Visual and vibrating alert kit for deaf and hard of hearing
Updated
Smoke alarms with strobes and bed shakers, a doorbell that flashes your lights and a few smart bulbs: a shopping list for alerts you can see and feel, with prices.
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Before you buy
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that about 15% of U.S. adults say they have some trouble hearing. Disabling hearing loss rises with age: about 22% of adults ages 65 to 74 and about 55% of adults 75 and older. Most households have at least one person who would miss a standard alarm tone.
Safety alerts first, convenience second
The U.S. Fire Administration notes that there are smoke alarms for people with hearing loss that have strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate. Choose alarms designed for this purpose and listed by a recognized testing lab. A smart bulb that flashes when a smart smoke alarm triggers is a helpful extra, but it depends on Wi-Fi, a hub and an app, so it should never be the only alert.
- Install alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
- Choose interconnected alarms so that when one sounds, they all do.
- Replace the entire alarm 10 years from the manufacture date, or as the maker says.
- Test every month and keep spare batteries where you can find them.
Doorbell: how to get a flash
There are three ways, from simplest to most flexible:
- Plug-in signaler. A receiver with a flashing light and a vibrating option; no hub or app. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders describes visual alert signalers that flash a light or vibrate for sounds such as a doorbell.
- Video doorbell plus app alerts. You get a push alert and a watch vibration, but only when your phone is nearby and online.
- Smart bulb routine. The doorbell triggers a routine that flashes lamps. It needs a hub or an ecosystem that allows triggers from the doorbell.
Where to place each alert
| Room | Alert |
|---|---|
| Bedroom | Strobe alarm, bed shaker, vibrating clock |
| Hall outside bedrooms | Strobe smoke alarm, CO alarm with strobe |
| Living room and kitchen | Smart bulbs flashing for doorbell, timers and leak sensors |
| Bathroom and laundry | Leak sensor; flashing bulb if you use the room alone |
If you rent, check your lease before changing alarms the landlord supplied; many landlords will approve better alarms, and a reasonable modification request may apply. See Can renters install smart devices?.
Core items
Smoke alarms with a strobe light × 2
$40–$120The core of the kit: alarms made for people with hearing loss add a flashing light, and some can also trigger a bed shaker. Put one in the bedroom and one in the hallway outside it.
What to look for: strobe or vibration output stated on the box, interconnection so all alarms go off together, a 10-year sealed battery or hardwired with backup, listed by a recognized testing lab
See options on AmazonBed shaker or vibrating pad for the alarm
$50–$150Strobes can be missed when you are asleep. A pad under the pillow or mattress vibrates when the alarm sounds.
What to look for: made for use with your alarm brand or a compatible receiver, a power cord long enough for the bed, a battery backup if possible
See options on AmazonVideo doorbell with phone and watch alerts
$50–$230Sends a push alert or a watch vibration when someone rings or is detected, and shows who is there on the screen.
What to look for: motion and ring alerts, a good app notification option, compatibility with a smartwatch that vibrates, a chime or a routine that can flash lights
See options on AmazonSmart bulbs for flash alerts × 3
$8–$20A routine can flash the living room, hall and kitchen lights when the doorbell rings or a sensor opens.
What to look for: fast response to commands, supports flash or “alert” scenes, Matter or your hub’s protocol, easy reset
See options on AmazonNice to have
Carbon monoxide alarm with a strobe
$40–$100Carbon monoxide is odorless, and a strobe can help alert you. CPSC advises alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas.
What to look for: strobe output, battery backup, interconnection with your smoke alarms, a digital display of CO level, a clear end-of-life signal
See options on AmazonVibrating alarm clock
$20–$60Wakes you with vibration and light instead of sound, and travels with you.
What to look for: a bed-shaker output, a loud setting as backup, a battery backup for power failure
See options on AmazonVibrating wearable (watch or band)
$30–$250Taps your wrist for doorbell, timer, baby cry or leak alerts from your smart home app.
What to look for: haptic alerts you can set per app, a battery that lasts a day or more, compatible with your phone
See options on AmazonWater leak sensors × 2
$10–$40A flash or push alert when a sink or washer leaks, since a siren alone may go unheard.
What to look for: push alerts, a replaceable battery, a protocol that matches your hub, a siren for others in the home
See options on AmazonStep by step
- Install interconnected strobe smoke alarms in the bedroom and the hall, following the maker’s placement rules.
- Set up the bed shaker next to the bed, plug it in and test with the alarm’s test button.
- Install the video doorbell and turn on ring and motion notifications on your phone and watch.
- Create a routine so the doorbell flashes the hall and living room lights three times, then returns them to normal.
- Add leak sensors or a CO alarm if you chose them, and name each alert so you know where to go.
- Test everything once a month, and run a full drill with everyone in the home.
Cheaper or upgraded versions
Budget version, about $100–$200: two strobe alarms and a plug-in doorbell signaler with a flashing light. It covers the two biggest needs without an app or a hub.
Upgrade, $800 or more: add a CO alarm with strobe, a vibrating wearable, a hub that runs flash routines locally and a professional install of hardwired interconnected alarms.
Frequently asked questions
Are there smoke alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?
Yes. The U.S. Fire Administration notes alarms for people with hearing loss that have strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate. Check the product page for strobe or bed-shaker support and for a testing-lab listing.
Can a smart bulb replace a strobe smoke alarm?
No. A smart bulb relies on Wi-Fi, a hub and an app. Use it as an extra, and keep smoke alarms made for hearing loss as the main alert.
How do I get a flashing light when the doorbell rings?
Use a plug-in doorbell signaler that flashes a light, or a video doorbell with a routine that flashes smart bulbs. The signaler works without Wi-Fi.
Do I need a bed shaker?
If you sleep without hearing aids or an assistive device, a strobe may not wake you. A bed shaker adds vibration. Many people with hearing loss choose both.
Sources
- U.S. Fire Administration — Smoke alarms
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders — Quick statistics about hearing
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders — Assistive devices for people with hearing, voice, speech, or language disorders
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Carbon Monoxide Information Center