Transcript Document

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
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
It's Up To You!
Our ability to use the phone is important!
We have many different needs.
There are many different resources.
It's up to us to understand.
Our needs.
 The resources.
 How to satisfy our needs with those resources.

Disclaimer: Everyone's hearing loss is different; what
works
for some may not work for others.
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Lots of Things to Cover
Types of Phones
Our Needs
Increased Volume/Adjustable Frequency
Useful User Interfaces
TTY and Relay
Other Tools and Tricks
Communications Strategies
Hardware Summary
Where to Find Resources
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Types of Phones and Related Things
Hard Wired Phones
Portable Phones
Cellular Phones
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
CapTel
Other
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TTYs
VCO
Computers/Pagers
FAX Machines
VRUs, Caller-ID, Multi-Line, Answering Machines,
Relay
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Hard Wired Phones
The Phone Company Network
Network
connects one phone with
another via physical wires.
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, Raleigh, NC
Portable Phones
The two parties still use the phone
Network
company's network
Either party may have a portable
phone that operates as a remote
from the base instrument.
Some Features of Portables
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900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz
Multi-Channel
Spread Spectrum
HAC (T-coil)
Volume Control
Call Waiting
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Cellular Phones
Cellular Phones use radio
Limited coverage
Expensive
Communicate with other
Network
cellular phones.
Communicate with phones
using hardwired networks.
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Other "Phones"
TTYs
Pagers
2-Way Pagers with keyboards
Fax machines
Internet "phones"
Internet "chat"
Video Phones
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, 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
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
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, Raleigh, NC
Improving Volume and
Frequency
Amplification
 Strap-on, In-Line, Built-in
 2 or 3 position or Slider
 Up to 30 or even 40 dB Boost
 Some strap-ons also provide T-Coil
Frequency Adjustment
 Usually to increase high frequencies
 Usually a slider but sometimes some presets
 Usually on better In-Line amplifiers and on
Special phones for HoH
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
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)
Speaker
Phone
Developed by
Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
If You’ve got 216-217 MHz ALD
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Using Handimic, Smartlink, Lexis, or other
216-217 MHz Booted/Integrated FM?
Check out the Phonak Telcom
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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
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
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, Raleigh, 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)
Tone Display
Memory and Autodial
Large numbers
Multi-Frequency (remote phones)
900 Developed
Mhz by(remote
phones)
Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Special Phone Stuff Just for
HoH
Special Phones for HoH People
 AmeriPhone
 Williams
 Vtech
 Motorola
 AT&T
Add on Amplifiers
 AmeriPhone
 Hello Direct
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, 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
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
CapTel Phones
CapTel is a Captioned Telephone
Works Similar to Relay but
 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
Limited Availability
 Some States
 Federal workers, retirees, veterans, native tribes
See www.ultratec.com
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
VOIP Phones
Home Phone alternative
Voice Over Internet Protocol
Must Have High-Speed Internet
Connects Through Modem, not Phone
System
Unlimited Calls for Fixed Monthly Fee
May Not Support 911
Doesn’t Work if Power is Out
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
When Hearing is Not
Enough
CapTel
TTY
(TTY <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TTY)
Relay (TTY
<><><><><><>Relay<><><><><><><>Phone)
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
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, 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"
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
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 Service
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Finding Things
Catalogs
Harris Communications
Hello Direct
Hear More
Potomac
SoundClarity
Yellow Pages
Radio Shack
Private Businesses
Internet (search Google)
SHHH Convention Vendor Area
Equipment Distribution Program
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC
Conclusion
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!
Developed by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter, Raleigh, NC