QUESTION: My father has a difficult time hearing voices clearly on the telephone. How can he continue to speak to family or business associates on the phone without missing some of the words?.

ANSWER: Maryland Relay offers several options, each designed to help individuals with a hearing loss communicate more effectively. There is also a special, easy to use phone number for Voice Carry Over users: 1-888-826-9673 (1-888-VCO-WORD).

Voice Carry-Over (VCO): This enables people who have difficulty hearing on the phone to voice their conversation directly to the hearing person. The OPR then types the hearing person's response to the VCO user. VCO can be used with either a TTY or a VCO phone. Click here for step by step instructions.

Voice Carry-Over (VCO) with Privacy: VCO users can request this feature if they want privacy on their call. With this feature, the OPR drops off during the VCO user's part of the conversation. The VCO user MUST TYPE "GA" at the end of his/her turn voicing. This will bring the OPR back on line to continue relaying the hearing person's response. Simply tell or type to the OPR that you want VCO with Privacy when the call begins.

CapTel™: This enables people who have difficulty hearing on the phone to speak for themselves while listening directly to the hearing person, while reading word-for-word what is being said. Click here for more info.

Setting up a Customer Profile is strongly encouraged for VCO users.

For more information about specialized telephone equipment - click here.