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Seniors, Hearing Loss and Smartphones

Smartphones Are Critical Tools For Seniors With Hearing Loss

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults found themselves physically and socially isolated from others. To avoid exposure, they limited shopping, medical appointments and travel. The pandemic was a wake-up call about how critical a role technology – especially smartphones – can play in keeping seniors connected. This is especially true for seniors with hearing loss.

In this new brief sponsored by Hamilton® CapTel® – Seniors, Hearing Loss and Smartphones – author Laurie Orlov (founder of Aging and Health Technology Watch) examines how beneficial smartphones are for seniors with hearing loss. She further explores:

  • Recent data and research on smartphone usage among seniors
  • Popular apps and integrative hearing aid technologies
  • Training resources to assist with adoption

It’s a timely and relevant brief – especially for hearing healthcare and senior care professionals.

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. Automatic speech recognition software generates captions of what the other party to the call says, and, in certain circumstances, a live communications assistant may be included on the call to make needed corrections and/or add call details. The captions are then sent to the phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. To learn more, visit fcc.gov. Third-party charges may apply: the Hamilton CapTel phone requires high-speed internet access (Wi-Fi capable) and in some cases, may require telephone service. When using Hamilton CapTel on a smartphone or tablet and not on Wi-Fi, a data plan is required. Hamilton CapTel may be used to make 911 calls but may not function the same as traditional 911 services. For more information about the benefits and limitations of Hamilton CapTel and Emergency 911 calling, visit HamiltonCapTel.com/911. Courtesy of Cisco Systems, Inc. Unauthorized use not permitted. “Noah” is a registered trademark of HIMSA II K/S in the USA. Outside the USA, “Noah” is a trademark of HIMSA II K/S. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. Copyright ©2024 Hamilton Relay. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a/ Hamilton Telecommunications.