When it comes to buying gifts for a spouse, parent, or other family member, the first thing you think of may not be something they can use for their hearing loss. But, there are fun and useful gifts for people with hearing loss that you should consider.
1. Over-the-counter hearing aid
This may not be what you were thinking of when I said a “fun” gift but hear me out. Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids were just officially made available for sale by the FDA on October 17th so these devices are considered hot off the press, new technology. An OTC hearing aid can be a great gift for someone who already has hearing aids and maybe needs a back-up pair that is less costly and easily accessible. Or OTC hearing aids can also be a great gift for someone who has not yet purchased hearing aids but needs to. Maybe they haven’t purchased them yet because it’s a hassle to go see an audiologist, or they haven’t wanted to spend the money. OTC hearing aids would be a great way to get started with hearing aids!
Check out my favorite OTC hearing aids here.
2. Sound generator for tinnitus
If you have a loved one who has hearing loss, there’s a good chance they also experience tinnitus, at least occasionally. One of the negative side effects of tinnitus is poor sleep. A sound generator or sound machine can be a big help for someone with tinnitus to sleep or work better in a quiet room. A sound machine can sit on their nightstand and help mask the tinnitus by playing white noise, ocean waves, rain noise, or other relaxing sounds of their choice. If you don’t want the sounds to play out into the room, try pairing it with a bluetooth sleep headband.
Check out my favorite sound machine for tinnitus here.
3. Alarm Clock
Speaking of sleep, it can be difficult for someone with hearing loss to wake up in the morning with a typical alarm clock. They may not hear it! An alarm clock that is louder, vibrates, has a light come on, or does all three is a great option to help someone with hearing loss meet their wake-up deadline.
Check out my favorite alarm clock for someone with hearing loss here. Or to read through my full list of favorites, click here.
4. TV Streaming Device
One thing my patients love is when I’m able to help them hear the TV better. If your loved one with hearing loss is struggling to hear their favorite TV show and you get blasted out of the room when the TV is on so loud, a TV streaming device would be a great gift for them (and you). If your loved one already owns and wears hearing aids, contact their audiologist about getting the bluetooth TV adaptor that is compatible with their particular hearing aids. If they don’t yet wear hearing aids, an independent streaming device is the best way to go.
Check out my favorite bluetooth TV streaming device here.
5. Power Pack
This is a great gift for anyone, but especially someone who has rechargeable hearing aids. A power pack is a portable charger that they can use for their rechargeable hearing aids and/or cell phone if they ever were to lose power. Living in Florida when we experience frequent tropical systems and power outages, I own one of these myself.
Check out my favorite power pack here.
6. Earplugs
There’s a good chance the person you love with hearing loss has had some noise exposure in their past. Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss. They may be a hunter, a power took junkie, or a music fan. These loud sounds can cause permanent hearing loss with repeated exposure and continued exposure to these sounds can cause the already present hearing loss to get worse. Even if they no longer hunt, they may still mow their lawn. They should be wearing earplugs for any loud activities to prevent further loss. If this doesn’t sound like a fun gift, I understand. To make it fun, maybe buy them a pair of earplugs with tickets to their favorite bands concert!
7. Video Doorbell
A video doorbell allows people with hearing loss to more easily be alerted when someone is at their door (or near their door) via their smartphone. This makes for a great tool for making sure they don’t miss a visitor by not hearing the doorbell ring. It is also helpful for safety so they can see who is at the door before answering it. The only thing they would need to have is a smartphone.
Check out my favorite video doorbell here.
8. Doll with Hearing Aids
Not everyone with hearing loss is an adult or senior. Perhaps you have a child or niece with hearing loss who would absolutely love a doll or barbie with hearing aids that makes them feel a little more confident.
Check out this barbie doll with hearing aids.
9. GPS Tracker for Devices
Everyone relies on their devices like smartphones and earbuds to keep them connected to the world. Someone with hearing loss relies on their devices even more, and likely adds on hearing aids to the list. In order to keep track of these small devices, a GPS tracking tag is a great gift to give them some peace of mind. Attach one to the hearing aid case and they’ll be able to track down their hearing aids in the house or on the go if misplaced. These are also useful for car keys, wallets, and earbuds.
Check out this GPS tag by Apple.
10. Subscription for an auditory training program
Sometimes hearing aids and technology just aren’t enough. If your loved one with hearing loss wears hearing aids or cochlear implants, or any other assistive listening device, and they still get frustrated with the difficulty they are having, an auditory training program may just be the ticket. This is not something many people would think about but if you’ve ever heard of “brain games” being used to sharpen your brain, think of this as a way to sharpen your listening by improving your ability to hear and interpret sounds.
Check out my favorite online auditory training program here.
I hope this list has given you some good ideas of what you can buy your loved one with hearing loss this holiday season. You may have even found an idea for someone else on your list!
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