TTY Etiquette/FAQ's

The proper notation is TTY (teletypewriter) and it doesn't matter whether you are using an older model (teletypewriter) or the newer model (telecommunication device for the deaf-abbreviated as TDD). TTY is the culturally preferred term and is used by most Deaf and HH users, as it is a term, which includes hearing users. TDD implies that only deaf people use the device when in fact there are also hearing users.

You should let the phone ring 10 or more times to allow the Deaf or HH person enough time to see the flashing light and respond to it.

This feature known as Auto ID, in the Ultratec models, alerts hearing people that you are calling from a TTY. It alerts the person by sending several audible tones over the telephone line every few seconds. Also, it helps emergency services such as 911 detect you are calling from a TTY. Auto Id comes on when you turn on your TTY and continues until you start your conversation, and starts up again if no TTY activity for a few minutes.

If you receive a TTY call on your regular phone, put the phone on the TTY coupler (usually the mouthpiece goes into the left acoustic coupler) and make sure it fits snugly into the acoustic cups. Turn on the off/on switch.

However, new TTYs have a direct connect feature, which means you do not need to use the TTY coupler. If you picked up your phone and hear the series of electronic beeps, you can simply turn on your TTY and hang up your phone and begin typing your greeting.

1. To make a TTY call on newer models, simply turn on the power and press the designated dial key (see your user guide since varies by model/manufacture).
2. Dial the number and watch the phone light, which shows what's happening on the phone line.
   1. Steady glowing red flashes: Dial tone
   2. Slow red blinking flashes: Phone is ringing
   3. Fast red blinking flashes: Phone line is busy
   4. Flickering red light: A hearing person answered by voice. Press the space bar a few times to let him/her know it's a TTY call. signal, or ringing by corresponding light patterns. The light remains on for the length of the sound and goes off when there is no sound. For example, the light flashes rapidly and rhythmically with a busy signal.
3. People answering the phone will respond with their names and a short message followed by "GA" which means "go ahead".
4. You start typing at this point and identify yourself at the beginning of the TTY call.
5. To end a turn in the conversation, type "GA", and the other person will begin typing again. Each person is expected to take a turn only after receiving a "GA" from the other party.
6. When you are done with your conversation, type "GA to SK", meaning "go ahead to stop keying" or "good-bye", to let the person know you are finished with talking on the TTY.
7. A TTY message in process cannot be interrupted, even if one knows what the other person is going to type.

Use common abbreviations such as those that are used in e-mail messages.  Do not type punctuation or number symbols because this requires you to use 2 keys, which is time-consuming. You may omit punctuation symbols and spell out numbers. Some words such as articles and linking verbs are often omitted in TTY conversations.

DO: I WANT TO TY FOR NEWSLTR ARTICLE AND MSG U SENT ME FRI ABT

DON'T: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE AND MESSAGE YOU SENT ME FRIDAY ABOUT

.DO: HI, THIS IS SUE AT WML MAY I HELP U Q GA

DON'T: GOOD MORNING, THIS IS WALLACE MEMORIAL LIBRARY REFERENCE DESK THIS IS SUE WHITE SPEAKING HOW MAY I HELP YOU Q GA

In general, no, wait until the other person types GA.

DON'T: (A): I want to know whether u have video using the TTY (B): (interrupting) YES I SAW IT ALREADY AND I KNOW WHERE IT IS AND IT'S A GREAT VIDEO GA

Yes, if you are getting garbled messages or numbers and can't read the message, interrupt by typing "STOP PLS" or XX STOP STOP CAN’T RD U XX" or "HD HD HD" and wait for the other person to respond. Then type something like this: "SORRY I MISSED UR MSG IT WAS GARBLED PLS TYPE AFTER I MEET U AT QQ" or "PLS REPEAT" or "I CAN'T RD U CAN U RD ME Q".

DO: (A): (Typing and message is garbled). X8#4%S*

(B): STOP HD CAN'T RD U HD GA

If you need to close and hang up fast, you may type a fast closing with a brief explanation.

DON'T: A: BYE GA to SK

B: (PUZZLED) WHAT WAIT I'M NOT DONE YET GA

A: MUST GO SKSKSK

DO: A: HAVE TO GO NOW CUZ BABY CRYING WILL CALL BACK OK Q GA TO SK OR MY BOSS IS HERE WITH ME NOW WILL CALL BACK GA TO SK OR JIM JUST CAME IN AND NEEDS ME I WILL CALL BACK GA TO SK

B: OK BYE SK

DO: PLS EXCUSE ME I HAVE TO GO TO MTG NOW PLS CALL BACK AT 4 PM OK Q THX BYE GA TO SK

Just type XXX after the error and retype. It's too time consuming to use the backspace key to correct your error. Some errors may not need to be corrected if it's easily understood.

Acceptable Errors: I LOVE TO EAT APLE or I LIKE TO RD UR BOOKKS

DON'T: MESM IN ERIZING

DO: MESMIN XX MESMERIZING or I LOKE XX LIKE TO RD UR BKS

If the hearing person doesn't know sign language, it is often easier and less stressful for both hearing and Deaf/HH persons to communicate this way to make sure communications are clear. Be aware that for some Deaf and HH TTY users, English is their second language and they may not be comfortable with the TTY either as they may feel they can express themselves more clearly in ASL.

TTY calls take longer than a voice call. Therefore, most Deaf and HH people prefer to keep their calls short to get needed information such as making or canceling an appt., or finding out when and where a meeting will occur. Detailed conversations are saved for face-to-face meetings.

DON'T: A: I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A MEETING TOMORROW FOR DEAF AWARENESS WEEK ACTIVITIES AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET EVERYONE TOGETHER I CALLED BOB AND HE HAD A CONFLICT WITH A FAMILY GATHERING THEN I CALLED SUE AND SHE HAD A CONFLICT BLAH BLAH BLAH

DO: JUST A SHORT CALL TO LET U KNOW DAW MTG TMW AT 8 PM AT PIZZA HUT WILL EXPLAIN MORE ABT HARD TIME GETTING EVERYONE GA

Type "HAHAHA","SMILE","GREATTT!", "SUPERRR!", "SIGHHH","FROWN". Some email acronyms may be used as well such as LOL etc.

DON'T: THANK YOU FOR THE DINNER LAST NIGHT I HAD FUN GA

DO: WOWWW I HAD SOO MUCH FUN AND DINNER WAS DELICIOUSSS LET’S DO IT AGAIN SMILE GA

Typically 2-3 are enough. More than 4 can appear rude and may indicate that you are angry or want to get away quickly.

DON'T: A: HAVE A GOOD DAY SEE U SOON GA TO SK

B: thx u have a nice day too sksksksksk

A: (Puzzled-is s/he angry, upset or doesn't want to talk to me?)

DO: A: HAVE A GOOD DAY SEE U SOON GA OR SK

B: thx u have a nice day too bye now ga to sk

A: BYE SK SK

B: SK SK

Before you finish your conversation, it's polite to type GA OR SK or GA TO SK to allow the person at the other end to close the conversation and make sure both parties have said everything they wanted to say.

DON'T: A: HAVE A NICE DAY GA OR SK

B: SK SK

DO: A: HAVE A NICE DAY SEE U TMW GA OR SK

B: LKG FRWD TO SEE U TMW TAKE CARE GA TO SK

A: BYE SK SK

B: SK SK

If you keep it, you should have the other person's knowledge and consent. This is similar to a hearing person's phone conversation being recorded. Therefore, it may be an unethical invasion of privacy and illegal if the other person doesn't know you're keeping the paper printout. TTY printouts may be used as admissible evidence in the courtroom.  If there is important information on the printout such as a date, address or phone #, copy it and then destroy the TTY printout.

A: HELLO SUE HERE REF DESK MAY I HELP U Q GA

B: HI DO U HAVE THE BOOK TITLED GA TO SK ETIQUETTE BY SHARON J CAGLE AND KEITH M CAGLE Q GA

A: HD PLS I WILL CHK CATALOG HD

B: OK GA

A: YES WML HAS IT CALL NU IS HV 2502.5 C344 1991 GA

B: OK I WILL PICK IT UP THIS AFTERNOON WHAT FLOOR DO I GET THE BOOK GA

A: U WILL FIND IT ON FOURTH FLOOR U ALSO CAN FIND IT AT REF DESK GA

B: OK GREAT THX FOR UR ASSISTANCE HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON GA OR SK

A: UR WELCOME U HAVE A GOOD ONE TOO BYE NOW GA TO SK

B: BYE BYE SKSK

A: SKSK