Telephone Options for
People with Hearing Loss
Hearing Technology Resource
Specialist
September 27, 2012
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Topics for Today
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Helpful terminology
Land-line phone options
Coupling devices
Cell phones for people with hearing loss
Cell phones for Seniors
Captioned phones
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Helpful Terminology
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Hearing Aid Compatible
The Telephone Coil (T-COIL)
Coupling devices
Bluetooth
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Hearing aid Compatible
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A telephone is hearing aid compatible if
it contains a telecoil (t-coil) that detects,
or is compatible with, a similar t-coil in
the hearing aid.
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Coupling Devices
Some coupling devices work with a t-coil in
the hearing aid.
Headphones
Neckloop
Ear Hooks
Ear Bud
Silhoutte
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The Telephone Coil (T-COIL)
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The t-coil in a hearing aid is a small
electromagnetic induction coil (wire).
When two wires are close (phone or coupling
device), an electromagnetic field is created.
The hearing aid converts the electromagnetic
field to sound.
When using a t-coil, the voice of the person
speaking into the microphone is the only
sound that is amplified.
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What is Bluetooth?
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A radio frequency signal with limited distance –
approximately 30 feet.
Provides wireless, hands-free phone/cell phone
communication.
It is an encrypted signal which, when paired to a
transmitter such as a phone or computer,
changes signals frequently to prevent
interference with another Bluetooth device.
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Examples of Cell Phone
Connectors
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Bluetooth
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Non Bluetooth
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Land-line Phone Options for
People With Hearing Loss
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Corded/Cordless
Amplification 2560dB
Volume/Tone
control
Hearing aid
compatible
Visual ringer alert
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Speaker phone
Adjustable ringer
volume/tone
Built in answering
machine
Jack for coupling
device
Bed shaker
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Captioned Phones - CapTel
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Users enjoy natural telephone
conversations, and can check the
captions for added clarity
Can turn off the captions feature to use
it as a traditional telephone
Captions appear nearly simultaneously
with the spoken words
Includes an amplified handset and tone
control for clarity
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Other CapTel
Mobile CapTel
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Need compatible
Smartphone
Hands free
headset
Account with a
CapTel provider
Web CapTel
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Phone calls can be made
and received, using any
phone.
Captions of the call are
viewed in the Internet
browser window on a
computer
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CapTel 800i
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Caption Call Phone
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Dial and receive calls as always
7” display screen with adjustable text
Set up phone anywhere in home
with wired or wireless Internet
connection
Adjustable ringer or handset volume
and frequency
Telecoil loop connection for hearing
aids with a telecoil option
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Phones With Special Appeal
for Seniors - Jitterbug
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Large screen display
Volume control
Reduced background noise
Bluetooth & Caller ID enabled
Pre-programmed
No contract
M4/T4 Hearing aid compatible
Service as low as $14.99/month
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Phones With Special Appeal for
Seniors, Clarity Pal
 Adjustable tone control
 2" LCD color display with large, easy-to read
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characters
High quality speakerphone for hands free
conversations
Send and receive SMS text messages
One-touch emergency button on back
Bluetooth™ wireless technology
Loud, vibrating and flashing visual ringers
Hearing aid compatible
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Cell phones as an option for
people with hearing loss
 Speaker phone
 Port for coupling devices
 Volume control
 Apps that make
 Vibrating ringer
information otherwise
inaccessible, accessible
 Face-to-face
communication for speech
reading
 Voice-to-text transcription
 Video Conferencing
 Telecoil compatibility
 Bluetooth
 Texting
 TTY, for those who
prefer it
 Captioned phone calls
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Facts about cell phone use
in the United States
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In February of 2012, nearly 50% of the
population surveyed owned smart phones
[android and iPhone]
 Only 12% of the people surveyed did not
own a cell phone
 In 2010, Smartphone shipments
surpassed PC shipments
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Cell Phones as Only Phone
 More than 3 of every 10 American homes (32%) had only
wireless telephones during the first half of 2011
 Younger people are more likely to live in homes with wireless
telephones = 58% for adults aged 25–29
 The percentage of adults living in households with only wireless
telephones decreased as age increased beyond 35 years:
 34% for adults aged 35–44
 22% for adults aged 45–64
and over
 Low-income homes and those in poverty are more likely to be
wireless-only homes
 8% for adults aged 65
Based on a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics
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Hearing Aid Compatibility &
Wireless Handset Devices
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Digital wireless telephones sometimes
cause interference due to electromagnetic
energy emitted by the phone
Federal law requires that a certain
percentage of wireless phones
manufactured by wireless companies meet
or exceed American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) standards.
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Determining if the cell phone work
with hearing aids or CI
Hearing aids operate in one of two modes:
 Acoustic coupling – the cell phone microphone works
with the microphone in the hearing aid Look for:
 M3 = Handset microphone satisfies ANSI standard
 M4 = Handset microphone exceeds ANSI
standard
 Telecoil inductive coupling – only picks up an
electromagnetic signal from the telephone. Look for:
 T3 = Handset satisfies ANSI standard
 T4 = Handset exceeds ANSI standard
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Labeling Requirements
Packages containing hearing aidCompatible handsets must:
1.
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Be explicitly labeled
Include detailed information in the package
or product manual
Post information about hearing aidcompatible handsets on their websites.
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Hearing Technology Resource
Specialists (HTRS)
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A Part of Michigan’s Assistive
Technology Program
Team of trained volunteers
Conduct comparison demos for
people with hearing loss
Provide training
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Possible Funding Sources
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Phone resources
Nonprofits and Associations
Government Agencies
Local Programs
Loan Programs
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Phone Resources
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Weitbrecht Communications
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Reduced rates for Michigan residents for Captel
phone
Requires phone service
Requires high-speed internet access
Telecommunication Relay Services (TRS)
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Allow people with hearing and speech disabilities
to place and receive calls
No cost to user
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Nonprofits and Associations
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Audient Alliance
Hear Now
First Hand Foundation
Disabled Children’s Relief Fund
The Hike Fund, Inc.
Foundation for Sight and Sound-Help
America Hear Program
American Association of Retired
Persons(AARP)
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Government Agencies
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Michigan Rehabilitation Services
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May assist with a portion of cost of hearing aids
Hearing loss must be interfering with job
performance or securing job
Veterans Administration
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May assist with cost of hearing aids/services
Must have documented service related hearing
loss
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Local Programs
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Health Centers for Children
Speech and Hearing Centers
Older Adult Organizations
Organizations for Deaf and Hard-ofHearing People
Religious Organizations
Hearing Aid Banks
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Loan Programs
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Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund
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Low interest loans for hearing aids and other AT
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Program administered by United Cerebral Palsy of MI
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A Part of Michigan’s Assistive Technology Program
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Must be a resident of Michigan
Care Credit
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Provides no interest loans for hearing aids up to 18 months
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Interest charged in full if not paid within grace period.
Hearing Aid Dispenser
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Usually offered only at larger companies
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Must have good credit history
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Final Thought
"Being able to make and
receive phone calls on my
own is empowering and
gives me a sense of
freedom... and it impacts
my sense of self-worth." -Ann Liming-2012
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