What is “TTY”?
A TTY is a telephone which is specially outfitted for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. The “TTY” stands for “teletypewriter,” and the term is sometimes used to describe teletypes in general. TTY systems allow people who are deaf and hard of hearing to make calls to each other, and with the assistance of relay systems, users can also communicate with people who do not have TTY systems. Essentially, a TTY system allows the user to place a phone call and then communicate through written text, rather than spoken communication. TTY systems include a telephone handset which is attached to a keyboard; each key makes a specific tone which can be read by the handset. The handset communicates those tones to a receiver on the other end of the line, and the receiver interprets the tones and generates a line of text. Obviously, when someone places a call with a TTY system, they need to be certain that the recipient also has TTY. If the recipient has no TTY receiver, he or she will pick up the
The telephone is a vital element in our daily living. We routinely use the phone to chat with friends, make dinner reservations, inquire about job openings, and even to do our banking. For most of us, the telephone provides a convenience that we take for granted. However, for the several million deaf people in this country, the conveniences as well as life-saving capacities of the telephone have, until recent years, been inaccessible. Today, a deaf or speech impaired person can make telephone calls using a TeleTYpewriter (TTY). With a TTY, the conversation is typed rather than spoken and direct communication is possible with anyone who has a similar device. Calls placed to or from a non-TTY user can be placed through the Telecommunications Relay Service. A growing number of government agencies and businesses are installing a TTY to provide direct phone communication to and for their deaf employees and customers. Availability of this service is denoted with a “TTY” or “V/TTY” directly f
By Sim Gaunt and Laura Feakes The telephone is a vital element in our daily living. We routinely use the phone to chat with friends, make dinner reservations, and even to do our shopping and banking. For most of us, the telephone provides a convenient communication method that we take for granted. However, for the several million people in this country with severe hearing impairments, the convenience as well as life saving capacities of the telephone have, until recent years, been inaccessible. Today, an individual with hearing or speech impairment can make telephone calls using a TTY. The purpose of the TTY/TDD is to break through the communication barrier for regular telephone use, but most importantly, this device provides direct access to 911. TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is also sometimes called a TDD, or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. TTY is the more widely accepted term, however, as TTYs are used by many people, not just people who are deaf. The TTY is a special dev
By Sim Gaunt and Laura Feakes The telephone is vital to our lives, with uses ranging from chatting with friends, shopping or banking, to 911 emergencies. For most of us, the telephone provides convenient communication; however, for the several million people in this country with severe hearing impairments, the convenience as well as life saving capacities of the telephone have, until recent years, been inaccessible. Today, an individual with hearing or speech impairment can make telephone calls using a TTY. The purpose of the TTY/TDD is to break through the communication barrier for regular telephone use, but most importantly, this device provides direct access to 911. TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is also sometimes called a TDD, or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. TTY is the more widely accepted term, however, as TTYs are used by many people, not just people who are deaf. The TTY is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired use the t
