Free Phone Devices For Hearing Impaired

Phone users might not realize it, but they are paying for devices that assist the hearing impaired.

A piece of Florida legislation - the Telecommunications Access System Act - was passed in 1991 that provides basic telephone services for those who are "hard of hearing, deaf, deaf/blind and speech impaired," according to a media release from Florida Telecommunications Relay Inc. (FTRI).

The act mandated that the FTRI equipment distribution program be funded by a monthly surcharged billed to all "landline" telephone customers in Florida. The current surcharge is 11 cents.

"Not a lot of people are aware of the program," said FTRI spokeswoman Myrtle Hoffman. "Word has not been getting out. People are like, 'Wow, this has been around for 17 years and we haven't even known about it.'"

Florida Relay loans the equipment for free to qualifying residents for as long as they need it, according to the FTRI Web site.

The group supplies a variety of telephone equipment to make phoning easier for those who have suffered hearing loss. The range of devices includes amplifiers, tone adjusters and captioning, said Hoffman.

Free screenings and equipment distribution are available locally through Beltone Hearing Aid Service, located at 1126 W. Jefferson St. in Brooksville.

The company's Spring Hill location is at 7243 Forest Oaks Blvd.

Otherwise, people may visit the nearest FTRI locations - in Lecanto or Ocala.

For more information, call 1-800-265-5724 or visit www.ftri.org.