Alarm Clock for Deaf Reviews | Skip the Ringing Alarms

Last Updated: 3 months ago

Is it time for a new alarm clock? We’ve all been there before. We’ve overslept and found ourselves frantically rushing to get ready in the morning. Yet, when there’s a crucial meeting the next day, our eyes are wide open, anxiously waiting for the clock to move past sunrise with little sleep. Our internal clock fails us when we need it the most. It sounds like it is time to look for alarm clock for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

As someone with a hearing loss and who doesn’t want to have any more nightmares about waking up in sweats late for an important event, I went on to research deaf alarm clocks that can help us end our sleep anxieties and nightmares from becoming a reality.

Buying new products is always a risk, especially if you don’t know where to start. I’m going to help you, especially if you are someone with a hearing loss, someone who’s a deep sleeper, someone who doesn’t want to wake up their partner in bed, or someone who’s just struggling to wake up consistently.

This post will tell you what you need to know to make sure you select the best alarm clock for deaf and hard of hearing individuals that will let you sleep well and wake up on time.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure for more details.

General mainstream clock alarms

Some alarm clocks were not explicitly designed for the deaf and hard of hearing, but they are sufficient because they work to substitute sounding alarms for other sensory cues. Ringing alarms can be a disturbance to others sleeping around you who may be a light sleeper. Alarms that vibrate but with no flashing lights can be a great deaf person alarm and allow other people to continue to rest without interruption.

1. Your smartphone

Every smartphone has an alarm feature that can be great for people who want to wake up, but if you are concerned about the harmful effect of radioactive waves emitting into your body, which could possibly lead to cancer (although it hasn’t been scientifically proven) or bed fires, this might not be your best option.

2. Wearables

Wearables with alarm clocks are typically wristwatches. While these are not customized alarm clocks for the deaf and hard of hearing, these watches or wearables often function more than an alarm clock: they are designed to match your lifestyle and are easily transportable. Health-conscious people tend to gravitate toward brands like FitbitGalaxy Fit 2 or 3, or MI band. People who are active in the outdoors would like Garmins.

Many of our smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung are into wearables as well. One thing to note is that many of these wearables can connect to your smartphone and use wireless connecting to communicate between the two devices. This gives you the option to put your phone away from the bed and focus on receiving notifications that are important to you at night.

A. Your smartwatch

Pros

  • Has multi-purpose usage: be notified about essential calls at night, track your sleep or measure your physical performances
  • Allows you to put your smartphone away from the bed if you’re worried about radioactive waves or the screen lights affecting your sleep

Cons

  • They are expensive
  • May not be suitable for deep sleepers
  • If your device is not charged, it won’t operate

3. Beside solutions

Sometimes shakers or vibrations don’t work well to wake people up. In that case, they may prefer a light as another option, as in a flashing light alarm clock for deaf.

There are two products that you can hack to make an alarm clock with lights.

One person had suggested using a timer that can plug to a lamp. These small devices are programmed to turn on the lamp when the timer goes off.

Another options are buying smart lights from your department store.

4. Smart lights

Another more advanced option is the LIFX or natural lighting designed to help regulate your sleep. Philips or other dawn simulator lamps help people with seasonal affective disorder. These are smart lighting systems that you can operate from an app.

Smart light bulb from LIFX
Credit: LIFX

Pros

  • Suitable for those who are on a budget (except for Philips/dawn simulators)
  • Allow you to choose the color of the light that works best for you
  • You’ll gain health benefits from having natural lights to wake you up

Cons

  • This can wake others in the room
  • No shaker included

Assistive alarm clock for deaf and hard of hearing

Product designed and marketed specifically for people with hearing loss is no considerable difference in functionality than for hearing individuals. The most substantial difference can be seen through increases in the sensory features. The shakers or vibrations features of the alarm clocks are stronger, the flashing light features are brighter, and the audio features are much louder.

1. Wearable clock alarms

We’ll highlight the few wearables alarm clock for the deaf and hard of hearing that exist for you.

A. Shake N Wake

Watches are usually good deaf and hard of hearing alarm clock if you are a light/ moderate sleeper, but you should look at two other wearables that are perfect for heavy sleepers.

Shake N Wake Wrist Watch is a great option. However, it doesn’t have the function of a digital watch, and yet, the opportunity to pair with your smartphone isn’t available. This is an excellent, affordable option if you are on a budget.

Pros

  • Great for deep sleepers
  • Price is reasonable if you are not looking to spend much
  • Uses battery – no complaint about how long the battery lasts

Cons

  • Doesn’t pair with a smartwatch
  • The band may slip off while sleeping
  • The band is big and bulky and may be uncomfortable while sleeping

B. Pavlok

Pavlok helps you to develop better habits. One of the better habits is to wake up on time. Their wristband can vibrate or zap you to wake up, and it will know what you are doing from your body movements. This is a mainstream tech, not specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Pavlok wearable watch with sensors.
Credit: Pavlok

Pros

  • Great for deep sleepers
  • Can help you wake up on a schedule

Cons

  • The original price high if you are using it for one thing
  • The product is designed to ensure that you succeed at waking up on time without the need for the watch later – an investment for a short period may not be worth it to you

C. SafeWave

SafeWave is the latest wearable band which can send haptic or vibration alert to your wrist. Unlike its previous predecessors like Serene InstaLink, Lark or Ditto who are no longer available on the market due to being overtaken by smartwatch brands, SafeWave launches to fill the gap that smartwatches don’t fullfill which is to bring focus back to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Pros

  • Strong vibrating band to wake up the deepest sleepers.
  • Can connect to any app that issues a notification alert.

Cons

  • It doesn’t contain smartwatch features such as health monitoring.
  • Requires charging and doesn’t operate on battery only.

2. Bedside solutions

Bellman and Symfon, Clarity, Krown and HomeAware create bedside clock alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing that can be paired with their suite of other alerting devices like a fire alarm, doorbell and baby monitor.

Most bedside products include an audio alarm. Some can be controlled, others not. Remember, if you are living in an apartment building or sharing a room with other people, the loud alarm sound could be a cause for complaints. Choose the alarms with a vibrating option, flashing light, or those that allow you to turn the audio notification off.

HomeAware Alert System - Fire, Carbon Monoxide, Door Bell
Credit: CHHA E-Shop

Pros

  • Pairs with other alerting devices like the fire alarm, doorbell and baby monitor
  • Provide both flashing lights and vibration
  • The sensitivity of the flash, vibration, and sound can be accommodated to suit your needs

Cons

  • Bed shakers may be sold separately
  • Only can pick up T3 and T4 alarm tones. May not work in some apartment or condo buildings
  • They are priced higher to accommodate other alerting devices
  • They can stop operating after a year or so, but the company will support with replacement parts (Clarity)
  • Amplified fire alarm sounds will cause noise disturbance for nearby neighbors, if it’s a false alarm
  • Flashing lights may not be strong (Bellman and Symfon)
  • Krown product has been discontinued

A. Amplicom

Amplicom TCL Vibe Alarm Clock is both a wearable and a bedside option.

Pros

  • Notifies if the battery is low
  • Portable for travel
  • The wearable gives you the option not to wake up your partner

Cons

  • Difficult to set up
  • No flashing alert option
  • Minimum functionality, can’t perform other alerts that other bedside devices can do
  • It’s a battery only device
  • The band is not as secure

B. Geemarc

Geemarc Wake ‘n’ Shake

Pros

  • Bed shaker is included
  • Can connect with a telephone
  • Backup battery included in the case of power outage

Cons

  • Minimum functionality – can’t perform other alerts compare to other bedside devices
  • The price is high for the little functionality that it provides
  • The shaker may not be strong due to the vibration pattern

C. Sonic Alert

Sonic Alert | Sonic Bomb product line are highly liked among the deaf and hard of hearing community. They come with a shaker that is placed under the pillow, and the clock has strobe lights for flashing next to the bed.

Pros

  • Portable for travels
  • Comes with a bed shaker
  • Good for heavy sleepers
  • Multiple designs for all ages
  • Some lines can pair with a smartphone

Cons

  • Pricey (many say the investment is worth it)
  • The shaker can be too strong for others (Suggested to put the shaker at the foot of the mattress)
  • This requires electricity, and the long wires can be a distraction while sleeping
  • Flashing alarm can wake up others
  • Some product line doesn’t work longer than a year for many
  • For some, the batteries component is faulty – won’t operate the device

D. Lifetone

Lifetone HL Bedside Fire Alarm and Clock

Pros

  • Includes a fire alarm, no other purchase required
  • Wireless and no installation required

Cons

  • Battery operated
  • The audio alert is always on
  • The light from the clock remains on all night and may disturb your sleep
  • It’s costly for just an alarm clock.

E. Lisa Alarm Clocks

If you want to go internationally and try another hard of hearing alarm clock that is made overseas, Lisa Alarm Clocks is a German brand that I came across in my research.

Pros

  • Modern design, if the style is your preference

Cons

  • Similar to many of the other devices like Bellman and Symfon, Clarity, and Krown.
Vibrating Alarm Clock for Heavy Sleepers,Bed Shaker Alarm Clock for Kids Bedroom, 7 Color Night Lights,One Alarm,Type C & USB Chargers,5 Dimmer,12/24H& DST,Battery Backup for Hearing Impaired Deaf

F. Roxicosly

This alarm clock has every bit of a feature needed for anyone. Large size numbers, flashing lights, and under-the-pillow vibration sensors.

Pros

  • Extra functionality to plug and charge your phone.
  • Choose between vibration and buzzer.

Cons

  • Extra loud alarm may disturb others. Although many complain that it isn’t that loud.

3. Portable alarm clock for the deaf and hard of hearing

Alarm clocks don’t need to be large bedside devices. These products are designed for travelers and people who prefer compact solutions that allow you to carry your alert with you or in your carry on.

A. iLuv Time Shake

Pros

  • One of the most affordable solutions
  • Many options: you can get a clock or just the shaker alone
  • Pairs with your smartphone
  • Great for deep sleepers
  • The shaker won’t wake up your partner

Cons

  • The app keeps crashing or freezing
  • You may need to sync the product with the app regularly for the alarm to work
  • Can only use as an alarm clock, no other features

B. TCL Pulse Alarm (iOS Only)

Pros

  • Battery last long
  • Has an audio component but it can be turned off
  • Has a snooze button
  • Can work with your headphone, if you have low to moderate hearing loss
  • Compact and light for travel

Cons

  • Available for iOS only
  • The shaker isn’t as strong under the pillow, for heavy sleepers
  • There’s a LED light that flashes continuously and can cause a distraction
  • Battery operated – requires additional expenses to have the device running
  • You can use the headphones similarly on your mobile phone

C. TravelTim

A vibrating alarm clock like a pager. Small enough for you to carry and it has enough power to do the job of waking you up.

TravelTim alarm clock with clock time of 11:12
Credit: Sarabec

Pros

  • Has an audio component but it can be turned off
  • Can clip to your pillow
  • Battery works for more than 6 months
  • Has both flashing lights and it vibrates
  • You can attach an external shaker in case the vibration is not strong enough
  • Can clip to a pocket

Cons

  • The buttons on the back of the alarm are small and difficult for configuration
  • The flashing light may not be strong for some
  • Battery operated and requires two types: AA and AAA
  • Some people think the device is overpriced compared to Shake Awake
  • Button in front that might turn the alarm off accidentally, if you press hard against it while you are sleeping
  • Can’t see the switches in the dark

4. Apps

A. DeafWake App

DeafWake App was developed for the d/Deaf and hard of hearing in mind. The founder is also Deaf and built the app based on his own personal frustration.

Pros

  • Allows you to use a camera light where other standard alarm applications don’t
  • Screen flashes as well
  • You can add multiple alerts for many appointments
  • It’s a better option than the standard iOS Apple Alarm clock
  • Can pair with your Apple Watch

Cons

  • Flashing lights need to be facing up – on one side
  • Vibration may not be strong for heavy sleepers
  • Configuring the app is not self-explanatory nor does it explain how
  • It uses a lot of battery
  • It won’t work if your screen is locked

Where to buy

If you are looking to buy a deaf person alarm clock, it is difficult to buy the product directly from the company themselves except for products made for the masses. To buy alarm clocks for the deaf and hard of hearing, the best places to buy is online and have it delivered to your door. Diglo (formerly known as Harris Communications) and Amazon are great options to start. However, many other non-profit organizations, your local hearing loss associations, support the deaf and hard of hearing and sell assistive and adaptive technologies for the deaf. Also, hearing organizations sell these products as well. You can attend in person, or they may have the option through their online store.


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Conclusion

Now you have the information that you need to decide what is the best alarm clock for the deaf and hard of hearing. What works for you based on your lifestyle and needs. You’re ready to go shopping without worrying about buying the wrong device for you. So, sleep well!

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