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How do I decide which amplified phone is right for me? People with a mild hearing loss can benefit from phones and in-line amplifiers with a gain of 24 to 30 decibels. All of the phones we offer are suitable for a mild hearing loss. Individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss will want a phone with a gain of 30 to 40 dBs. Also, since this type of hearing loss often involves an amount of distortion that makes voices difficult to understand no matter how loud they are. A phone with tone control is recommended to address this problem. Moderate to severe hearing loss requires a combination of high volume and tone adjustments. Your level of speech discrimination is an important factor to consider. Hearing aids with a built-in telecoil are often essential in this range of hearing loss. Most amplified phones allow for the use of a neckloop which can transmit the amplified phone signal directly into the hearing aid's telecoil for the clearest sound possible. People with severe to profound hearing loss, as well as those with low speech discrimination levels, may want to consider a visual alternative to amplification. Phones such as the Dialogue VCO have a built-in screen to display what the other person is saying. TTYs can often be used with telephones to provide the same effect (calls need to be placed through the free TTY Relay Service). The benefit of VCO, besides the clarity of a written message, is that you still use your voice to communicate with the person you are calling. They hear your voice and you read their responses in real time. Both the TTY and VCO Phone require the use of the free, nationwide TTY Relay service (dial 711 for access to the Relay, 24 hours a day). HSDCstore has put together a comparison chart to help you compare the features of all the phones we sell. If you need additional assistance, please call us toll free at 1.888.328.2974 V/TTY or email store@hsdc.org. Do I qualify for a free or discounted amplified phone? Residents of Washington state who have a documented hearing loss can apply once every three years for an amplified phone, TTY, or VCO phone from the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution program (TED). Applications can be obtained by calling toll free 1 800-422-7930. The signature of a doctor, audiologist, or Deaf services provider is required to complete the application. No hearing tests are required. Residents of other states can find their state agency by visiting www.tedpa.org. If your state is not listed, you may want to contact the local chapter of the Hearing Loss Association for assistance. What do I need to know about my phone line before I buy? Amplified phones and most in-line amplifiers are designed to work on analog phone lines. Home phones and many fax machines operate on analog lines. Before purchasing an amplified phone, you need to know what type of phone line you are working with. If you need help determining this, please read the information below. How do I determine whether my phone line is analog, digital or IP? Analog lines support standard home phones, fax machines and dial-up or DSL modems. Unless you have specifically ordered digital or IP phone service, the lines in your home are analog. Most office phones are digital, as are some hospital, assisted living facility, and hotel room phones. If you are purchasing a phone for your office, it is best to ask your IT department what type of phone line options are available since you may have a choice between digital and analog. In an office setting, analog lines will not have direct access to company voice mail and other benefits of the digital phone system. They will perform like outside phone lines. Another way of figuring out whether your phone line is analog or digital, look at the back of the telephone connected to it. If you see "complies with part 68, FCC Rules" and a Ringer Equivalence Number (REN), then the phone and the line is analog. You can also look at the phone itself, if there are there multiple function keys or an LCD display. These are indicators that the phone and the line are digital. Can I plug my amplified phone into an ISDN or DSL line? Most telephone lines in your home will be analog lines which are safe for amplified phones and ring signalers. However, if you are using an ISDN line for your internet connection, do not use any assistive device on this line. ISDN is a digital technology and may damage your assistive equipment. If you have DSL service for your internet connection, this is analog technology and is safe for use with assistive equipment. When using an amplified telephone, some people may notice a high pitched background noise on DSL lines. This is the sound produced by its continuous modem connection. DSL installers routinely place a high frequency filter on your phone line to help reduce the modem's interference. Attaching a second filter to your phone jack may reduce or eliminate this by-product of DSL technology. What are my options if my phone line is digital? It is very likely that the telephone system at your workplace will be digital which is not safe for amplified phones. However, there are usually analog ports within the system that can be used with assistive equipment. Speak to your IT department to determine whether you might be able to use an analog port within the system. If this is not an option, see our Office Solutions page for more suggestions. Hearing aid compatible handsets may be available from your digital phone system manufacturer. These are designed for use with hearing aids that have a T-switch or telecoil installed in them. Some manufacturers also offer amplified handsets for mild to early moderate hearing loss. Which amplified phones are compatible with my hearing aid? All the phones we offer can be used with hearing aids that have a telephone switch (T-coil, T-switch). Without the T-coil, it may be necessary to remove the hearing aid when using an amplified phone. Amplified speakerphones are another option for people wearing hearing aids. Is there any way to amplify my cordless phone? Since the cordless handset is self-contained, there is no way to boost the volume without re-wiring the handset from the inside. There are a number of modified cordless phones capable of providing 30 to 40 dBs of amplification. Some amplified cordless phones also offer speakerphones in their handsets. What is the best cell phone for a person with a hearing loss? Federal regulations require each cellular manufacturer to offer at least one model of phone that is "hearing aid compatible". This means that it will work with hearing aids that are equipped with a telecoil (T-coil, T-switch). Ask your cellular phone provider for a list of the "hearing aid compatible" phones they offer. Another good source for cell phone reports from the perspective of hard of hearing people is http://www.hearingloss-wa.org/telecommunications.htm. FYI: Large display screens may cause a "buzzing" interference even if the phone itself is hearing aid compatible. Are there phones for Cochlear implants, vision loss, or weak speech? Behind-the-Ear Cochlear processors often have a telecoil (T-coil, T-switch) which allows them to be used with any hearing aid compatible phone. We carry a number of speciality phones that address issues of mobility, vision loss, and speech enhancement. |
