What are TDD and TTY?

What are TDD and TTY?

• A. Location finders in enhanced 911 systems
• B. Routers that direct wireless calls to the appropriate dispatch center
• C. Communication devices for hearing-impaired persons
• D. Voice-activated applications for smartphones that place a 911 call

Answer: (C)

TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) and TTY (Teletypewriter) are communication tools designed to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing connect over the telephone. They let you type your message on a keyboard and read the other person’s response on a screen, instead of speaking. In emergency services, these devices enable a text-based 911 contact, with the dispatcher responding in text as well. The idea is to provide accessible, two-way communication for those who cannot rely on voice calls. The other options describe different aspects of the 911 system (like locating callers, routing calls, or voice-activated apps) and aren’t about accessibility for the hearing-impaired.

TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) and TTY (Teletypewriter) are communication tools designed to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing connect over the telephone. They let you type your message on a keyboard and read the other person’s response on a screen, instead of speaking. In emergency services, these devices enable a text-based 911 contact, with the dispatcher responding in text as well. The idea is to provide accessible, two-way communication for those who cannot rely on voice calls. The other options describe different aspects of the 911 system (like locating callers, routing calls, or voice-activated apps) and aren’t about accessibility for the hearing-impaired.