Hands free telephones have a function that enables sound to come out of a loudspeaker on the base of the phone instead of through the earpiece or handset of the phone. This allows the user to make use of a telephone without having to hold the receiver. Some phones also include a volume control for the loudspeaker.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Hands free telephones may be useful for people with dexterity problems or for those unable to hold a phone and take notes at the same time.
Some people who are deaf or hard of hearing find it difficult to use the phone with the Inductive Coupler on their hearing aid. People with digital hearing aids often have similar problems. In this case it may be worth trying to use a phone with hands-free operation as there is no need to use the ‘T’ switch setting of a hearing aid, although you may still need to adjust the volume.
Hands free telephones can also be used in conjunction with a switch system, which allows the person to operate the hands free telephone using a single touch of a switch or a sip and puff system to make and receive calls.
Voice activated telephones can also prove beneficial to some people with disability as it gives the option for telephone numbers to be dialled without needing to physically dial the number and allows the user to speak the number to be called. A switch can be used in conjunction with the phone to enable the call to be terminated. Landline telephones of this type are currently only available in the US, however, voice activated dialling is available on some mobile telephones in Australia.
References
Able-phone (no date specified), Model 900: Puff and sip activated, Able-phone, California, viewed 22 June 2011, http://ablephone.com/model1900.php.
Able-phone (no date specified), Model AP 1000: Low cost voice activated phone, Able-phone, California, viewed 22 June 2011, http://ablephone.com/model1000.php.
Apple 2011, iPhone -Voice Control, Apple Pty Ltd, Sydney, viewed 22 June 2011, http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/features/voice-control.html.
NovitaTech Regency Park 2002, Making the Home Phone More Accessible, Novita Children's Services Inc., Regency Park, viewed 22 June 2011, http://www.novitatech.org.au/library/The%20Home%20Phone%20Solutions%20Guide.pdf.
NovitaTech Regency Park 2004, TS Phone 2, Novita Children’s Services Inc., Regency Park, viewed 22 June 2011, http://www.novitatech.org.au/product.asp?p=247&id=2220&start=1.
Telstra 2010, Disability Equipment Program: Telephones, Telstra, Melbourne, viewed 22 June 2011, http://telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/commitments/disability-services/disability-equipment-program/index.htm#tab-Telephones.