Deafness Forum of Australia
Some Good News About Mobile Phones & Hearing Aids
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology is being introduced to Australia at the present time. CDMA digital mobile telephones are becoming available for purchase. Some of them are dual mode, meaning they will switch between the AMPS analogue mobile phone network (where it is still operational) and the CDMA digital mobile phone network (where it is in place).
Research conducted by the National Acoustic Laboratories indicates that most hearing aid users will be able to successfully use a CDMA digital mobile phone. The anecdotal evidence reaching the Deafness Forum also is very positive, with some people advising that they can hear better on a CDMA phone than on any other phone they have ever used. This is long awaited and very encouraging news.
The Australian Communications Authority has arranged for an 1800 hotline to be installed in the Deafness Forum's office so that we may give comprehensive advice to any person with a hearing aid who wishes to obtain information about the use of mobile phones and accessories by people with hearing aids or cochlear implants. The number for that hotline is 1800 022 878. The ACA also is meeting the costs of staffing the hotline until the end of February 2000. Telstra has donated a Uniphone to the Deafness Forum, so people can call the 1800 line whether they are using a voice phone, a TTY or their own Uniphone. We are most appreciative of the assistance provided by both the Australian Communications Authority and Telstra, in response to our requests.
* Telstra has advised that effective 12th November,1999 all Telstra Shops will have a Nokia Inductive loop available for trial and a live CDMA handset for demonstration purposes.
