Forum Discussion

Heapie's avatar
Heapie
Explorer
Sep 11, 2015

Problem hearing alarms.

Hi folks,

I brought up this topic over a year ago, but did not get a good answer.

I am hard of hearing and use hearing aids. My hearing problem is with the high sounds, so I do not hear the alarms when I do not have my hearing aids in when I am sleeping. I have addressed this problem to various government agencies and the NFPA, with out getting any satisfaction. Most have the head in the sand answer.

I have thought that I might find a loud alarm in a Radio Shack or You Do It Electronics and try to wire it to the existing alarm.

Has anybody with the same problem found an answer. I am enough scared of propane that I now turn off all the propane when sleeping.

Heapie.
  • I bet if you find a good electronics tech they can modify the propane alarm to sound a different frequency.
    It may cost you some money bet I feel a good tech will figure something for you.
  • This has long been a sore spot with me. In addition to all the **** and yes I did say **** the ADA has mandated everyone do they don't seem to address hearing loss at all. I can hear practically NONE of my alarms in my motorhome, in my house or in my car. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the vast majority of people that have hearing loss is high frequency but yet almost every alarm we have is just that, HIGH frequency! They do in fact have fire alarms with a strobe light that may or may not wake you but why in the hell they don't have different frequency or adjustable frequency alarms I'll never know. I know that didn't answer your question but as someone that wears two hearing aids I can certainly understand where your coming from.
  • I have the same issue. Fortunately, my DW has great hearing and will shake me to wake me up if needed. For those that don't have this option, you can consider a "bed shaker" alarm similar to the one I link to below. It has a microphone that detects another alarm going off such as a fire alarm, LP detector alarm, CO alarm, etc. Once it detects an alarm, it will vibrate the bed to wake you up. They are not 100% foolproof, but will add a layer of protection you may not have now.

    Bed Shaker Alarm

    Jim
  • Check a website for handicap and disabled aids. They may have smoke and other alarms that flash a light.