For the more than a third of the over-60 population who have hearing problems, amplified telephones are a must-have that makes life better, easier, and safer.

More than 30 percent of people over 60 report some degree of hearing loss, and that percentage increases as we age; about half of all people over 85 are hard of hearing to some extent. With millions of Baby Boomers turning 60 each year, hearing loss is now the third most common health problem in the US, behind arthritis and heart disease.

One of the first signs of hearing loss is usually problems with speech clarity. Voices may sound faint or muffled, especially if there is background noise. Certain tones and frequencies, such as women's voices, may become very difficult to hear distinctly.

Standard telephones can actually increase problems for people who are hard of hearing. Even in cases of mild to moderate hearing loss that don't require a hearing aid, talking on a standard telephone can be extremely difficult and frustrating. Even when the volume is set to the highest level, people who are hard of hearing find that voices sound low, muffled, and indistinct.

This is more than an inconvenience - it can be embarrassing, frustrating, and even dangerous.

Typically, people who have even mild or moderate hearing loss try to avoid using the phone whenever possible. But in the modern world, that's not a good solution.

Amplified Telephones offer an efficient, affordable alternative.For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, amplified telephones may offer just enough of an improvement to enable them to communicate successfully. The best type of amplified phone depends to a large extent on the type and degree of hearing loss.

For minimum investment, a portable amplifier unit that attaches between the base unit and hand set can offer a significant volume boost.These units, which are also referred to as portable amplifiers, connect quickly to any phone with no wiring required. They can increase volume by up to 30 db.

The next step up would be a phone line amplifier. They work the same way as portable units but are usually larger and increase volume more. A phone line amplifier can boost incoming voice volume by to up to 40 db.

Amplifier handsets can be used with most phones, simply replacing the handset that came with the telephone.

Amplified Telephones are phones with amplification and other features for hearing improvement built in. These special phones not only boost incoming volume by up to 50 db or more, they also include features designed to improve speech clarity by reducing background noise and echo. Many also include an adjustable volume setting.

The best modern amplified telephones have all the same features you'd expect in a good standard phone, including call waiting, caller ID, and cordless styles.