TELEPHONE ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND SERVICES

It is common for people with a hearing loss to experience difficulties when using the telephone and even hearing aid users may experience difficulties when using the telephone. A range of assistive devices and options are available for people with a hearing loss to continue using the telephone effectively. An initial strategy is to position the phone correctly, and not hold the phone tightly against the ear if wearing a hearing aid. Position the phone slightly away, allowing the sound to enter the microphone of the hearing aid.

Volume control telephones
Amplified or volume control telephones increase the loudness of the ring and incoming voice. A number of models are available both in corded and cordless phone models.

Hearing aid couplers
Most hearing aids are fitted with a telecoil. Some telephones have an inbuilt hearing aid coupler in the handset and are described as ‘hearing aid compatible”. The coupler enables better telephone reception with a hearing aid on the telecoil setting.

Mobilephones
Special mobile phone attachments and accessories are available including:
• bluetooth wireless technology
• induction loops

These improve the clarity of sound and eliminate background noise and other interference. They can be used if the hearing aid is telecoil equipped.

Teletypewrters (TTY)
Outgoing messages are typed on the TTY keyboard and incoming messages are received on an inbuilt visual display screen. TTYs are similar in size to regular telephones and allow for direct text conversation with other TTY users.
Conversation between text and voice calls are made possible by using the National Relay Service (NRS).

National Relay Sevice (NRS)
The NRS is a phone solution for people having difficulty hearing or speaking on the phone. They can ring, or be contacted by other people, anytime, 24 hours a day, every day of the year on 0800 471 1711 (24 hrs a day). This includes special arrangements for contacting emergency services on 0800 161 616.
The service can be accessed by a standard phone, computer and modem, text phone/telephone typewriter (TTY), or a uniphone. The TTY has a keyboard and a small display screen for the text. The uniphone has a keyboard, small display screen and a handset.
The NRS relay officers act as a ‘relay’ between you and the other person on the line. They relay exactly what is said by both parties.

The four ways to use the service are:
• If you can speak but not hear - you use SPEAK AND READ or ‘voice carry over’
• If you cannot hear and don’t use your voice - you use TYPE AND READ or ‘text to voice’
• If you can hear but not speak - you use TYPE AND LISTEN or ‘hearing carry over’
• If you are hard to understand on the phone but still want to use SPEAK AND LISTEN or ‘speech to speech relay’ on 0800 871 5715

Learning to use the service and a TTY is straightforward. Free training is available in your home. If you can hear but want to talk to a deaf person phone 0800 471 2712. Complete confidentiality of all information is assured and relay officers are trained and obliged by law to observe the strictest levels of confidentiality.

The National Relay Service details are listed on the useful website www.nzrelay.co.nz  for more information phone 0800 471 5715 helpdesk for hearing people