To Those Who Are Now or Have Been Working from Home, How Are You Dealing with Conference Calls?

[lightning]

I don't use headphones due to my tinnitus, so I typically use my iPhone on speakerphone. The problem with that is the speaker makes me right ear go crazy with pain. I think the sound from a small speaker is too high pitch, and triggers my hyperacusis / TTTS. I've tried using my laptop and iPad, and I still have similar issues.

I'm sure I'm not the only one dealing with this, so I'd like to hear what you are doing to make these calls more comfortable.

 

[Tavia R]

I recently heard these apps, I haven't tried one yet, that were developed for hard of hearing people. They transcribe phone calls in real time and put the words up on your screen. I really want to find a good one so I can turn the call volume way down and rely mostly on reading the words. Maybe you could try that and ask whoever you're conferencing if they'd be willing to do a phone call instead?

 

[RishRamsey]

I don't use headphones due to my tinnitus, so I typically use my iPhone on speakerphone. The problem with that is the speaker makes me right ear go crazy with pain. I think the sound from a small speaker is too high pitch, and triggers my hyperacusis / TTTS. I've tried using my laptop and iPad, and I still have similar issues.

I'm sure I'm not the only one dealing with this, so I'd like to hear what you are doing to make these calls more comfortable.

I use my earmuffs while taking calls on my iPhone speakerphone. Works well.
Or a bit of cotton and sometimes earplugs. Can't talk without anything in between the phone and my ears even on the lowest volume or for a second.

 

[Tavia R]

K I tried the apps, on iPhone I had Rogervoice and myCall-to-Text available. Both freaking sucked and we're obviously made by the same people, they were exactly the same. It only picked up on a third of what I had my mom saying on the other line, if I wouldn't have had the volume on and was listening to it it would have made no sense. I was hoping that I could just mute the speaker and read the words, but yeah it sucked.

 

[Mister Muso]

I find my laptop speakers at low volume are best, compared with my phone, or my laptop with speakers. I guess it depends on the speakers but for me this is least disturbing to my hyperacusis.

 

[Nobody19]

I just put the volume down. I guess I'm lucky that my hearing is pretty good.

 

[TnH]

I don't use headphones due to my tinnitus, so I typically use my iPhone on speakerphone. The problem with that is the speaker makes me right ear go crazy with pain. I think the sound from a small speaker is too high pitch, and triggers my hyperacusis / TTTS. I've tried using my laptop and iPad, and I still have similar issues.

I'm sure I'm not the only one dealing with this, so I'd like to hear what you are doing to make these calls more comfortable.

Turn the volume down / Plug in an external speaker. They have more lower frequencies.

 

[lightning]

Turn the volume down / Plug in an external speaker. They have more lower frequencies.

Yeah, this is what I ended up going with. It's not a huge improvement, but it's still a bit better.