Pocketalker 2.0 Review | Cheap Alternative To Hearing Aids | Personal Sound Amplifiers

Pocketalker 2.0 Review | Cheap Alternative To Hearing Aids | Personal Sound Amplifiers

Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist from Anthem Arizona, reviews the one of the more popular Personal Sound Amplifiers (PSAPs) on the market…the Pocketalker 2.0.

Website: https://www.DrCliffAuD.com

Clinic Website: https://www.AppliedHearingAZ.com

Pocketalker 2.0 – http://amzn.to/2GIvaGI
Pocketalker 2.0 w/Rechargeable Kit – http://amzn.to/2E0rO03
Pocketalker 2.0 w/Telecoil Neck Loop – http://amzn.to/2GJvLrV

Once a device that was only used in doctors offices for patients who had problems hearing their doctor’s orders, the Pocketalker has become a more utilized Personal Sound Amplifier for everyday situations.

The Pocketalker 2.0 is not a hearing aid, but can amplify sound to a level that would be more audible for the user. It has a built in Microphone & Telecoil, has a 12 foot long microphone extender cable, and can even be made rechargeable. If you have existing hearing aids with Telecoils, you can use the Tele-loop accessory to access the features of the Pocketalker 2.0 and stream sound directly into your hearing aids.

The Pocketalker basically has the capability of turning up the volume of sound, similar to how you would increase the volume on the TV. One of the only drawbacks that I found in testing is that when you exceed volume level #3, you start experiencing feedback (whistling). To prevent this, you will need to either use the microphone extender cable, or a pair of headphones that better seals around your ears.

Overall, the Pocketalker 2.0 is a great personal sound amplifier that can give you a substantial volume boost and is relatively low cost at around $250 or less.

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

41 Comments

  1. @abigailflanagan5635 on December 31, 2024 at 6:15 pm

    Hi Doctor Cliff, I am putting together a presentation on the Pocket Talker for our Senior Center and I would like to play your video as part of the presentation. Would that be ok? Thank you!

  2. @vecocat on December 31, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    I have 3 of them old and new all of them is good cheaper and better of other tiny hearing aids ,,, the new don’t have the problem of the stereo earphones …

  3. @frankychung962 on December 31, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    I am interested in the product and want to know how I can buy one in Hong Kong. Any distributor here please?

  4. @oldblackstock2499 on December 31, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    Doctor Cliff, you may want to change the thumbnail picture, if possible. The picture gives the impression that you don’t like it. I nearly p assed over it for that reason. You answered my question, that it can Bluetooth to my hearing aid using a neck loop thing.

  5. @KenFehner on December 31, 2024 at 6:24 pm

    If you turn the volume up to hear better can you be harming your hearing? Just wondering.

  6. @joaoregalocorrea4119 on December 31, 2024 at 6:26 pm

    Hi. Is that good for music liestnig ?

  7. @hassanmly1836 on December 31, 2024 at 6:29 pm

    How mutch it cost

  8. @judymiles3912 on December 31, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Hi, i have read disclaimers from this pocketalker for caution for people with pacemakers.. My husband is unable to wear in ear hearing aids and this pocketalker sure helps a lot. From you experience has it been an issue for persons with pacemakers?

  9. @swingingwithmonkeys on December 31, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Will using this device benefit those with no hearing loss in communicating with someone with profound hearing loss? My aunt uses hearing aids, but communicating is very difficult despite this and when speaking to her it is necessary to shout., even when speaking clearly and carefully annunciating words. The acoustics in her home exacerbate this, I think, as her Florida home has very high cement or stucco ceilings. Can this device help, and would she use it with or without her hearing aids? Thank you in advance!

  10. @JP-tq7ni on December 31, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    For me it was a game changer. I can now go to restaurants with friends. Amazing. Got the older version 3 years ago. For conversation it is soooo much better than my 2,500$ hearing aid. Thank you so much for your videos

  11. @dlmconnect on December 31, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    Thanks!

  12. @lauramaeda7214 on December 31, 2024 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks!

  13. @dj-flights7376 on December 31, 2024 at 6:36 pm

    Can people wear these with hearing aids? My dad already has hearing aids but I think a boost will help him.

  14. @susangarduno8632 on December 31, 2024 at 6:37 pm

    Hi Dr. Cliff,
    My mother has severe hearing loss and states her expensive hearing aids that are more than 15 years old are no longer effective. Will the Pocket talker 2.0 help if she wears it with her hearing aids?

  15. @adeleboch3540 on December 31, 2024 at 6:38 pm

    Have an older pocketalket for my husband, he has severe hearing loss and has hearing aides but has difficulty hearing…as the Pocketalker 2.0 improved and. If I purchased it and the Telaloop so it could be used by my husband with his hearing aides would you recommend?

  16. @charliae7155 on December 31, 2024 at 6:39 pm

    No one mentions whether it can be used with any telephone. Even when its given to patients in hospitals, patients aren’t shown how or if these can be used with telephones. Vital to prevent loneliness and excellent if a impaired person needs to call emergency services. Can one aim it at the mouthpiece or speaker of a telephone?

  17. @williamsav on December 31, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    Thank you Dr. Olson for the wonderful video! We highly suggest purchasing the Pocketalker 2.0 from an authorized reseller rather than Amazon. Here is a link to find an authorized reseller in your area: https://www.williamssound.com/wtb-global.

  18. @docsreek on December 31, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    There is a new wireless version of this type of device called the ClearCast PAL. Longer range, rechargeable, and helps with the TV listening too.

  19. @SunshineOnyx on December 31, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    Do you have any idea if this device would be compatible with a bluetooth transmitter to bluetooth headphones? Thank you!

  20. @krahulbhola1567 on December 31, 2024 at 6:41 pm

    🦻🤔

  21. @anonymousanonymous7304 on December 31, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    Mom bought an older pocket talker from mayo clinic. Still kind of expensive for her. It didn’t work. We took it back and they gave us another one, but it didnt work either. They worked for a short time, but then both quit. Now they have 2.0. Not sure about that one.

  22. @donwayne5191 on December 31, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    Thank you Doc this was very helpful for my elderly father.

  23. @JRock-vf4fw on December 31, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    Severe – profound loss, would the pocketalker work one on one interviews?

  24. @UporaFilms on December 31, 2024 at 6:45 pm

    is this now compatible with other brand headphones?

  25. @clivehaynes2183 on December 31, 2024 at 6:48 pm

    Hi, I also have an older pocketalker and several other types of personal amplifiers which I use through bone conduction headphones. I have a ‘conductive’ hearing problem so cannot wear hearing aids. I use both wired and Bluetooth bone conduction headphones for the TV, telephone and ambient sound and the quality is very good. This technology is cheap and not enough is made of it. I would love you to test some of this equipment.

    Good videos. Well done

  26. @KingdomUploader on December 31, 2024 at 6:49 pm

    Hi; are either of the two microphones considered to be directional or are they omnidirectional. IOW, can you point it at the person talking and not get so much room noise? thank you

  27. @cametientaucoeur on December 31, 2024 at 6:50 pm

    Would you please review Bose Hearphone hearing enhancer $499.00
    Thank you, Jeanne

  28. @KingdomUploader on December 31, 2024 at 6:51 pm

    Oh; Attaching the foam covered mic to the long cord makes sense but otherwise, since it has a built in mic, why would I want to snap in that other foam covered mic directly into the unit? IOW, why does it have two mics? Thanks again doc

  29. @johnd9031 on December 31, 2024 at 6:54 pm

    I recently brought a similar product for $100 and I hear much better than with my $5,000 hearing aids.

  30. @crim9498 on December 31, 2024 at 6:54 pm

    My loss is different in each ear – can the pocket talker adjust separately for each ear?

  31. @bobgallo8835 on December 31, 2024 at 6:56 pm

    Just wanted to tell you that this unit is amazing!!
    I can hea rmy wife speaking from the kitchen when I’m in the basement and can understand every word. T
    his thing is truly amazing! I can set the tone control and get the exact EQ
    for my ears. I feel like I’ve been reborn. LOL I give it ***** stars> Note…I’ve spent $2,500 on hearing aides in the last year and the Pocketalker 2.0 is so much better~!!
    Thank you.

  32. @IIVVBlues on December 31, 2024 at 6:57 pm

    I have an older Pocketalker (3 years) and it was under $100. It has a superior fidelity of sound than my $3,800 hearing aids! I use it mostly at home for listening to the TV.

  33. @Steven_Lee_Music on December 31, 2024 at 6:58 pm

    I have tried many hearing aids. My latest is the Widex Moment, $6,000.

    Audiologists are concerned with charts and hitting frequencies on the chart.

    I am concerned about the sound quality. Hearing aids suck. Plain and simple. All of them. Not one gives the fidelity of this unit. I don’t care what frequencies they hit on the chart. They sound terrible. This sounds natural. I’ve never found a hearing aid that sounds as natural as this. And I’ve spend the money and time.

    This aint cool or invisible. But, if you want to hear, this works. Audiologists are not going to make any money on this.

  34. @stanting46 on December 31, 2024 at 6:59 pm

    Do you have any experience using Pocketalker 2 with neck loop in conjunction with T coil ready hearing aids?

  35. @tracietv2 on December 31, 2024 at 7:01 pm

    My mom is 83 and her old hearing aid no longer works. She has gotten to the point where I cannot speak to her on the phone. However, she does hear certain things and continually tells me that she can hear but that the words are not clear. I have read that no hearing device is capable of making words clearer. I am very confused by all of this. I have taken my mom to doctors and audiologists but they just want to sell her expensive hearing aids. I purchased one last year to try after four visits to the audiologist and she refused to wear it because it wasn’t like her old one. She get confused easily. She also has some dementia. I am not sure if the dementia is coming from the lack of hearing the world or other reasons. She does hear me much more clearing when we are closed in my car so I keep thinking background noise is her biggest issue. Would you recommend trying something like this with good noise canceling headphones or to keep trying to get hearing aids? She does plug some Bose headphones into her tv and it seems to help. She will say they are too loud at a certain point but she still doesn’t seem to catch the words. I am in Miami, FL and I cannot find the right person/doctor to help. It is extremely frustrating. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

  36. @TheGertiegirl on December 31, 2024 at 7:03 pm

    Can this be paired with aftershoks headphones for someone with unilateral hearing loss?

  37. @dr.theresakaram4409 on December 31, 2024 at 7:07 pm

    I am a therapist seeing clients on my patio because of Covid. I place clients 12" feet away and have been tryin g to use phones to increase the sound. (I have 30%) or more hearing loss. It works at about 20%, looking for a better method. It sounds like the pocket talker "might" be the perfect device, which will allow me to continue therapy sessions. Thank you so much. Your video is excellent. Very clear, very good sound, not talking too fast, good demo. I am so very grateful. Dr. Theresa Karam

  38. @cametientaucoeur on December 31, 2024 at 7:07 pm

    I wonder if this would help me to hear my own singing voice, 2nd soprano, in a large chorus?
    At 68 (retired RN) with hearing loss, in my upper range, & 2 rows of basses behind me
    having pitch problems. Any advice would be welcomed.
    Thank you, Jeanne

  39. @bumbles3304 on December 31, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    I love your videos, they help a lot with understanding what’s happening. I have mid hearing loss and am about to be fitted with hearing aides so I’m trying to educate myself. Thanks again.

  40. @elizabethwatson3352 on December 31, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    Good Morning, We just received our pocket walker 2.0 .You mentioned purchasing alternative headphones. Which would you recommend. My father is 86 , oriented , legally blind and now almost completely deaf. He says he can hear us with the pocket walker but still can’t make out what we are saying. We’re trying all we can to communicate with him. Any advice would be great. Thanks Liz

  41. @tonorrova on December 31, 2024 at 7:09 pm

    Just what is it that hearing aids actually do (if anything) that is more than just increasing volume?

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