Assisting Hearing-Impaired Clients
Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Clients
We will always attempt to assist our deaf and hearing-impaired clients when they call in using either a TDD/TTY device, TRS, or when assisted by an interpreter.
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- TDD – Telecommunications Device for the Deaf / TTY – Teletypewriter
- a communications device equipped with a keyboard for typing messages and a screen for reading messages.
- TRS – Telecommunications Relay Service
- a telephone service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls.
- TDD – Telecommunications Device for the Deaf / TTY – Teletypewriter
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How to Handle the Call
- The Relay interpreter will introduce themselves and let you know who they are calling for.
- The interpreter will proceed to talk on behalf of the client in the client’s own words.
- Counselors will respond as if talking directly to the client.
- Always alert a manager that you are on a relay call as these calls go long.
These calls will take longer as the hearing impaired-person needs time to read your response before answering so please adjust your rate of speech accordingly.