Having a working smoke detector in your home makes you much safer and keeps you out of harm’s way. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association reports that your risk of dying falls by 55% when you have a working smoke alarm present.
However, if you have hearing loss, a blaring smoke alarm may not be enough. That said, there are many alternative options for people with hearing loss, which we review below.
Smoke Alarms for People with Hearing Loss
Below is a list of different types of smoke alarms that work for people who have hearing loss:
- Low-pitch alarms. If you have high-frequency hearing loss but can still hear low-pitch noises, a low-pitch alarm that emits a mixed sound may be effective.
- Strobe light alarms. If you’re hard of hearing, you may want to invest in a strobe light alarm, which uses flashing lights as a visual cue there’s smoke present. If you want one of these for your bedroom, make sure you get one with a high enough intensity to wake you.
- Vibration. There are also smoke alarms that vibrate your pillow or bed, known sometimes as “bed shakers,” in order to wake you up if there’s a fire while you’re asleep.
- Interconnected alarms. If you have an interconnected system, when one alarm goes off, they all go off.
Other Considerations
Other considerations that you should be aware of when investing in smoke alarms include:
- Making sure it’s from a reputable source. If you find a fire alarm that accommodates hearing loss in the store, make sure it’s been tested by a reputable laboratory, like UL.
- Some brands to look out for include: BRK Electronics, Gentex Corporation, Kidde Fire Safety, and Menards, Inc.
- Testing them regularly. A smoke alarm that doesn’t work is as good as no smoke alarm at all. Test your alarms weekly.
- Getting more than one. You should have a smoke alarm on each floor of your house as well as one in every bedroom.
- Talking to the experts. A firefighter at Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department can advise you on what the best options are for your needs, as can an audiologist at The Audiology Offices.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call The Audiology Offices today.
