Wireless Technology Can Benefit the Deaf

For generations, hearing impaired individuals have used sign language as a primary form of communication. Nowadays, many are turning to technological devices to "speak" and communicate on the same terms as everyone else.

Smart phones that enable individuals to do everything from texting a quick message to a friend to taking and sending videos are becoming an asset to individuals who cannot hear or speak, profoundly changing the lives of deaf people along the way.

Hearing impaired teenagers blend in with the scores of other teens texting about the latest gossip or homework assignments. Deaf husbands and wives are able to text to a loved one in the other room to announce dinner is ready or find out if a person is home. Instead of relying on an interpretor or pen and paper to do mundane tasks, deaf individuals can type a text message on their phones and simply show it to another person. For example, "I would like to order meal #7 from the value menu." Some mobile phones employ technology that will turn written phrases into spoken words, which can also prove advantageous to deaf individuals.

Many hearing impaired people find that texting is very quick and efficient, more so than other methods of communication. Some mobile phone companies are even catering to the deaf, offering text-only plans for those who don't need voice services.

The "silent" mode on phones for hearing individuals is a viable tool for the deaf, who can rely on the vibrating device to alert to texts, e-mails, incoming photos, and more. Mobile phones can also be used to provide appointment reminders or serve as a vibrating alarm clock.

Surveys by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) have found that as many as 22 out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. have a severe hearing impairment or are deaf. Many deaf individuals were not born that way, having lost their hearing later in life.

The convenience of texting is a technological asset for hearing impaired people who want to enjoy the independence of communicating with anyone, anytime.

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