Home phones

This section includes home telephones with assistive features.

Telephones that amplify the user’s voice can help a person with speech difficulties to be heard over the phone.

Corded and cordless telephones with amplified speech and/or an amplified ring tone.  This may help you to hear your caller's voice when using the phone or the ring tone when you are receiving a call.

Telephones with an integral inductive coupler for use with hearing aids when the aid is switched to the 'T' (telecoil) setting. This may make the caller's voice clearer for hearing aid users. When a hearing aid is switched to the 'T' setting its microphones are turned off and only the signal from the earpiece is amplified by the hearing aid. These phones also have additional features to enhance ease of use such as large buttons or amplified sound.

Telephones which indicate an incoming call by flashing a light. These phones have a larger than average flashing, or strobe, light. Some may also have a vibrating pad which will vibrate when a call is received.

Telephones which speak the numbers entered when dialling so you can confirm you have pressed the intended keys. Some can also speak out the number of the caller when receiving an incoming call and/or have a talking phonebook and speech guidance to the menu settings.

Corded and cordless landline telephones with large keys and/or enlarged numbers which may be helpful if you have low vision. Some models have keypad buttons with varying shapes to facilitate identification by touch and some have large LCD displays.

Telephones with enlarged keys designed to accommodate photos or pictures. Keys are pre-programmed for one-touch dialling of pre-programmed telephone numbers associated with the photo/pictures. The photos may remind the user which button corresponds to which person. Also included are independent units which can be attached to standard telephones to provide the above facility and telephones which automatically dial one number when the handset is picked up. 

Hands-free telephones have a built-in microphone and loudspeaker to allow a conversation to be conducted without lifting the handset. Other people in the same area may be able to overhear the conversation, however a headset may be used to avoid this. Most of the telephones have a memory to store numbers and redial them at the touch of one or two buttons. Some are totally hands-free and use a scanning facility which may be operated by a means appropriate to the individual, for example a foot switch.

Telephones and accessories that provide options to block unwanted calls, such as sales calls. This may be helpful for users with memory loss, or low safety awareness.