We live in a world of information and communication. It is essential that we can all communicate effectively at any time. But deaf and hard of hearing people often face barriers in their communication that can stop them participating fully in society.

A world of communication

We live in a world where most people take it for granted that they can conduct a large proportion of their communication using a wide selection of different methods. A lot of communicating is done aurally through conversations on the telephone, face-to-face and also even through videoconferencing.

While new technologies can offer new opportunities, they also have the potential to increase barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people. We want to work with other stakeholders to make sure that accessible communication devices are available for all ranges of hearing losses.

Communication and hearing loss

Deaf and hard of hearing people choose to communicate in different ways, depending on their level of deafness. Some people with a mild hearing loss might use a hearing aid or find lipreading helpful. People with moderate hearing loss will have difficulty hearing what is said without a hearing aid, particularly somewhere noisy. People who are severely deaf may have difficulty following what is being said even with a hearing aid. Many lipread and some use sign language or speech-to-text. Some, but not all, people who are profoundly deaf may find that hearing aids are of little benefit to them. They may use sign language, speech-to-text or lipread.

Lipreading

Phones are vital communication tools, yet people who rely a lot on lipreading often can't use them. We are working with other stakeholders to come up with solutions for lipreading over the phone.

Textphones

There is a range of communications equipment available for deaf and hard of hearing people to use in the home, car, workplace and when out socialising. They need different sorts of equipment depending on their level of deafness or hearing loss.

As well as obvious means of text communication, such as email, fax, short messaging service (SMS) messaging and instant messaging on the Internet, people who are severely or profoundly deaf may use textphones to communicate. Textphones have a display screen and a keyboard so you can type what you want to say and read what is being typed in reply. We are constantly working on the use of text as an alternative to voice communications, particularly textphones and interactive texting. Our TalkByText system is an alternative computer based system that allows organisations to receive textphone calls.

Texting on the move

Communicating while on the move is no longer a luxury for the happy few, but an essential tool for all of us. Deaf people are particularly interested in using text to communicate while on the move, and we are working on solutions and with other stakeholders to improve texting while on the move for deaf people.

Telephone

There is a range of products that can improve deaf or hard of hearing people’s ability to communicate with oral speech using telephones. A telephone amplifier may help them hear what a caller is saying to them. Some phones also have an inductive coupler built into the handset. This enables people who use hearing aids with a 'T' setting to use the phone. Of course, these communication solutions may not suit everyone. In addition to solutions that help with voice communication, there are others that let deaf or hard of hearing people communicate by text rather than by using their own speech or hearing.

Some people’s hearing diminishes over time. They have been used to using telephones for most of their lives, but then find it increasingly difficult because of their increasing hearing loss. For such users, the RNID Screen Textphone project will provide a possible solution.

Further information

You can find out more by contacting us by email at ict@rnid.org.uk.