Which Cell Phones Are Best for People With a Hearing Disability?

Like sight impairment, hearing loss varies from person to person. The most common pattern shows degradation in speech-recognition frequencies. About 80 percent of the definition of human speech comes from 20 percent of the frequencies of the human voice, so clarity of hearing suffers severely when you can no longer discern "s" and "t" sounds efficiently. Cellphone use is a particular challenge, but improvements and new technology can help people with hearing impairment.

Amplified Cellphones

• The technology of cellphones is constantly evolving. Both clarity and volume have improved, so if you were unsuccessful with cellphones even 2 years ago, you may find new models more useful. Smaller phones rest farther from the ear, so feedback is not as much of an issue. Speakerphone features can often give a volume boost as well. Cellphones with amplifiers, tone adjustment and other accessibility features specific to hearing loss are available. The ClearSounds AC100 and the Clarity C900 are two such devices.

Hearing Aid Compatibility

• Telecoil technology is available in several hearing aid styles. The coil picks up electromagnetic, or EM, emissions from a phone with the microphone of the hearing aid shut off. This completely prevents proximity feedback when using telecoil-equipped phones. The Federal Communications Commission adopted American National Standard Institute ratings for use with hearing aids. Phones rated T3 or higher must be offered by any cellphone provider, indicating telecoil compatibility with good levels of radio frequency interference rejection.

Bluetooth Devices

• Interface devices are available that use and improve on telecoil operation. Using Bluetooth technology, such a device typically hangs around a hearing aid user's neck. It communicates with the cellphone via Bluetooth signal and induces an EM signal into the lanyard antenna. This in turn provides more even coverage for the telecoil to receive. ClearSounds Quattro is a generic device working on Bluetooth technology, and most hearing aid manufacturers offer similar devices for use with their aids.

Text Messaging

• Many people who suffer with hearing loss have adopted text messaging as a preferred method of using cellphones, bringing closed captioning to telephone communications. Most recent models of cellphones and smartphones offer at least one method of text messaging. Users with data plans can also use Internet-based instant message services. Any text-capable cellphone may be suitable, though new users will likely prefer phones with QWERTY-style keyboards. Audio capabilities of a cellphone for a text user become secondary.