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Text Messaging Device For the Hearing Impaired?

Posted by Cliff on from the no-frills-messaging dept.

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?"

3 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Songs for the deaf by ronz0o · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The college that I currently go to is one of about 4 in the United States that has American Sign Language as a major. Since sign is the second language on the campus, this guarantees that deaf students will be more likely to come here. Several of my friends here are deaf, including several teacher. From what I can tell, many of them will use the Sidekicks for communication, and one of the teachers also uses a blackberry. I'm assuming that you can go to the phone company, and they will more than likely have text plans for those who are deaf.

  2. Texting Tools by Teratoma86 · · Score: 4, Informative
    My brother has been deaf since he was 8 months old. With the technology available today, he (and all the members of the multiple deaf societies of which he is part) uses a Sidekick. He tried no frills cell phones, cell phones with frills, and even a Blackberry. He says that for a heavy texting user, the Sidekick rocks.

    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!

    --
    A Slashdot thread without a flawed analogy is like a frozen fishstick without a train conductor. - Odin's Raven
  3. Re:Yes. by mcspoo · · Score: 3, Informative

    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.