Using (Cell) Phones: How to buy one that is hearing aid compatible and adapt hearing aids to it

How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cellphone

The following info come from Western Institute of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

There are so many cellphones on the market these days, it can be overwhelming when it comes to finding a phone appropriate for you. Following are some tips on what to look for in a cellphone so that it will be hearing aid compatible.

Look for a Cellphone with a rating of AT LEAST M3/T3
In the US all cellphones are tested for hearing aid compatibility. The M# represents how well the cellphone will work with a hearing aid in microphone mode. M1 is the lowest rating and is an indication of high interference. M4 is the highest rating and indicates low interference.

The T# rating represents how well the cellphone will work with a heairng aid in T-Coil mode. Again T1 is the lowest rating and T4 is the highest.

The whereabouts of this information differs with all cellphone manufacturers. Commonly it can be found on the display card next to the device, on the product packaging, or in the phone manual. Some websites such as PhoneScoop maintain a database of this information. (note: when you go to the website, type in the name of the phone in the Jump to a phone box - top right of main screen. When the phone information comes up scroll down to features and click on 'show missing features'. You will find the M/T rating under Accessibility, Hearing Aid Compatible)

Choose a Provider that Uses CDMA rather than GSM

In Canada, both Telus and Bell operate on the CDMA network. Rogers, Fido and all other carriers operate on the GSM network. Phones connected to the CDMA network will interfere less with your hearing aid.

Choose a "Flip" Style Phone

A cellphone's antenna is a significant source of interference. Generally speaking, the antenna on a flip phone will be positioned farther from the speaker than on a candy bar phone. Be wary of phones with no visible antenna.

Find a Phone with a Smaller LCD Screen

The screen is also a significant source of interference. Often phones with very large or multiple LCD screens (such as iPhones etc)will have low M# ratings. Look for a phone with one small screen.

Be Mindful of the Cellphone's Outer Casing

There is a growing trend towards manufacturing metallic phones. The idea being that a metal phone is stronger when dropped than a plastic phone. While this is all well and good, metal phones will not work as well with your hearing aid.

Try Before You Buy

In the US it is mandatory that all phone retailers have a 'live' phone in store for you to try. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Canada. Still, many retailers will have working phones to demo.

Test that the volume is adequate, and that you can hear clearly on microphone and T-Coil modes.

Know the Return Policy

In store testing is no substitute for the real world. Be sure to try the phone in a variety of listening situations: at home; in the car; at a noisy restaurant etc.

Usually the return policy is based on both days and usage. Ensure that you have adequate time to do your own testing, and can exchange the phone if it is unsuitable for your needs.

Look for a Headset Jack and Bluetooth Connectivity

There are several accessories designed to assist you in hearing on a cellphone. Almost all of these rely on either a 2.5mm headset jack or Bluetooth connection. If your phones has these useful features, you will have a lot more options to assist you.

Two of the most common accessories that you can plug into the 2.5mm jack are:
1. Silhouette cord - a small thin piece of plastic is worn behind your ear, beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid when the hearing aid is on the t-coil setting. The silhouette cord has a microphone for handsfree operation.
2. Neckloop - a 'necklace' style cord you wear around your neck. The neckloop emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid while the hearing aid is on the t-coil mode. The neckloop as a microphone for handsfree operation. Note custom hearing aids with t-coils are not always stong enough to use with a neckloop - you may have better success with a silhouette cord in these cases.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell) Phones: Voicemail for Deaf People (Telus Relay Service)

Voicemail for Deaf People

 

The following is the info from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Hi my name is Janice Jickels. I work at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as head of the interpreting department.

I’d like to share with you some information, maybe its information you already know about, but I want to make sure the word gets out. Many deaf people have cell phones or blackberries, or devices from Telus, Bell, Fido, Rogers etc.

Deaf people have been frustrated with voicemail. You know what voicemail is, it’s like the answering machine function on a TTY, except it is spoken language left on your cell phone, we can’t hear the message and we tend to ignore them.

Cell phones and blackberries also have feature on a called voicemail. Now how can you use your voicemail feature?

First you need to set up a voicemail account, contact your provider, and ask to have voicemail added to your phone. There is a small monthly charge for that service. Once you have added voicemail you need to open the account and personalize it. You can do that by calling TRS, ask the operators to call the number provided to you by your cell phone company to access your voicemail.

The operator will then call the voicemail number, and you will have several options to choose from. The option you choose is “I want to set up my voicemail” you will be given an option to record a greeting, the TRS operator will do that for you. You can pick a standard greeting or personalized greeting.

You will find that you already have a password as part of setup the voicemail, use that password. The TRS operator will set up the greeting then your voicemail is activated and ready to go. If a hearing person calls your phone they will leave a voice message in the normal way and you will see on your phone “new voicemail.”

To retrieve that message, call 711 (Telus Relay Service) give the Telus operator the phone number the company provides to access voicemail, and your name and password.

Then the operator will type the messages that are recorded on your voicemail. And that’s all! The TRS operator will ask you if you want to delete or save the current message. You have the ability to save the message as long as you want on your cell phone. This is a great feature for deaf people because hearing people will be able to leave voicemail messages in the normal way, and we have the ability to retrieve those using TRS or any other relay service.

It is great to share this information because we’re all trying to get equal access, and you know how many of us get frustrated explain how to use TRS services, but now we can retrieve our own messages directly. It’s a great thing!

Many hearing people feel uncomfortable with having to go through a two step process. But now you don’t have to bother with that explanation. You just give them your cell phone number.
It becomes the deaf persons responsibility to collect their messages, But that’s already a big improvement, imagine if your trying to leave a contact number for a family member or employer, you just have to give them one phone number they can leave their message.

If you have any questions or want to share any tips with me, you can e-mail me at jjickels@telus.net or you can contact me through videophone it is 24.85.225.129

Thank you!

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell/Work) Phones: 2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone

2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone

If you are having difficulty hearing on the telephone with one hearing aid, consider using your FM system so that you can use both hearing aids. You can either have the signal transmitted to your FM receivers snapped on to the bottom of your hearing aids, or to a bodyworn receiving unit with an induction loop such as the Phonak MyLink receiver unit. The bodyworn receiving unit will transmit sound to your hearing aids through the induction loop. The hearing aids must be set on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' position. Remember that when your hearing aids are on the t-coil position you can't hear anything other than the phone. Consider asking your audiologist if one or both of the aids can have an 'M-T' program put in (this means the microphone and the telecoil are working at the same time-so you can hear around you and you can hear on the phone. You don't have to worry about feedback because the ear piece of the phone doesn't need to be next to your hearing aid anymore - the sound is being sent by the FM transmitter to the FM receivers or the FM induction loop around your neck (i.e. the Phonak MyLink).

Parts required:

1. Your FM system
2. You will need to purchase a device made by Nexxtech. It is a Telephone Recording Unit. Part #4318237. This is available at The Source.

   To Connect the FM Transmitter to the telephone:

   1. Unplug the telephone receiver from the telephone.
   2. Plug the Telephone Recording Unit into the telephone.
   3. Plug the telephone receiver into the Telephone Recording Unit.
   4. Plug the 3.5mm jack from the Telephone Recording Unit into the Audio jack located on the ‘battery charger’ unit connected to the bottom of the FM transmitter (This is on the right side of the battery charging unit, upper jack. It says 'Audio'). The battery charger unit must be attached to the bottom of the Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink FM transmitter.

1. The Phonak FM transmitter (Smartlink, Zoomlink, Easylink or Microlink) should be ‘off’. It will turn on automatically when you pick up the phone and start to make a call.
2. If you are using 'boot' receivers snapped to the bottom of your hearing aids, when you pick up the phone the FM transmitter will automatically start transmitting the sound to your receiving units.
3. If you are using a body worn receiving unit with an induction loop, you will need to make sure it is turned on. Wear the loop around your neck. Your hearing aids need to be on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' program when you are speaking on the phone.
4. If necessary, adjust the volume by adjusting the volume on your hearing aids (if you are using the FM receivers boots) OR on the bodyworn receiving unit.
5. The earpiece of the telephone handset does not need to be near your hearing aids but you will still need to speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone handset.

Note: for systems other than the Phonak Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink - you just plug the callcorder into the 'auxiliary audio input jack' of the FM transmitter. For some FM systems the jack is a 2.5mm, or a 3-pin eurojack - and the Call Corder will not fit. You will need to purchase a dual mini jack coupler (Radio Shack part number was 274-886). Plug the call corder into the coupler jack, use the DAI (direct audio input) cord that came with the FM system and plug one end into the remaining side of the coupler and then plug into the auxiliary audio input jack of the FM transmitter.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection