Best Caption Phones for Hard of Hearing
Find out what are best caption phones and how you can get them from free. Also, check out best caption phone alternatives!
Smartphone Apps for Hearing Loss
Free caption phones are an excellent resource for hard-of-hearing individuals. They offer features that make it easier to engage in phone calls with confidence and clarity.
However, one significant drawback of free caption phones is their lack of mobility; they are typically stationary devices that must be used at home or in an office, limiting their convenience for on-the-go communication.
This is where smartphone apps with accessibility features, such as live transcription and captioning, become invaluable.
The Nagish Smartphone App
Nagish is an FCC-certified service provider that offers the convenience of a free captioned phone while on the go. Using a smartphone, users can engage in phone and live conversations with ease, accuracy, and privacy.
The phone’s screen displays accurate, real-time captions, even during live conversations, and the font is easily adjustable to accommodate individuals' needs.
The app includes helpful and intuitive features to facilitate the flow of conversation, such as:
Enabling Incoming Calls
Most captioning services assign users a new phone number due to technical limitations, but Nagish lets you keep your existing phone number! That way, you don’t need to update your contact information.
Saved Transcripts
Save your call transcripts and easily access them to review past conversations anytime. They remain private and are saved locally on your device.
Personal Dictionary
Personalize your experience by indexing words, names, or business lingo so that Nagish always gets them right.
Built-in Spam Filter
Nagish automatically blocks spam calls, scammers, and telemarketing calls and allows you to block specific numbers from calling you.
Bluetooth Connectivity
This allows your assistive listening device such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other external listening device to pair seamlessly with Nagish.
Voicemail Transcription
Miss a call but never miss a message. Nagish will transcribe your voicemails so that you can easily access all your messages.
Adjustable Fonts
Nagish lets you modify the size of your captions, even during a call.
Quick Replies
The quick replies feature enables you to save time and effort when typing responses, sending pre-made responses that you can access with the tap of a button.
Favorite Contacts
Connect with the people you engage with most by marking them as favorites.
Full Support Calling Automated Lines
Nagish uses a built-in keypad when asked to ‘press’ or ‘enter’ a number during a phone call.
Multilingual
The app supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, and Japanese.
Personalization features
Allows you to select your voice tone of choice, which si what the person on the other end will hear.
Profanity Filter
Nagish includes a built-in profanity filter to keep language PG.
Free Caption Phones: What to Expect?
Caption phones are specialized phones with accessible design features, such as:
- Screen Display
You’ll first notice that caption phones for hearing loss have a built-in screen above or next to the keypad. This screen displays the real-time text captions of the conversation, allowing the user to read along as they listen.
- Keypad
The keypad usually displays large, easy-to-press buttons and a speakerphone option.
- Handset
The handset may also be larger than most standard phones with additional features like noise reduction or a built-in amplifier to improve sound quality.
- Connectivity
Some devices offer internet connectivity to enable faster and more accurate captioning services. Some models can also connect to smartphones, hearing aids, or other devices.
How To Get Caption Phones for Free
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, which reimburses companies that provide relay services and accessible landline phones.
Companies that offer free caption phones include CaptionCall, ClearCaptions, and Hamilton CapTel.
CaptionCall
This service offers free caption phones for your home phone and doesn’t require a doctor’s note. Here are the necessary steps:
- Filling out a form to confirm hearing loss and the need for a captioned phone
- Scheduling an installation day
- Getting your caption phone set up by an installer
Note that there will be a wait time between your request approval and installation day scheduling until you get your caption phone installed at home.
ClearCaptions
Getting a free captioned phone from ClearCaptions involves a similar process, including:
- Filling out a form to confirm hearing loss and the need for a captioned phone
- Getting qualified (this may take some time)
- Scheduling an installation day for set up
Note that installation wait time is dependent on the provider's availability.
Captel
Captel does require additional steps, including:
- Filling out a form
- Getting qualified and certified by a hearing professional, such as an audiologist
- Submitting the form
- Installation setup
This process is the lengthiest due to the fact that you must visit an audiologist.
Key Takeaway
Captioning and live transcription services are ideal tools for those with hearing loss to use over the phone. If you’re looking for a stationary free caption phone that you can use at home or in an office setting, the options we’ve provided above are the best captioned telephone solutions in the market, all covered by the FCC.
Additionally, Nagish is an FCC-certified app that is completely free for qualifying individuals and provides the best captioning and live transcription services in the palm of your hand.
Nagish has helped thousands of people communicate with ease and confidence thanks to an intuitive design and advanced accessibility features based on user and community feedback.
Ready to place your first call? Try Nagish, it’s free.
Copywriter based in Miami, FL. Leads copywriting workshops and mentors women entrepreneurs at the Idea Center of Miami Dade College.
