Captioned Telephone (CapTel/Caption Call): Make Phone Calls Easier With Live Captions

A captioned telephone is a phone that displays a real-time text transcript of the conversation while you talk. As the other person speaks, their words appear on a screen — either a built-in screen on a dedicated desk phone, a tablet, or a computer. You speak normally and hear the other person as usual, while also being able to read everything they say. This makes phone calls much more manageable for people who have hearing loss, tinnitus, or difficulty understanding speech over the phone.

Captioning telephone service in the United States is funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is provided completely free of charge to people with hearing loss. You do not pay for the captions themselves, though you do pay your normal telephone service bill.

There are several ways to use captioned telephone service. A dedicated captioned desk phone — the CapTel 2400i by Ultratec and the CaptionCall phone by Sorenson are the most widely available — connects to your regular phone line and home internet, and the caption service works automatically. Many of these phones are available at no cost or very low cost through state programs for people with hearing disabilities.

Alternatively, a free app called InnoCaption and an app from Hamilton CapTel provide real-time captions on your smartphone during regular phone calls. These apps work on both iPhone and Android and are free to download.

To qualify and get a free captioned phone, contact your state's telephone equipment distribution program or visit the Hamilton CapTel website (www.hamiltonCapTel.com) or Sorenson's CaptionCall website (captioncall.com). You will typically fill out a brief form confirming you have hearing loss. No formal documentation or medical certification is required by most programs.