Telephones

When people begin to lose their hearing the telephone is the first area that needs help.  Even before you get hearing aids,  a good amplified phone can be a big help.

Telephone options on this page

  1. Caption Call
  2. California Telephone Access
  3. Mobile phones info
  4. Captions for smartphones.
  5. Hearing Aid compatible phones info

1.  CaptionCall

Captioning Telephone (a sponsor of the Hearing Well Club)

Requirements for a free phone and free captioning service is:

  1.  Have a landline phone.  Service with Vonage, Ooma, Magic Jack qualifies as a landline phone.
  2. Must have Internet service in your home.
  3. FCC regulations require a Professional Certification form to receive a captioned Telephone and captioned telephone service.

Professions which qualify to provide a professional certification include:

  • Audiology (AuD)
  • Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
  • Family Physician
  • General Practice
  • Geriatrician
  • Gerontologist
  • Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS)
  • Internal Medicine
  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatrics
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Physicians Assistant (PA)
The professional will certify the following:
  • That the individual has a hearing loss and requires Captioned Telephone Service to communicate effectively by phone. (Communicate in a manner that is functionally equivalent to telephone service experienced by individuals without hearing disabilities)
  • That the professional is qualified to evaluate an individual’s hearing loss.

Get a printable version of the certification form

Fax completed certification forms to 1-888-778-5838 or email to certification@captioncall.com.

If you do not have a landline phone but do have an Ipad.  CaptionCall has a wonderful program to use your iPad as a telephone.   See details here: http://bit.ly/CaptionCallMobile      Please visit the CaptionCall page on this site to learn more about CaptionCall.

2.   California Telephone Access  aka  California Phones

California Phones offers a wide selection of phones for not only people with hearing loss but many disabilities.

Visit the California Phones website and download the app.  To be eligible to get a free phone you must

  1. Live in California
  2. Have telephone service
  3. Your doctor approves your need

An application can be made online:  www.CaliforniaPhones.com

Visit the local Showroom and see and try the phones available.

Orange CTAP Service Center
681 South Parker Suite 120
Orange CA 92868
Cross streets:  Town and Country & South Parker

Hours: 9:00am – 6:00pm, Monday – Friday, except holidays.
To better serve you, please arrive before 5:45pm.

or call 1-800-806-1191

3.  Mobile Phones aka Cell phones and Smartphones

Each person’s hearing loss is different and what works for one person may not work for another.  There is no one phone that works best for everybody.  Therefore it is important that you do some homework even before you shop for a phone.  Click here to get the meeting notes from a Hearing Well Club meeting in September 2015.
9-11-15MeetingNotes

4.  Captioning for the Smartphone

InnoCaption is revolutionizing how those with hearing loss communicate by making it possible to use the smartphone (Android & iPhone) as it was intended – accessible, convenient, and mobile. Through the use of our patented technology in conjunction with live stenographers, we provide the fastest, easiest, and most accurate captioning for those who may need assistance hearing the other party.

Smartphones/service must provide simultaneous voice/data service.  Check with your carrier.

https://www.innocaption.com/

5.  Hearing aid compatible phones  (HAC)

All telephones manufactured or imported into the United States are required to be hearing aid compatible since 1988—Hearing Aid Compatibility Act.

https://www.fcc.gov/guides/hearing-aid-compatibility-wireline-and-wireless-telephones