​Captioned Telephone

Individuals who have difficulty hearing over the phone can enjoy clearer conversations with Captioned Telephone. A Captioned Telephone works just like a standard phone, with one important difference: it displays word-for-word captions of what the other person says throughout the conversation.

How It Works

• Using a special Captioned Telephone, the caller dials the number of the person he/she wishes to call. The phone automatically connects to the captioning service. Learn how to get a Captioned Telephone.

• Once connected, the Captioned Telephone user speaks to the other person, just like he/she would on a standard phone.

• As that person responds, a Captioned Telephone Operator uses the latest voice recognition technology to generate captions of the response.

• The Captioned Telephone user is able to listen while reading word-for-word captions on the phone’s screen. Captions appear just moments after the spoken word.

Landline analog telephone service is required for traditional Captioned Telephone. Captions are also available on an Internet-based Captioned Telephone, as well as on a PC/Mac, smartphone or tablet.

Captioned Telephone Features

Captioned Telephones have a variety of features to make phone conversations clearer and easier, including:

• Bright, easy-to-read text screen

• Built-in answering machine for captioned voicemail messages

• Amplification

• Tone control for maximum clarity

• Captions button to turn captions on and off as needed

• Storage feature to re-read conversations after the call ends (up to 500 lines of text)

How to Get a Captioned Telephone

Captioned Telephones and other assistive telephone devices are available through the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program for qualified Maryland residents. Learn more about the MAT program.

You can also purchase a Captioned Telephone phone directly from the following third-party provider:

• Weitbrecht Communications: Visit http://www.weitbrecht.com/captel-maryland.html or call 800-233-9130. The cost of the phone is $75, and it comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
  
  

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. IP Captioned Telephone Service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says. These captions are then sent to your phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund.​