably the lady already has a doorbell that is just not loud enough. Perhaps a simple ding dong. Tell her it is the doorbell's fault as the bell has gone 'soft'. Then get her a bigger one or two in parallel up to the limit of what just can't be heard far outside.

Yes. Tell her you cant hear it either so it needs replacing.

Then google "doorbell for Hearing Impaired". There's a million of them out there with loud buzzer and or strobe light. Battery operated or mains. Take your pick.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I can understand how this lady would feel as if she was disabled with a hearing aid. My mother was stone deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other and she had to use a hearing aid as long as I have been around, in fact her deafness came about during WW2 after been subjected to the very loud sound of a bomb exploding, although she wasn't close enough to be injured any other way, but sound can travel in strange ways through built up areas. In the "olden days" the hearing aid consisted of a battery pack, a wire and an ear piece, the wire was only thinnish and broke down quite regularly and caused much frustration at times. The worst thing though, was that many people, see people with hearing problems as being a bit stupid and sometimes it was obvious that people would avoid talking to hear and others would turn away while talking to her, which didn't help, as a lot of lip reading helps people with hearing problems. Of course our hearing deteriorates over time and this happens just as much to the hard of hearing as it does for anybody else. Some people may also be surprised that hard of hearing people can suffer from tinnitus and in my mothers case, became fairly severe in her last three or four years of her life.

Regards Nick.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

my two suggestions were a dog (very difficult to ignore tho continual maintenance is needed) but also a buzzer these, possibly driven by a slightly higher voltage, can be very loud but also the vibrations coupled to door frames etc seems to travel better in traditional built houses than a bell.

Edited By Frances IoM on 03/08/2020 08:20:43

[Rod RenshawParticipant @rodrenshaw28584]

Thanks again for the further suggestions.

I am sure that something can be arranged technically, it's just a matter of gently persuasion, and backing off if it's really not wanted.

Rod

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The lady should talk to the local NHS Audiologist. Here, they are most helpful. A couple of weeks ago, one of my mdigital maids failed. last Friday I went in for a "repair" session. "These are 5 years old, so no wonder it has failed. You haven't had a hearing test either. I'll do one now"

In less than 20 minutes I was on the way home with two new aids, programmed to accomodate my hearing loss.

(Noise related, so about 60 Db down from 2KHz to 8 KHz ).

If she explains her problems, the audiologist should be able to find a solution. Possibly new aids and ma source for a louder doorbell, maybe even with some visual or tactile back up.

The problem is going to be at night when she takes out the hearing aids!

HTH

Howard

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The lady should talk to the local NHS Audiologist. Here, they are most helpful. A couple of weeks ago, one of my mdigital maids failed. last Friday I went in for a "repair" session. "These are 5 years old, so no wonder it has failed. You haven't had a hearing test either. I'll do one now"

In less than 20 minutes I was on the way home with two new aids, programmed to accomodate my hearing loss.

(Noise related, so about 60 Db down from 2KHz to 8 KHz ).

If she explains her problems, the audiologist should be able to find a solution. Possibly new aids and ma source for a louder doorbell, maybe even with some visual or tactile back up.

The problem is going to be at night when she takes out the hearing aids!

HTH

Howard

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

I'm quite deaf and have hearing aids in both ears, the description of 'doorbell' usually describes something that is not actually a real bell at all but an electronic sound.

i have a proper old fashioned alarm bell that originally had batteries but i adapted it to use a small plug in 12v transformer and it's been fitted for about 10 years now. It's so loud that sometimes visitors have remarked that it's the loudest they ever heard.!

A Google search for alarm bell will show what is available

[Martin Rock-EvansParticipant @martinrock-evans77799]

I'm kinda surprised that no one has suggested a good old fashioned bell-pull. Linked by a set of cables or rods from the pull by the door to a bell in her main room, she may not be able to hear the bell, but wouldn't she see it moving? The same pull could be linked to bells in multiple rooms. With sufficient imagination, this should be relatively easily achieved.

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Posted by JohnF on 01/08/2020 20:16:59:

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 01/08/2020 17:54:15:

Posted by Mike E. on 01/08/2020 16:57:08:

I have hearing aids but my limit for wearing them is around 2 hours before the pain is a problem

Chris, I had the same problem on two fronts when I started with hearing aids, mine are the behind the ear type with a tube into the ear canal. I had considerable discomfort with the top of my ear caused by the tube and the ear canal due to the size of the cushion/plug on the end. Both were resolved easily with different components.

Well worth asking the ENT specialist what they can do IMO.

John

I will try again on my next visit, it is the pain of having the plug in my ear that bothers me. Moulded custom fit jobbies are no different. Main issue is with the right ear, that has given me a lifetime of problems and it has had three maybe four differing surgeries.

Chris

[Brian RutterParticipant @brianrutter93961]

My mum is elderly, not very mobile, rather stubborn and when she takes her hearing aids out to sleep is completely deaf.

Door bells and telephone systems are taken care of but a couple of near misses with fires prompted made me look for additional safeguards for her.

I have initiated a system using the Local councils Telecare Alarm system.

In the event of a fire and a fire alarm is activated it connects to an alarm panel in mums house which automatically notifies the council control room, who then inform the fire brigade. While you are waiting for the fire brigade to arrive the control room can send out a patrol, or telephone a neighbour or a member of the family (me). The exact sequence of events can be agreed with the local control room.

The fire alarms connect by bluetooth to the alarm panel and the panel connects to the control room using using mobile phone technology, so it is a completely wireless system that takes 20 minutes to instal, is maintained by the council who check it out a couple of times a year.

It makes me sleep easier.

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