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Telephone usage in the hearing-impaired population.
L J Kepler1, M Terry, R H Sweetman
1Department of Communication Disorders and Speech Science, University of Colorado, Boulder.
Ear and Hearing
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Most hearing-impaired individuals surveyed experienced telephone communication difficulties, even with hearing aids. Many reported issues coupling hearing aids to phones and expressed interest in improved telephone accessibility solutions.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Assistive Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Telephone communication presents significant challenges for individuals with hearing impairments.
- Existing assistive devices like hearing aids and amplifiers offer partial solutions but are not without limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the satisfaction levels of hearing-impaired individuals with telephone communication in both aided and unaided conditions.
- To identify specific problems encountered during telephone use and explore existing coping strategies.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 104 hearing-impaired individuals was conducted using a 43-item questionnaire.
- The questionnaire gathered data on telephone usage, challenges, and the effectiveness of assistive devices.
Main Results:
- 55% of hearing aid users utilized their devices for telephone calls, but 70% found coupling problematic.
- 73% of participants reported using telephone amplifiers.
- A significant majority (75%) expressed a desire for enhanced telephone communication solutions.
Conclusions:
- Telephone use remains a significant challenge for many hearing-impaired individuals.
- Current assistive technologies, including hearing aids and amplifiers, have limitations in addressing these challenges.
- There is a clear need and demand for improved telephone communication systems tailored to the hearing-impaired population.