Hearing Loss and Captioned Telephones

Hearing loss is already a complex problem to begin with, without adding missed phone calls added to the mix. In case you find that you have trouble hearing your telephone, you may want to make use of a captioned telephone, or a CapTel for short.

A CapTel is basically a telephone service that provides live captions of all the words your caller is saying. This enables you to follow the conversation with ease despite having hearing loss. We are normally familiar with this type of facility on televisions, but now you can get them on your phone as well.

CapTels may be the solution to missing out on important phone calls. You can now stay connected with all your friends and family, no matter where they are. There are certain requirements for a CapTel to function optimally though. You may consider the following before you choose to purchase one.

Your internet would need to have a high speed in order for CapTel to function most efficiently. If your phone has no display, you may not be able to use the CapTel option. Some people are not too good at reading, which may be a drawback since the captions of CapTel are done in real time. As a result, you may miss out on vital bits of information if your reading skills are not up to par. Those with vision problems may also have trouble keeping up with the captions provided via CapTel.

For those with no internet access, you can still utilize some models of CapTel which use analog phone lines rather than digital ones. CapTels work by having the callers dial the number for the captioning service, after which they would proceed to dial your telephone number. This would enable you to get captions for that particular phone call. CapTel models can be quite varied to adjust for personal preferences. You can select your preferred font size as well as the display colors. This makes it easier to use for those with vision problems.

People can even choose their own personalized sound notification for their CapTel model. Notification sounds can range from low frequency to high frequency, with a flexible volume range. This helps adjust the phone to your specific hearing needs.

Various features are included in CapTels. These include answering machines that can actually save as well as display recorded messages later. CapTels may also include handsets that are compatible with your hearing aids. Customer support may also be easily accessible with the touch of a button. You can even have your own personal phonebook on your CapTel, which can store close to 100 contacts. You can even avail a free installation on your CapTel, which can either occur via telephone or directly at your place of residence. With so many benefits of having a CapTel, maybe it is time for you to make the switch so that you never have to miss out on an important phone call ever again.