No matter how cheap they might be, phones still have to be loud and clear enough for people with a hearing loss to use. We were surprised by the differences in maximum volumes and sound clarity between the phones. You certainly can’t say that all mobiles sound the same and neither is sound quality related to price. All the phones had adequate maximum volume for users with moderate hearing loss, except the Sony, which would only be suitable for you if your loss is mild. However, the greatest variations were found in the sound clarity.

Like domestic cordless phones, many mobiles  have a handsfree speakerphone which allows you to have a conversation without having to hold the phone to your ear. This can be useful if you want to do something else at the same time as making a call or if you want to use your mobile while wearing a hearing aid. In previous tests we found that hard of hearing users liked this feature. However, none of the products in this review performed well in handsfree mode. So, if a handsfree speaker-phone sounds like a good idea for you, do ask to try it out before choosing a new mobile.

A word of warning on speakerphones, some of the phones were very, very loud. So please be very careful when holding the phone near your ear while in this mode! We also advise you to only use the handsfree facility in your own home or in an emergency, because the loud noise will disturb others and everyone will be able to hear your conversation!

We were generally disappointed with the ease of use of these basic phones. As they have few features, we hoped they would be simple and easy to use but half of the models were unsatisfactory. The three easiest-to-use models (the Motorola and both Nokias), all had clear screens, large script while texting and good-sized controls. Whether you prefer the Motorola or one of the Nokia phones could well be influenced by what phone you use at present, because they have quite different menu systems. Both are easy to use and master, but for a complete newcomer, or non-technical person, the Nokia menu systems really are as simple and straightforward as any we have ever tested.

Remember, we only tested a small percentage of the phones available on the market, you may find others which are just as good as our recommended models.

Interference from mobile phones has been a major issue for hearing aid users for some time, but modern phones generally don’t cause interference to modern, digital hearing aids. So if you have tried to use a mobile phone in the past with no luck, don’t assume that they aren’t suitable for you. Try a new model and you may be pleasantly surprised  especially if you have digital hearing aids.

Buying

A mobile isn’t a simple purchase, there are so many to choose from and many things to consider. First, decide upon a network and tariff, such as pay-as-you-go or monthly contract. Then, consider what features you really need before heading to the shops.

We visited many mobile phone stores and were struck by how difficult a purchasing environment they offer someone who is elderly or has visual or hearing difficulties. Many were small, crowded, noisy and frantically busy! Once in store, make sure that you try a few phones before making your decision. Consider the ease of use, size of buttons and size of screen. We also strongly recommend that you try to listen to a few mobiles before making your final choice as phones all sound different to people with different hearing losses.