Assistive Devices for the Deaf
T-Switches/Audio Loops
Today many buildings and telephones are ‘looped’ i.e they have induction loop facilities for hearing impaired people who wear a hearing aid that is fitted with a T-switch (or telecoil). This T-switch on your aid may help you to hear speakers or programs more clearly, especially if there is background noise. You should enquire about the T-switch facility, which will be fitted to your aid at no charge. Discuss this with your Service Provider at your assessment appointment.
More information about hearing loops
Click here for Assistive Listening Systems/Hearing Loops Brochure available
Click here for information about the Deafness Forum Hearing Loop Project
Click here for APTNAC Hearing Augmentation Information Guide
Technology Devices
There is a wide variety of technology products available to the hearing impaired to assist them in their daily lives. These range from flashing and vibrating alarms, to home audio loops systems, infra red listening devices, multi alarm systems, portable sound amplifiers and flashing door knock alerts amongst many other products. Contact details as follows:
Hearing Aids
Many Australians benefit from the use of hearing aids. Some people, including children and older Australians, may be eligibile for free hearing aids. To find out more, contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 496 (TTY) or 1800 500 726 (voice)
Telephone
Telephone accessories to help people with hearing problems are available from Telstra at no additional cost over and above the standard first telephone rental fee. Please ask your service provider for details, or ring Telstra on 1800 068 424. TTY’s (Telephone Typewriters) are also available for those unable to communicate over the phone. Printacall, Word of Mouth and other providers sell TTY machines.
Click here to read an article about hearing aids and mobile phones
National Relay Service
The National Relay Service is an Australia-wide telephone access service available to everyone at no additional charge. If you are Deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment and you use a TTY (teletypewriter) or a computer with a modem, you can access anyone in the wider telephone network through Australian Communication Exchange’s National Relay Service (NRS).
When you call through the NRS a Relay Officer (RO) will assist with your call. You can type and read your conversation entirely via a TTY or a computer with a modem. The RO will become "your voice" and read out loud your conversation to the other person. The RO will listen to the response and type it back for you to read.
To access the National Relay Service, simply dial the NRS number you want. After following a series of computer prompts, you will be transferred to a RO.
All local and chargeable calls (within Australia) 133 677 (or 133 NRS) All free calls (within Australia) 1800 555 677 (or 1800 555 NRS) For further information visit www.aceinfo.net.au
Captions
If you are having increasing difficulty hearing your TV then you might find that captions could be the answer to your problem. Captions re-create the soundtrack of a program or movie in word format on the bottom of your TV screen.
Captions are different from subtitles because they include more audio-visual clues as to what is happening on screen. Whilst subtitles are usually a translation from a foreign language into English, captions use different coloured text for different speakers and they are positioned on screen according to where the speech is coming from. (E.g. If the voice comes from left of screen the caption will be positioned to the left of the screen).
Captions also appear on screen to denote sound effects and music. If a car skids in the background of the program you are watching, a caption will appear saying [car skids]. If the program has gentle classical music playing in the background, a caption will appear on screen saying [Gentle classical music playing].
If you have any difficulty with captions contact Deafness Forum or Media Access Australia and tell us your experience. Whenever anyone provides Deafness Forum with details of specific captioning problems, we raise the concerns with the various networks and seek advice regarding the particular steps they will take to prevent a re-occurence of the problems.
For more detailed information about captioning problems visit the Media Access Australia website.