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TTY
TTY or TDD?
A TTY conversation is typed and read, rather than spoken and heard by each party. If one party does not have a TTY, calls can be placed via the free state relay service.
There are many different kinds of TTYs, but some features to look for include direct connect (TTY plugs right into your telephone line), acoustic connect (handset of the phone rests on TTY "ears" and information is transmitted audibly), Baudot (standard transmission) or ASCII (faster, and computer compatible transmission) code, cell phone compatibility, or a built in printer.
TTYs have traditionally not been compatible with digital cell phone technology. We have some helpful hints for integrating the two.
Cell phones are important for both safety and convenience. Many cell phones are TTY compatible; it is often a setting in the "phone options" menu. If you are interested in a TTY compatible cell phone, please click here for some of the recommended cell phones.
Not every TTY will work with a cell phone. Some of our favorite cell phone compatible TTYs are the Q90 TTY, the PocketComm Mini-TTY, and the Pocket Voice Carry Over. These all have an adapter plug for your cell phone to minimize interference and background noise.
TTY conversations have their own etiquette. Here are a few tips:
Let the phone ring at least 10 times. This gives a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person a chance to notice the ring and answer the call. An incoming TTY call sounds like a series of beeps and electronic sounds. It is not a crank call! Turn on your TTY, or place the handset of your telephone into the acoustic connection. When you are placing a call, you may notice a red blinking light on your TTY. This light lets you know the status of your call.
Steady glowing red: Dial tone
Slow red blinking: Phone is ringing
Fast red blinking: Phone line is busy
Flickering red light: A hearing person answered by voice. Press the space bar to identify your call as a TTY call.
When answering a TTY call, it is polite to type your name right away, before your business name.
"HELLO THIS IS JIM AT SOUNDBYTES GA"
Always identify yourself; don't just say "HELLO" or "GA".
Use typing and punctuation shortcuts to save time. (See the glossary below) If you make a mistake, type "XX" to indicate an error, rather than backspace and retyping the word.
Wait for the other party to type "GA" before you begin typing, don't interrupt!
If the message is garbled or you have an emergency, you may type "STOP PLS" or "HD HD". Always follow up with an explanation, even if it is as simple as "MUST GO SKSK" or "BABY CRYING WILL CALL BACK SKSK". If the message is garbled, ask the caller to repeat.
When you are finished speaking, type "GA" (Go Ahead) to indicate that it is the other person's turn to speak. When you are ready to hang up, "SK" (Stop Keying) lets the other party know that you are ready to disconnect. "GA TO SK" lets the other party know that you are ready to hang up, but gives them a chance to make any last comments.
"HAVE A GOOD DAY WILL SEE U SOON GA TO SK"
"OK BYE GA TO SK"
"BYE SKSK"
"SKSK"
Type "SK" 2 to 3 times. Any more implies that you are angry or eager to hang up the phone.
If you are using a TTY with a printer, throw away the conversation unless you have the other caller's permission to keep it. It is similar to recording a vocal conversation with a hearing person-- it can be an invasion of privacy and unethical if the other party does not know you are keeping the print-out.
TYPING ABBREVIATION LIST
ABT-About
ANS-Answer
ASAP-As soon as possible
ASST-Assistant
BIZ-Business
CA-Communication Assistant (Relay Operator)
CC-Close-captioned
CD-Could
CHK-Check
CMTY--Community
CN-Can
CUL-See you later
CSTMR--Customer
GA-Go ahead
GA TO SK-Go ahead if you have more to say but I'm finished
HAND-Have a nice day
HD or HLD-Hold
HOH or HH-hard-of-hearing
INFO-Information
ILY-I love you
IMPT-important
KIT-Keep in touch
LK FRWD or LK FWD-Look forward
LTR-Letter
LV-Leave
MIN-Minute
MSG-Message
MTG-Meeting
N-And
NBR or NU-Number
NITE-Night
NP-No Problem
NOYB-None of your business
OIC-Oh I see
OFC-Office
OPR-Operator
OXOX-Love and Kisses
PLS-Please
PPL-People
PROB-Problem
PRO-Professional
Q-Question or "?"
R-Are
RD-Read
REC-Receive
SCHL-School
SPEC-Special
SRVC or SVC or SERV-Service
SHD-Should
SK-Stop Keying (end of call)
SKSK-Hanging Up
TERP-Interpreter
THX-Thanks
THRU-Through
TY-Thank you
TMW-Tomorrow
U-You
UR-Your
URS-Yours
VCO-Voice Carry Over (Relay Service)
HCO-Hearing Carry Over (Relay Service)
XX-Error
There are many different kinds of TTYs, but some features to look for include direct connect (TTY plugs right into your telephone line), acoustic connect (handset of the phone rests on TTY "ears" and information is transmitted audibly), Baudot (standard transmission) or ASCII (faster, and computer compatible transmission) code, cell phone compatibility, or a built in printer.
TTYs have traditionally not been compatible with digital cell phone technology. We have some helpful hints for integrating the two.
Cell phones are important for both safety and convenience. Many cell phones are TTY compatible; it is often a setting in the "phone options" menu. If you are interested in a TTY compatible cell phone, please click here for some of the recommended cell phones.
Not every TTY will work with a cell phone. Some of our favorite cell phone compatible TTYs are the Q90 TTY, the PocketComm Mini-TTY, and the Pocket Voice Carry Over. These all have an adapter plug for your cell phone to minimize interference and background noise.
TTY conversations have their own etiquette. Here are a few tips:
Let the phone ring at least 10 times. This gives a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person a chance to notice the ring and answer the call. An incoming TTY call sounds like a series of beeps and electronic sounds. It is not a crank call! Turn on your TTY, or place the handset of your telephone into the acoustic connection. When you are placing a call, you may notice a red blinking light on your TTY. This light lets you know the status of your call.
Steady glowing red: Dial tone
Slow red blinking: Phone is ringing
Fast red blinking: Phone line is busy
Flickering red light: A hearing person answered by voice. Press the space bar to identify your call as a TTY call.
When answering a TTY call, it is polite to type your name right away, before your business name.
"HELLO THIS IS JIM AT SOUNDBYTES GA"
Always identify yourself; don't just say "HELLO" or "GA".
Use typing and punctuation shortcuts to save time. (See the glossary below) If you make a mistake, type "XX" to indicate an error, rather than backspace and retyping the word.
Wait for the other party to type "GA" before you begin typing, don't interrupt!
If the message is garbled or you have an emergency, you may type "STOP PLS" or "HD HD". Always follow up with an explanation, even if it is as simple as "MUST GO SKSK" or "BABY CRYING WILL CALL BACK SKSK". If the message is garbled, ask the caller to repeat.
When you are finished speaking, type "GA" (Go Ahead) to indicate that it is the other person's turn to speak. When you are ready to hang up, "SK" (Stop Keying) lets the other party know that you are ready to disconnect. "GA TO SK" lets the other party know that you are ready to hang up, but gives them a chance to make any last comments.
"HAVE A GOOD DAY WILL SEE U SOON GA TO SK"
"OK BYE GA TO SK"
"BYE SKSK"
"SKSK"
Type "SK" 2 to 3 times. Any more implies that you are angry or eager to hang up the phone.
If you are using a TTY with a printer, throw away the conversation unless you have the other caller's permission to keep it. It is similar to recording a vocal conversation with a hearing person-- it can be an invasion of privacy and unethical if the other party does not know you are keeping the print-out.
TYPING ABBREVIATION LIST
ABT-About
ANS-Answer
ASAP-As soon as possible
ASST-Assistant
BIZ-Business
CA-Communication Assistant (Relay Operator)
CC-Close-captioned
CD-Could
CHK-Check
CMTY--Community
CN-Can
CUL-See you later
CSTMR--Customer
GA-Go ahead
GA TO SK-Go ahead if you have more to say but I'm finished
HAND-Have a nice day
HD or HLD-Hold
HOH or HH-hard-of-hearing
INFO-Information
ILY-I love you
IMPT-important
KIT-Keep in touch
LK FRWD or LK FWD-Look forward
LTR-Letter
LV-Leave
MIN-Minute
MSG-Message
MTG-Meeting
N-And
NBR or NU-Number
NITE-Night
NP-No Problem
NOYB-None of your business
OIC-Oh I see
OFC-Office
OPR-Operator
OXOX-Love and Kisses
PLS-Please
PPL-People
PROB-Problem
PRO-Professional
Q-Question or "?"
R-Are
RD-Read
REC-Receive
SCHL-School
SPEC-Special
SRVC or SVC or SERV-Service
SHD-Should
SK-Stop Keying (end of call)
SKSK-Hanging Up
TERP-Interpreter
THX-Thanks
THRU-Through
TY-Thank you
TMW-Tomorrow
U-You
UR-Your
URS-Yours
VCO-Voice Carry Over (Relay Service)
HCO-Hearing Carry Over (Relay Service)
XX-Error