Families with hearing-impaired individuals can rest assured because alarm systems specifically designed for the hearing impaired do in fact exist. Keeping a hearing impaired family member safe is a unique challenge because most of the alarm systems on the market today rely almost entirely on sound. The hearing impaired can also miss other tell-tale sounds of an emergency, like shouts of “fire” or “help.”
Fortunately, the alarm industry has developed a variety of provisions to assist hearing-impaired individuals in the event of an emergency. This article discusses some of the unique challenges associated raising the alarm for a hearing-impaired individual, as well as a few solutions the alarm industry has developed to alert the hearing impaired to potential danger.
Why Traditional Alarm Systems Can’t Ensure the Safety of the Hearing Impaired
Being able to hear the sound of breaking glass or a door being broken down is something many of us take for granted. Typical alarm systems use sirens that can be heard from inside the home, as well as any nearby homes. Although a completely deaf individual may not be able to hear a siren, sometimes they can feel their vibrations.
Sirens can also alert nearby neighbors that someone could be in danger, which may prompt calls to emergency personnel. Many elderly people that are hard of hearing and others with partial hearing rely on hearing aids throughout the day, but most of these devices are removed at night, which could mean the average alarm system might not be able to wake them.
Alarm Systems for Those with Partial Hearing
There are more alarm options available for those with partial hearing than the fully deaf. Those with partial hearing can have extra loud sirens installed throughout the home, and combine those sirens for bright flashing lights. An extra loud siren and bright flashing lights are usually enough to wake most of the people that rely on basic hearing aid devices.
It is also important to accompany this kind of system with a phone that lights up brightly, so the individual sees when the alarm monitoring station is calling to check in on the status of the individual. This can help to minimize false alarm visits from emergency responders.
Color-Coded Flashing Lights
Alarm systems with color-coded light flashes can help alert a hearing impaired individual to the type of emergency, which gives them the advantage of being able to react appropriately. Imagine being woken by an alarm, but not knowing what potential danger is afoot. A burglar could be inside the home, in which case the best reaction might be to call the police and hide or prepare to defend yourself. However, in the event of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning, a reaction of hiding could prove quite deadly. It’s vital that a hearing impaired individual have a way to tell what danger has triggered the alarm system, and color-coded flashing lights can help them make the right life or death reaction.
Alarm Systems for the Deaf
Setting up an alarm system for a completely deaf individual is a bit more of a challenge. The system needs to include extra loud sirens, as well as bright flashing lights that are strategically placed throughout the home and visible from any room in the home. But what happens if the deaf person is asleep?
Powerful bed shaking devices can be hooked up to the individual’s bed and favorite Lazy Boy chair to wake them if an alarm is triggered. When the individual wakes from the vibrations, they’ll see the flashing emergency lights and be able to confirm a potential emergency at hand.
Get a Quote for a Hearing Impaired Security System in St. Louis
No matter what unique safety requirements your family might face, consult with your doctor and a professional alarm technician to ensure you get the right system to keep everyone in the family safe. In the last 15 years, alarm technology has made great strides to aid the hearing impaired, and new interactive technologies like Alarm.com are making it easier than ever for families to stay in touch and look out for one another.
Looking for an home alarm system for a hearing impaired family member? Get a free quote from St. Louis’s security system experts today
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