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Hearing
For those with hearing impairment and in those instances where it’s difficult to hear the phone eg in a train station or shopping centre, there are many mobile phone features that could help make communications easier for you, such as:
- Loud maximum volume.
- Adjusting volume settings allows you to increase the volume, making it easier to use the phone and hear when it rings. Consider using phones that have the volume controls on the side of the phone. This makes it easier for you to adjust the volume while talking on the phone.
- Audio amplification helps you hear the phone ring. Some phones are set to limit the higher levels of amplification, but you can change these settings – speak to an O2 retail advisor about how to do this.
- An in-ear hands-free headset will cut out background noise and help you hear the conversation more clearly.
- Vibrate and visual alerting is available on most handsets. Instead of a ring, you can set the phone to vibrate or light up (or both) when you receive a message or call.
- Speakerphone, available on most mobiles phones, allows the phone to act as a speaker, so you can listen and speak without having to hold the phone to your ear. It is particularly useful when there is good volume and sound quality.
- Ability to attach an inductive neckloop using an industry-standard connector and Bluetooth. A neckloop is an inductive handsfree device that transforms the signal from the cell phone into an inductive signal that is wirelessly sent to the users hearing aids, enabling the user clear communication over their cell phone
- Predictive text messages can be a quick and easy way to communicate. Many mobile phones allow you to pre-set standard text messages like ‘Can you come and pick me up?’ reducing the number of keystrokes needed.
- Use phones with text-friendly features such as a large screen, large easy-to-operate controls, controls offering some tactile feedback and large clear labelling. The keypad should be arranged in a standard, square grid, with a raised dot on the 5 control.
- Handsets with a qwerty keyboard will make text messaging much quicker and easier.
Hearing aid tips
Analogue hearing aids
Most ‘behind-the-ear’ hearing aids have a microphone at the front. Always hold the earpiece of your mobile phone against it.
If you hear whistling from the hearing aid, you may have the mobile phone too far away. Try moving it a little closer to the microphone until the noise stops. Phones with amplifiers make the conversation louder but can cause whistling problems and loss of clarity.
Inductive couplers are often fitted to mobile phones and ordinary phones. These can give clearer sound, but you need to switch your hearing aid to ‘T’. Try moving the mobile phone around until you get the best results.
Digital hearing aids
The ‘in-the-ear’ digital hearing aids that have a ‘T’ or ‘Loop’ switch work best with mobile phones. When choosing a hearing aid, bear in mind that those without the switches may not give satisfactory results with your mobile phone. Mobile phones can cause interference with hearing aids.
Phones we recommed
iPhone
Sony Ericsson K660i
BlackBerry Curve 8310
Price Plan information
We also recommend the following price plans that may suit your needs.
O2 Speak easy customers
For Pre pay customers O2 Experience + my 10 favourite O2 numbers you’ll get free calls and texts to your 10 favourite O2 numbers. Just top up by €30 per month
O2 Pay monthly customers
For post pay customers O2 Clear get Unlimited calls to O2 numbers and landlines
For more information on other handsets, please visit our online shop
