Which communication method is specifically designed for individuals with hearing impairments?

The method specifically designed for individuals with hearing impairments is TTY, which stands for Text Telephone or Teletypewriter. TTY allows individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate over the phone using text. By typing messages on a keyboard, users can send and receive text messages through phone lines, making it accessible for those who cannot use standard voice calls.

TTY devices have been an essential tool for ensuring that people with hearing impairments can engage in communication that is often taken for granted in a hearing population. They work by converting typed words into data that can be transmitted over standard phone lines, allowing for clear and direct communication.

While American Sign Language (ASL) is indeed a form of communication for the deaf community, it is not a communication method designed for use with telephones specifically. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) does offer communication platforms but is primarily oriented toward voice communication. Telematics refers to systems that integrate telecommunications and vehicular technologies, which does not relate directly to hearing impairments. Thus, TTY remains the most relevant choice for this context.