Headsets & Speakerphones - Hearing and Being Heard on Calls
Last verified: October 2026
How to pick a headset, earbuds, or a desk speakerphone so you hear clearly and sound clear on video and voice calls — including how they work with hearing aids. Rather have a hand? Call (330) 200-8042.
Hearing and Being Heard on Calls, at a Glance
A good call has two halves: you hear them clearly, and they hear you clearly. This guide explains, in plain English, how to choose between a headset, earbuds, or a desk speakerphone, why a good microphone matters as much as good sound, and how these options work alongside hearing aids — including aids that stream the call straight to your ears. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 I wear hearing aids. What's the easiest device to buy?
Very often a desk speakerphone — nothing goes over your aids and they keep doing their job. The other fine option is streaming the call straight to your aids by Bluetooth; ask your audiologist whether yours can do that and to help set it up.
2 Why do people keep asking me to repeat myself?
Almost always the microphone. A computer or tablet's built-in mic sits far from your mouth and picks up the whole room. A headset with a boom microphone, or a good speakerphone, usually fixes it right away.
3 Can I use earbuds if I wear hearing aids?
Usually not in the same ear — there isn't room and it can whistle. If you wear aids, a speakerphone or streaming to the aids is the friendlier path.
4 Should I get something over both ears or just one?
Both ears block out the room so you focus on the voice; one ear leaves you aware of the doorbell or a spouse. Neither is better — it's about how you like to listen at home.
5 Wired or wireless — which should I choose?
Wired is plug-and-go and never needs charging; wireless frees you from the cord but needs a battery topped up and a one-time pairing. Both work well, so pick the one that fits your habits.
6 Do I need special gear for video calls?
No. The sound part is the same as any call. A video call just adds the camera and a little light on your face. The same headset or speakerphone works across whatever calling app your family uses.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Hearing and being heard on calls is one of my favorite things to help with — get it right and talking to family stops being a chore. I'll help you pick the right device for your ears and your hearing aids, set it up, and test your sound and your voice, with nothing to sell you. $99 flat for a visit, or often $49 right on your screen, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).