CaptionCall Captioned Telephone Service in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Struggling to Follow Phone Conversations? CaptionCall Can Help.

For many people with hearing loss, the telephone is one of the most frustrating communication challenges of daily life. Unlike face-to-face conversation — where you can read lips, watch facial expressions, and ask someone to repeat themselves naturally — a phone call offers no visual cues, and the audio quality is often far from ideal. Missing words during a medical appointment, a call from a family member, or an important business discussion can cause real stress, embarrassment, and social withdrawal.

CaptionCall is a captioned telephone service that solves this problem simply and effectively — and for eligible patients, it is available at absolutely no cost.

At A Atlantic Hearing Aid Center, we help Fort Lauderdale, FL patients access CaptionCall as part of a complete, well-rounded hearing care plan. If telephone communication is a challenge for you or a family member, read on to learn how CaptionCall works, who qualifies, and how to get started.

What is CaptionCall?

CaptionCall is a telephone captioning service made by Sorenson Communications — the industry leader in communication services for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Launched in 2010, CaptionCall has become the most widely used captioned telephone service in the United States.

The concept is simple: just as closed captions on television display spoken words as on-screen text, CaptionCall displays what the person on the other end of your phone call is saying — in real time — as readable text on a large screen. You speak normally into the phone, hear the other person’s voice as usual, and simultaneously read captions of everything they say. When you miss a word or phrase, the caption is right there to fill in the gap.

How CaptionCall Works — Step by Step

Step 1 — Make or Receive a Call Normally

You pick up the CaptionCall phone and dial — or answer — just as you would with any regular telephone. There is no special code to dial, no extra steps, and no relay operator involved in your outgoing audio.

Step 2 — The Call Is Routed Through Captioning

As the other person speaks, their voice is automatically routed through CaptionCall’s captioning system. The system uses a combination of advanced automated speech recognition (ASR) technology and, when needed, trained captioning agents to convert the caller’s speech into accurate text with minimal delay.

Step 3 — Captions Appear on Your Screen in Real Time

Words appear on the CaptionCall phone’s large, touchscreen display as the caller speaks — giving you real-time captions to follow along with. The text is clear, large, and easy to read. You can adjust font size, caption speed, and contrast to suit your visual preferences.

Step 4 — You Respond Normally

The other party on the call hears your voice just as they would in any normal phone conversation. They are not aware of the captioning service and the experience for them is identical to a standard phone call.

CaptionCall Phone Features

The CaptionCall home phone is a full-featured landline device with captioning built in:

Large Touchscreen Display

Real-time captions appear in large, clear text that is easy to read across a wide range of vision abilities

Volume Amplification up to 40 dB

The highest amplification level among comparable captioned telephone services; ideal for patients with more significant hearing loss

Custom Audio Equalizer

Adjusts the phone’s audio output to match your specific hearing loss profile, delivering clearer sound tailored to your individual audiogram

TIA-1083 Certified Hearing Aid Compatibility

Specifically engineered to reduce the static and interference that standard phones often create when used with hearing aids; telecoil loop connection for hearing aid users

Captioned Voicemail

Missed call messages are automatically transcribed and displayed as readable text on your screen, so you never miss an important message

Call Waiting, Forwarding, and Caller ID

All standard phone features work normally alongside the captioning service

Contact List and Call History

Easy navigation for frequently called numbers

Adjustable Captions

Customize text size, color, and speed to your personal comfort

CaptionCall Mobile — Captions on Your Smartphone

In addition to the home phone, CaptionCall offers a free mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones. CaptionCall Mobile turns your existing smartphone into a captioning screen during phone calls — displaying real-time captions using advanced automatic speech recognition technology that is faster and more accurate than standard smartphone built-in captioning.

CaptionCall Mobile works over your phone’s data connection (cellular LTE/5G or Wi-Fi) and can also be paired with wireless hearing aids — so you can stream the call audio directly to your hearing aids while reading the captions simultaneously. This combination of audio streaming and visual captioning is one of the most effective telephone communication strategies available for people with hearing loss.

Is CaptionCall really free?

Yes — for patients who qualify, the CaptionCall phone, captioning service, professional installation, user training, and ongoing customer support are all provided at no cost.

This is possible because CaptionCall operates under the federal government’s Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) program, which is mandated by Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The program requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to telephone communication that is functionally equivalent to what people without hearing loss experience. The FCC collects fees from telecommunications companies and uses those funds to reimburse service providers like Sorenson for every minute of captioning service delivered.

The only requirement is that the service be used by individuals who genuinely need captions to use the telephone effectively due to hearing loss.

Who qualifies for CaptionCall?

To qualify for CaptionCall service and receive a no-cost phone, you must:

  • Have hearing loss that makes captions necessary for you to effectively use the telephone
  • Be a U.S. resident
  • Have a home internet connection (for the landline phone model) or a smartphone with a data plan (for the mobile app)
  • Complete a self-certification form confirming your hearing loss and need for captioned telephone service

A formal diagnosis is not required — self-certification is sufficient. However, your hearing care professional at A Atlantic Hearing Aid Center can also certify your eligibility if needed. We help our patients navigate this process regularly.

Installation and Setup Options

CaptionCall offers two installation options:

Red Carpet Service

A CaptionCall representative visits your home to install the phone, connect it to your existing telephone line and internet, and provide hands-on training to ensure you are comfortable using every feature before they leave. This is the recommended option for most patients, particularly older adults who may appreciate personal guidance.

Self-Installation with Virtual Support

For patients who prefer to set up the phone themselves, CaptionCall provides detailed instructions and virtual support via phone or video call.

CaptionCall as Part of a Complete Hearing Care Plan

Hearing aids and CaptionCall work best as complementary tools, not alternatives. Hearing aids address your overall hearing across all daily situations — conversation, television, the outdoors, restaurants. CaptionCall specifically addresses telephone communication, which remains one of the most challenging listening environments for people with hearing loss even when wearing hearing aids.

Using both together gives you the most comprehensive communication support possible:

  • Hearing aids improve your ability to hear and understand in person and in everyday environments
  • CaptionCall ensures you never miss words on the phone — whether at home on the landline or on the go with CaptionCall Mobile

Many of our Fort Lauderdale, FL patients who experience difficulty on the phone even with well-fitted hearing aids find that CaptionCall removes the last barrier to confident telephone communication.

Who Benefits Most from CaptionCall?

CaptionCall is particularly valuable for:

  • Older adults who use the telephone regularly for family calls, medical appointments, and daily tasks but find phone conversations increasingly difficult
  • Hearing aid users who still struggle on the phone despite amplification — particularly because telephone audio quality often lacks the low frequencies and spatial cues that aid speech understanding
  • Anyone who has started avoiding phone calls due to hearing difficulty — a pattern that leads to social isolation over time
  • Patients with mild to moderate hearing loss who can hear some speech on the phone but regularly miss words and feel anxious about important calls
  • Patients in senior living communities — CaptionCall allows residents to make and receive calls independently without staff assistance, supporting independence and privacy

Privacy and Confidentiality

Your conversations are private. CaptionCall operates under strict FCC confidentiality rules — conversations are never recorded or stored. The captioning service processes audio in real time to generate captions and does not retain any record of the call content.

Frequently Asked Questions About CaptionCall

No. CaptionCall works with your existing home telephone line and internet connection. No new phone line or special service changes are required.
Yes. You use your existing home phone number with the CaptionCall phone.
No. There is no monthly fee, no contract, and no cost for the phone or service for qualifying individuals.
Possibly. Even well-fitted hearing aids can leave some users struggling on the phone, particularly with poor audio quality connections. CaptionCall provides an additional layer of support specifically for telephone communication. Many patients find the combination of hearing aids and CaptionCall gives them the most complete communication experience. Possibly. Even well-fitted hearing aids can leave some users struggling on the phone, particularly with poor audio quality connections. CaptionCall provides an additional layer of support specifically for telephone communication. Many patients find the combination of hearing aids and CaptionCall gives them the most complete communication experience.
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CaptionCall connects 911 calls directly to the emergency dispatcher. Users should register their emergency location in the CaptionCall app in advance, and the phone should be connected to a data network when dialing 911. Captioning during 911 calls may differ from standard calls.
In many cases yes, though compatibility depends on your specific VoIP provider. Our team can help you determine whether your current home phone setup is compatible.

How to Get Started

Getting started with CaptionCall through A Atlantic Hearing Aid Center is straightforward:

  1. Contact our Fort Lauderdale office — we will discuss whether CaptionCall is appropriate for your situation and answer any questions
  2. Certification — we can provide the hearing loss certification if needed, or guide you through the self-certification process
  3. Order and installation — we will help you connect with Sorenson CaptionCall to arrange delivery and installation of your no-cost phone
  4. Ongoing support — our team remains available to assist with any questions about using CaptionCall alongside your hearing aids 

Stop missing important calls — CaptionCall may be available to you at no cost

Call (954) 563-4226 or contact us online to learn more and get started in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

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