Technical Aids to Communication (TAC)
Most hard of hearing people do not depend entirely on lip-reading, they will use hearing aids, amplified phones and other equipment to enhance their quality of life.
There are a wide range of technical aids to communication that enable hard of hearing people to participate more fully at home, work and in the community.
These include:
• A variety of amplified phones
• Visual indicators
• TV listening aids/subtitles
• Loops/infra red
• Personal amplifiers
• Voice to text systems
• Flashing lights/vibrators
Minicom and textphones
These are used by people who are deaf, or do not use speech and who cannot use standard telephones. They have a small electronic keyboard, like the keyboard on a computer, and a display screen on which text is displayed.
BID have an equipment service team which specialises in assessing a wide range of deaf people and ensure that the equipment needs of each individual are met. There is information on Equipment Serivces if you want to check out 'What we do'.