Telephone technology tips and tricks

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC Telephone Technology Tips and Tricks For Hard of Hearing People This presentation may be freely used by any SHHH Chapters.. De

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

Telephone Technology Tips and

Tricks

For Hard of Hearing People

This presentation may be freely used

by any SHHH Chapters It’s available for download from

www.nchearingloss.org/programs.htm

Our ability to use the phone is

important!

We have many different needs

There are many different resources

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

Useful User Interfaces

TTY and Relay

Other Tools and Tricks

Communications Strategies

Hardware Summary

Where to Find Resources

Types of Phones and Related Things

Hard Wired Phones

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

 The transmission is full duplex analog.

 The network can multiplex many conversations onto a single wire.

 The signal can carry voice and special tones.

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

Network

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

Common Problems with Phones

for People with Hearing Loss

Interference with hearing aids or telecoils

 Newer Remote Phones

 Mostly with GSM Cell Phones

 Usually worse with older hearing aids

Insufficient Volume

Insufficient Hearing Aid

Compatibility

Insufficient Ringer Volume

Ringer Frequency too High

Can’t Hear Well in Background

Noise

Technical Things That Can Help

More Volume

Frequency Adjustments

Better User Interface

Choose right Cell Phone Protocol

Use Hands Free Interface to

Hearing Aids

Other (Ring, Flash, CallerID, Auto Reset)

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

 Usually to increase high frequencies

 Usually a slider but sometimes some

presets

 Usually on better In-Line amplifiers and

on Special phones for HoH

Better User Interface

Better Speaker in the ear piece

Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC)

Special Phones Let You Plug in

 Neck Loop

 Silhouette

 DAI

 Head Phones

Hands Free Sets

 HATIS, Nokia, etc

 Home-Made hand-free set to patch to ALD

(cut ear bud off hands free set; solder on female miniplug)

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

 Check out the Phonak Telcom

 Plugs into your home phone wall outlet

 Plugs into your TV

 Automatically switches between them as needed

 Hear ANY wired or remote phone in the house

 Clean signal without interference

 Expensive, but You’ll Never need another Special Phone

More on the User Interface

HAC is a Phone Feature

 Requires a Telecoil (T-Coil) in hearing aid

 Varies widely in strength and effectiveness

 Pumps signal directly into your hearing aid

(magnetically)

 Allows you to turn off microphone (sometimes

optional)

Plug or adaptor (for other interface)

 Allows you to use neckloop, DAI or silhouette

 Avoids background noise

 Allows signal to go to both ears

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

Other Technical Features of Interest

Adjustable Ringer (volume and

frequency)

Flashing light to show ring

Auto reset to normal

CallerID (requires a fee service)

Special Phone Stuff Just for HoH

Special Phones for HoH People

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

Cellular Phones

Some Cell Phones Interfere with

 Hearing Aid Itself or the Telecoil

 Depends on Hearing Aid, too

 Try before you buy

 CDMA (Verizon or Sprint) usually least

interference

 GSM (usually the most interference)

May not be compatible with ASCII or Baudot

CapTel Phones

 Supports Voice Carry-Over

 Automatically Connects to CapTel Operators

 Uses Speech Recognition to Help Operator

 With 2 Lines, Now Auto Connects Outbound Calls

 Now supports CallerID

 Some States

 Federal workers, retirees, veterans, native tribes

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

VOIP Phones

System

 VCO (TTY or VCO Phone <><>Relay<><><><><>Phone)

 2-Line VCO (Phone <><><><><><><>Phone) (VCO or TTY on 2nd Line <><><><>Relay)

 Computer Instant Messaging or Chat

 Two Way Pagers

 Video Phone

When Hearing is Not Enough

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

gh, NC

Phone Communication Strategies

Know Who's Calling (CallerID or ask)

Make Sure You Know the Subject

Don't Hide Your Hearing Loss or Bluff

Put the Other Person At Ease

Ask for Repeats as needed

Ask for Rephrase if Repeats Don't

Help

Ask for "Spell Out" (Charlie, Alpha

Tango)

Ask for "Count Up" for Numbers

Confirm and ask for "Yes/No"

Phone Communication Strategies

(continued)

Ask for Partial Confirmations

Use the "As In" Strategy

Ask the Other Person to Speak

Slowly

Ask if the Other Person has a Better Phone

Ask for Another Person

Avoid Voice Response Units

Use Your Answering Machine or

Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Ralei

Internet (search Google)

SHHH Convention Vendor Area

Equipment Distribution

Program

Finding Things

The Phone is too Important to Ignore

Lots of Ways We Can Continue to Use the Phone

You Don't Need to Let a Little Thing Like

Hearing Loss

Get in Your Way!