Advice wanted: high volume bluetooth "hands free" mobile telephone device for someone who's hearing is fading...

Hi all,

My Dad (71) is losing a bit of his hearing.. it's not that bad, but it is
noticable.
He's a stuborn old so-and-so and other than his hearing he's in terrific
shape.

He uses his mobile phone a lot and the bluetooth hands-free device I've bought
him (motorola H700) is causing him more frustration than freedom.

He simply cannot hear even with the volume on max which makes him press the
device against his ear which often means he hits the "on/off hook" button
and hangs up on whomever he's speaking to... funny but sad.

Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a sol'n...
I'm on my way to carphone warehouse shortly & already called the GP to ask
advise 10 days ago... (the response being, "we'll get back to you")

Thanks for any help & all the best

Ted R

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:33:44 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a sol'n...

Yes. Make an appointment for him with the ENT department at your local
hospital and let him get a hearing aid. Then switch it to the 'T' setting.
--
JAF
anarchatntlworldfullstopcom
Keep Science Scientific
BCSE http://bcseweb.org.uk

JAF <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:33:44 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a sol'n...
>
>Yes. Make an appointment for him with the ENT department at your local
>hospital and let him get a hearing aid. Then switch it to the 'T' setting.
>--
>JAF
>anarchatntlworldfullstopcom
>Keep Science Scientific
>BCSE http://bcseweb.org.uk


Thanks for quick reply
Unfortunately, my father doesn't want to admit that he has a significant
problem...
Going to hospitol or GP (at this point...) is a no go..
I know its (very) silly & I am ratcheting up the pressure, but ATM he won't let
me even start the conversation.

>Make an appointment for him with the ENT department

That was actually my first thought & I went to see the GP, they suggested the
same thing, I then explained as above..

So..., I am also on some psych groups working on the right pitch to get him in.


In the mean time the hands free thing is really just a stop gap so I can help
him now.

Hope that makes sense & thanks for the practical & no doubt, correct reply.
Sorry I didn't explain circumstances better.

In the mean time I've been recommended a Jabra 250v with the "in the ear" gel
gadget thingy... seems OK at £20 so I think I'll go with it unless anyone has
different advise...
(also a new samsung WEP-200 but its almost £50...)

Thanks again

Ted R

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:55:17 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Unfortunately, my father doesn't want to admit that he has a significant
>problem...

Oh dear.
I bet he's one of those blokes who never asks for directions when he's lost
.. . .
--
JAF
anarchatntlworldfullstopcom
Keep Science Scientific
BCSE http://bcseweb.org.uk

JAF <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:55:17 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Unfortunately, my father doesn't want to admit that he has a significant
>>problem...
>
>Oh dear.
>I bet he's one of those blokes who never asks for directions when he's lost
>. . .
>--
>JAF
>anarchatntlworldfullstopcom
>Keep Science Scientific
>BCSE http://bcseweb.org.uk


Never ever!

Wouldn't want to reveal his top secret destination, afterall the gerries might
be listening

lol

Thnx again

Ted R

"Ted R" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsart1of1.1.760wYKl%(E-Mail Removed)...
> JAF <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:33:44 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a
>>>sol'n...
>>
>>Yes. Make an appointment for him with the ENT department at your local
>>hospital and let him get a hearing aid. Then switch it to the 'T'
>>setting.
>>--
>>JAF
>>anarchatntlworldfullstopcom
>>Keep Science Scientific
>>BCSE http://bcseweb.org.uk
>
>
> Thanks for quick reply
> Unfortunately, my father doesn't want to admit that he has a significant
> problem...
> Going to hospitol or GP (at this point...) is a no go..
> I know its (very) silly & I am ratcheting up the pressure, but ATM he
> won't let
> me even start the conversation.
>
>>Make an appointment for him with the ENT department
>
> That was actually my first thought & I went to see the GP, they suggested
> the
> same thing, I then explained as above..
>
> So..., I am also on some psych groups working on the right pitch to get
> him in.
>
>

Start mouthing conversations with him.


> In the mean time the hands free thing is really just a stop gap so I can
> help
> him now.
>
> Hope that makes sense & thanks for the practical & no doubt, correct
> reply.
> Sorry I didn't explain circumstances better.
>


You could get a wired one then use an earphone that has an amp and volume
adjust on the line.

Ted R wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My Dad (71) is losing a bit of his hearing.. it's not that bad, but it is
> noticable.
> He's a stuborn old so-and-so and other than his hearing he's in terrific
> shape.
>
> He uses his mobile phone a lot and the bluetooth hands-free device I've bought
> him (motorola H700) is causing him more frustration than freedom.
>
> He simply cannot hear even with the volume on max which makes him press the
> device against his ear which often means he hits the "on/off hook" button
> and hangs up on whomever he's speaking to... funny but sad.
>
> Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a sol'n...
> I'm on my way to carphone warehouse shortly & already called the GP to ask
> advise 10 days ago... (the response being, "we'll get back to you")
>
> Thanks for any help & all the best
>
> Ted R

(ngs trimmed - you might want to try uk.telecom or
uk.telecom.mobile)

Few people reach 70 without some hearing loss, but only
those with severe impairment will be resigned to wearing a
hearing aid. In any case, GSM phones will interfere with
most hearing aids, though you can buy inductive loops to
allow the phone to be distanced from the ear.

There's a wide choice of Bluetooth headsets, but most tend
to be a bit chunky and won't sit on the ear all that well.
The BT Prelude 20 has a separate receiver linked to a small,
corded earpiece - that might fit better.

Most modern cell-phones have loudspeakers for hands-free use.

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:33:44 GMT, Ted R <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My Dad (71) is losing a bit of his hearing.. it's not that bad, but it is
>noticable.
>He's a stuborn old so-and-so and other than his hearing he's in terrific
>shape.
>
>He uses his mobile phone a lot and the bluetooth hands-free device I've bought
>him (motorola H700) is causing him more frustration than freedom.
>
>He simply cannot hear even with the volume on max which makes him press the
>device against his ear which often means he hits the "on/off hook" button
> and hangs up on whomever he's speaking to... funny but sad.
>
>Just wondering if anyone had any advise/recomendations or tips on a sol'n...
>I'm on my way to carphone warehouse shortly & already called the GP to ask
> advise 10 days ago... (the response being, "we'll get back to you")
>
>Thanks for any help & all the best
>
>Ted R

Try here:
http://www.together.net/~victrola/hornc1.jpg

cheap and simple

cheers
jim