Telephone Designed for Millions with Hearing Loss, Now Recommended by Arthritis Foundation

Chattanooga, TN –  The Clarity C4230 cordless amplified telephone designed for people with moderate-to-severe hearing loss has earned commendation from the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use program as a user-friendly product for the 46 million people living with arthritis.  Designed by Clarity, a division of Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), the C4230 was recognized for its ergonomic handset design and large, easy-to-operate buttons. 

“It is a tremendous honor for Clarity to be recognized by the Arthritis Foundation,” said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity.  “For over 20 years, our goal has been to develop products that help people contend with age-related issues like arthritis, hearing loss and vision loss. The C4230 is our most advanced phone to date, helping people with each of these health challenges.”

Inspired by an ice cream scooper, the handset’s concave earpiece creates an acoustic chamber that improves the quality of the sound.  The C4230 also uses patented Digital Clarity Power® to intelligently amplify incoming sound up to 50 decibels, making conversations not only louder, but clearer and easier to understand. 

The C4230 went through a rigorous evaluation process at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, an independent lab that analyzes how accessible products are for people with functional limitations due to the effects of arthritis. The testers, who have moderate-to-severe arthritis, determined the C4230’s unique design was easy-to-use and should be recommended for people with arthritis. 

“Many everyday tasks, actions as simple as making phone calls, can be difficult for people with limited function due to arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation gladly recognizes products that make these tasks easier and that allow people to maintain their sense of independence,” said Scott Walters, group vice president of corporate relations with the Arthritis Foundation.

The C4230 features dual amplified speakerphones in both the handset and the base along with a variable speed playback digital answering machine. This allows users to check messages through the portable handset or the amplified speakerphone and to slow down message recordings to make them easier to understand.   Additional features include adjustable volume, tone and balance, as well as, visual and tactile ring indicators that help people with low vision. It can be purchased online for $269.95 at www.clarityproducts.com.