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Text Messaging Device For the Hearing Impaired?
spaceball1 asks: "I was in the army and served in Iraq — one of the side effects being some permanent hearing loss. I now wear hearing aids all of the time, in both ears. Talking on a cell phone has become nearly impossible. I have considered moving to a device more geared towards text messaging, but they are all very expensive and have a lot of the features that I will never use. Are there any devices out there that are geared only towards simple text messaging? The No-Frills-Cell-Phone concept has been largely ignored in the US; does a No-Frills-Text-Messaging device exist?"
I'll second this; my school is about 10% deaf/hearing-impaired and they almost unanimously use Sidekicks.
Have you looked into TTY services? Or Relay services?
Personally, I have a Treo 600. I can hear ok with the speakerphone, and I love the keyboard for sending text messages, which I do often. But when I need to call someone and discuss something important, I use an online Relay service like Hamilton Relay (google for it). It's free (domestically, anyway), and it's just like using AIM, basically, except you're on the phone.
I wish more people would STOP using the phone and switch to email or texting. I hate when people call me, and I have to go through the whole routine of "sorry, I'm hearing impaired, can you email me?" It amazes me how so many people don't understand this--even when I put in all my emails "Hearing Impaired--email preferred," I still get calls from people I've emailed.
T-Mobile has the Sidekick iD for $99 (with contract and rebate) which isn't too pricey. I've used a sidekick for about 4 years now, pretty much just as a web/email/texting device. It has a great keyboard that you can type at a pretty good pace on. It has an IM client for Aim and Yahoo (I think) as well. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?de vice=ab49893d-e81e-4065-ae87-ee2554ab2688
If you're looking into a cellphone, there's always the Blackberry/Treo/Sidekick/Nokia 91xx(i think), and you can find most of those on eBay for cheaper than your provider has them for. However, if you'd be content to just use the nearest WiFi hotspot, there's something called the ZipIt which runs $100, and handles all the standard IM networks. Added bonus: it runs Linux.
"I think an etch-a-sketch with an ethernet port would beat IE7 in web standards compliance."
Some states also mandate that the local telephone carriers subsidize the use of a C-phone (which they also provide), but that is tied to a land line although portable versions are available for retail purchase.
Good luck with your search!
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You may want to check out a new hearing aid from a company called Zounds. My dad just purchased a pair, and loves them. He always complained about your same issue - the feedback problem with speaking on the phone. Good luck.
Blackberries work great for this but you may want to look into a headset that can plug into your hearing aid. The Eli DIRX works pretty good for this too. http://www.elihearing.com/UnitedStatesENG/index.ht m
I married a wonderful Deaf lady who is a professor at a public university with a large Deaf program. While I'm hearing, I interact on a daily basis with a large range of hard of hearing individuals. While your experience is largely different from most hard of hearing individuals, there are many programs and technologies out there for you to take advantage of.
Let me preface this by saying that the services are US based, and YMMV greatly in another country with a less established deaf community.
Relay:
In nearly every state in the Union you can dial 711 and reach a relay center. Relay is a free service whereby a hearing operator will make a call for you and type what the person is saying. You need a piece of specialized equipment called a TTY. Since you are a late deafened adult, you probably have excellent speech skills and would prefer using them to typing out what you would like to say. This is called Speech Carry Over, (SCO) and allows you to talk and have the relay operator type back to you what the person is saying. Google "relay services (yourstatehere)" for more information. If you have a computer or internet enabled device available you can make relay calls over the internet for free in the US in 2 separate ways. Point a java-enabled browser at www.ip-relay.com or AIM the buddy "My IP Relay" to get a Relay Operator right away. Of course, these communications will be entirely text based.
QWERTY Cellphones:
By now you've read many comments about T-mobile, and Sidekicks. These devices are not just for Paris Hilton. Nearly every Deaf/HH person under 40 has one, or wants one. T-mobile in the US has several plans geared towards the Deaf/HH including plans that do not include any voicetime at all. My wife and I use T-mobile MDA's which have full featured PDA functionality in addition to a qwerty keyboard and excellent cameraphone. You request a no frills text only cellphone, to which I would point you to a Nokia 68xx series cellphone. The newest of which is the 6822. These phones will do little more than make phone calls and send text/email. These phones are hard to find in stores, but relatively easy to find on ebay, and easy to unlock if they aren't already, so that you can take them to whatever provider will give you the best deal on a grip of texts (usually t-mobile).
You ask for a no frills text-only cellphone, but I would really encourage you to look at the Sidekick. If you feel that you wouldn't use the camera, and of course the mp3 playback would be pointless, the other features are incredibly useful to a hard of hearing individual. The basic deaf sidekick plan from t-mobile is $30 a month, and includes unlimited internet usage. Which allows you to text and aim away as much as you need. This lets you use aforementioned relay services at the drop of a hat so you can call a business or hearing friend whenever you need to. Of course, everyone can text you on your cellphone, but many people are still only available on boring old landlines, especially businesses.
Video Phones:
As a late deafened adult, you are unlikely to embrace the deaf community and learn sign language. However, if you do, video phones are the wave of the future, and are offered free to deaf/hh people in california, and possibly other states. These phones connect over a high speed internet connection and allow you to call any other person with one. They are used primarily for sign language communication between 2 deaf people with the phones, but they also have a relay function which is a quantum leap above tty based relay. Sorenson is one of the main companies that provides these phones, and if you are interested, check them out at www.sorenson.com.
T-coil/loop:
Almost all hearing aids have a loop/t setting that allows them to filter out all background noise and only receive a locally transmitted sound. Many cellphones have the option to be compatible with this, so if actual voice communication over the phone is still possible for you, consult your audiologist, who will have a r
--why?
I have a Deaf friend.
He uses a Blackberry. You get a data-rate only, with no voice... perfect for him.
WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
Hearing Aids DO NOT cooperate with cell phones, or any phones for that matter. How do I know this? I've been wearing hearing aids since I was smaller than Wee Man.
I use a Sidekick II from T-Mobile under Data contract. Cost about $40/mo.