Telephone across the Life Span: An Issue for All

Abstract

The telephone is a widely used, yet highly disregarded, instrument of daily living. Census data reveal that just fewer than 3% of U.S. homes were phoneless in the year 2000. The telephone has a significant impact on society and on individuals' lives. In the context of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, this article explores how the telephone contributes to one's general well being at different points over the life span. Federal legislation mandates telephone accessibility for all individuals in the United States. Specific laws are explored. Finally, survey data on normal and hard-ofhearing listeners are reported in an effort to illustrate the need for hearing health practitioners to aggressively address telephone solutions.

Comparison of Wireless and Acoustic Hearing Aid-Based Telephone Listening Strategies

“…Telephone usage is prominent in almost every household in the United States and continues to be one of the most widely used pieces of technology for people in all age groups (Mormer & Mack 2003). Telephone use is important for communication purposes and for safety reasons.…”

Evaluation of a Telephone Speech-Enhancement Algorithm Among Older Adults With Hearing Loss

“…The issue of effective telephone communication takes on even greater importance when considering the evolution of telehealth. Telehealth allows in-home patient care by health care providers, overcoming common issues for older adults such as difficulty with transportation (Mormer & Mack, 2003;Wakefield, 2003). Many older adults with hearing loss, however, have expressed concerns regarding their ability to effectively communicate about their health care via the telephone (Iezzoni et al, 2004).…”