WHAT WOULD YOU PUT
in your dream home? A pool? A
wine cellar? For the 48 million
Americans with some degree
of hearing loss, practical con-
siderations can trump showy
add-ons. Instead of installing a
basement ball pit, for instance,
you might add a doorbell that
vibrates your phone when some-
one’s there. We’ve used simple
tweaks—and theoretical giz-
mos based on emerging tech—to
build a house that doesn’t as-
sume you can hear.
Aging boomers and lifelong
earbud addicts could help give
some of these design princi-
ples an increasingly universal
appeal. But even if your senses
stay pitch- perfect, consider how
a few changes could make your
house more accessible—and
make life easier for everyone.
FRANKENHOUSE
a quiet place
12
CLOSED DOORS
Knocking to check the
bathroom for occu-
pants works only if
both parties can hear. A
motion- activated indi-
cator light can flag the
room’s status to others
who need to go.WIDE-OPEN SPACES
Playing hide-and-seek
with the kids is great—
when it’s on purpose.
Open plans with long
sightlines, including be-
tween floors and out to
the yard, boost safety if
you can’t listen for giggles.PRIVATE EYES
Some baby monitors
tailor phone alerts to
reflect a cry’s volume.
As AI gets better at inter-
preting video, devices
might one day be able to
quickly assess fussy chil-
dren for signs of injury.THE GREATEST ROOM
A counter facing into
the living area keeps the
cook from missing any
action. Appliances with
insulation to hush hums
and rattles make it eas-
ier to hear soft voices and
feel buzzing alerts.A DARK REFUGE
Relying on visual cues can
make the hard of hearing
more light- sensitive,
so dark bed rooms are
crucial. Some blackout
curtains also dampen
vibrations that could
drown out pillow talk.NO MOOD LIGHTING
Shadows and the glow
from windows and bare
bulbs impede lip read-
ing, signing, and other
visual forms of gab. Even
and diffuse illumination
makes it easier to see
faces and gestures.A ROOM WITH A VIEW
If transparent tablets
ever hit the market,
windows that display
alerts, phone call
transcripts, news, and
song lyrics could re-
place buzzing doorbells
and alarm systems.ROUND UP
Semicircles of chairs
make people face
each other. That’s con-
ducive to all kinds of
chitchat—from intimate
murmurs between the
hard of hearing to totally
silent discussions.GROOVY TUNES
If speakers could sync
up with hearing devices,
they could calibrate a safe
volume to suit the room’s
most sensitive ears. Place-
ment on the floor allows
music lovers who can’t hear
to feel tunes in their feet.