DESCRIPTIONS OF TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT IN EACH CATEGORY AVAILABLE THROUGH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS IOWA

AMPLIFIED PHONE CATEGORY:
Benefits people with different degrees of mild to moderate hearing loss.

Basic Amplified Phone: A corded phone with volume control (amplification) capabilities to adjust the loudness of the other person's voice. Works well for individuals who have a mild hearing loss. Volume control may adjust up to 35 dB. Receives incoming speech with more clarity. May include memory dial, redial, flash button and more and includes built-in loud and flashing ringer.

Basic Amplified Phone with Headset/Neckloop: Same as the Basic Amplified Phone but includes a headset or neckloop with volume control capabilities which adjusts the loudness of the other caller’s voice on the telephone. Either headset or neckloop may be T-coil compatible. Neckloops may work with amplified phones, but amplified headsets may cause feedback if both phones and headsets are turned up.

Enhanced Amplified Phone (corded and cordless): Same as the Basic Amplified Phone but has more powerful amplification for corded phones. Some phones have enhancement controls that may eliminate background noise and increase clarity. Some phones includes volume control which adjusts up to 55 dB, tone control, noise reduction which removes unwanted background noise, memory dial, redial and flash buttons. Cordless phones, which are included in this category and may be amplified up to 50 dB, are convenient and mobile for use by individuals with hearing loss who enjoy amplification for clear conversations. Some corded and cordless enhanced amplified phones have speaker, built-in loud/flashing ringers and a Caller ID display (Caller ID service is available through your telephone company).

Enhanced Amplified Phone with Headset/Neckloop: Same as the Enhanced Amplified Phone but includes a headset or neckloop with volume control capabilities which adjusts the loudness of the other caller’s voice on the telephone. Either headset or neckloop may be T-coil compatible. Neckloops may work with amplified phones, but amplified headsets may cause feedback if both phones and headsets are turned up.

Inline/Portable Amplifier: Adapts your existing standard telephone into an amplified phone so individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss can hear better over the telephone. Provides some amplification through volume control.

CAPTIONED TELEPHONE CATEGORY:
Benefits people with hearing loss and who are able to speak clearly over the phone.

Captioned Telephone: The captions are displayed on this phone's built-in screen so the user can read the words through the Captioned Relay Service while listening to the voice of the other party. This phone is amplified up to 35 dB. Works with either 1 or 2 telephone lines. For more information on the Captioned Telephone Relay Service, call Relay Iowa Customer Service at 888-516-4692 or go to the website, www.relayiowa.com.

Captioned Telephone with USB Port: Same as the Captioned Phone but has an USB port which can be hooked up to an existing computer for large visual display.
Note: Both Captioned Telephones can include a headset or neckloop with volume control capabilities which adjusts the loudness of the other caller’s voice on the telephone. Either headset or neck loop may be T-coil compatible. Neckloops may work with amplified phones, but amplified headsets may cause feedback if both phones and headsets are turned up.

HANDS-FREE SPEAKERPHONE CATEGORY: Benefits those with mild hearing loss and mobility limitations.

Voice Activated Speakerphone with Remote Control: A voice-activated phone that allows you to dial pre-programmed numbers and answer calls using a remote control. It may have some amplification. This is good for people who have some hearing loss and mobility impairment.

Voice Activated Speakerphone with Remote Control, Accessories: Same as the Hands-Free Speakerphone but includes an accessory such as pillow switch, air switch, lapel microphone (helps those with weak voice) or headset with microphone.

HEARING CARRY OVER (HCO) PHONE CATEGORY: Assist individuals who can hear, but have difficulty speaking over the phone.

HCO with TTY: Same as the TTY but has a Hearing Carry Over (HCO) attachment for speaker or headset. Will need to use in conjunction with the Relay Service. For more information on the Relay Service, call Relay Iowa Customer Service at 888-516-4692 or go to the website www.relayiowa.com. This HCO with TTY may come with a printer to print the text portion of the call.

SPEECH AMPLIFIED PHONE CATEGORY: Assist individuals with low voice volume or weak speech.

Speech Amplified Phone: Includes a loudness control switch on handset (up to 26 dB gain) to increase voice volume of the user, hearing aid compatible, may have last number redial button, and tone/pulse dialing.

Speech Amplified Phone with Headset: Same as the Speech Amplified Phone but includes a headset or microphone to improve speech clarity.

TEXT TELEPHONE (TTY) CATEGORY: Best suited for individuals who are deaf or have great difficulty hearing and speaking on a standard telephone. It transmits and receives typed messages to the TTY/Hearing Carry Over/Voice Carry Over user or to the Relay Service. For more information on the Relay Service, call Relay Iowa Customer Service at 888-516-4692 or go to the website www.relayiowa.com. There are TTYs with different features; see below for more types of TTYs.

Braille TTY*: Same as the TTY but it enables persons who are deaf-blind to communicate using a modified TTY with a Braille display. *Requires a Special Request. Contact TAI for details.

Non-Printing TTY: Same as the TTY but has no printer. Portable or compact TTYs are also available in this category

Printing TTY: Same as the TTY but has a built-in printer using 2 ¼ inch paper rolls. TTYs with Portable Printer are included in this category. For TTYs using 8 ½ inch paper, see TTY with Wide Paper and Caller ID.

TTY Software: Same as the TTY but it includes TTY software to install in your existing computer with modem. Your computer and modem must be connected to a phone line. May adjust font size and background screen for easier reading.

TTY with ASCII Code: Same as the TTY but has an ASCII Code feature. This is the same type of transmission used by modems on personal computers when dialing the Internet. ASCII is much faster: it can keep up with the fastest typist. However, it doesn't have a Voice Carry Over (VCO) feature.

TTY with Large Visual Display (LVD): Same as the TTY but has a built-in large visual display screen for easier reading. Some may come with a printer.

TTY with Wide Paper and Caller ID: Same as the TTY but it has wide paper (8 ½ inch paper roll) for printing and a built-in Caller ID display. (The Caller ID service is available through your telephone company.)

VOICE CARRY OVER (VCO) PHONE CATEGORY: Used by individuals who can speak but are unable to hear on a standard telephone. Allows the VCO user to receive typed messages through the Relay Service and verbally reply to a caller. For more information on the Relay Service, call Relay Iowa Customer Service at 888-516-4692 or go to the website www.relayiowa.com.

Voice Carry Over (VCO) Phone: An amplified phone (30dB) phone with a visual display to read spoken message of the caller while they are speaking to the caller through the Relay Service. Will not be able to hear the other caller’s voice while using this service.

Voice Carry Over (VCO) with Port and Portable Printer: Same as the Voice Carry Over (VCO Phone but includes a Port which allows you to hook up a Portable Printer which is compact and will print typed conversations.

VCO with TTY: Same as the Voice Carry Over (VCO) Phone but includes a keyboard that can be used as a TTY and has a microphone attachment or handset for the person to speak directly to the other caller using a Relay Service. It may have a printer to print the text portion of the call.

PHONE RINGER/SIGNALER CATEGORY: Alerts people with hearing loss to the ringing of the telephone.

Loud/Flashing Ringer: Alerts deaf and hard of hearing individuals to the ringing of the telephone either visually (a built-in flashing light or can be connected to a lamp), by a loud ringing tone or both at the same time. A ringer can be connected directly to a phone or jack in a separate room if desired. A ringer can be requested along with a selection of telephone equipment.

Tactile Ringer for Deaf-Blind: Alerts deaf-blind individuals to the ringing of the telephone by a vibrating signal that can be worn on the body. Some tactile ringers come in kits which may include a receiver, transmitter, battery charger and a dual phone plug.