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How to make phone calls if you're deaf or hard of hearing

The phone rings and your stomach drops. There are good ways to make phone calls for deaf people and anyone hard of hearing: Relay UK turns speech into text, phone captions can help if you have some hearing, and BSL users can call through a video interpreter. You can also ask organisations to stop phoning you altogether.

At the door of a red-brick terraced house, a woman reads live captions on her phone as a visitor talks to her on the step.

Nilesh Madhavji · Updated 4 October 2026

1. What are my options for phone calls if I'm deaf?

It depends on how much you hear, whether you speak, and whether BSL is your language.

Some hearing, clear speech: captions on your phone, or Relay UK with you speaking and reading the replies.
Little or no usable hearing: Relay UK, typing or speaking your side.
BSL users: a video relay service, with an interpreter in the middle.
Hearing aid users: streaming the call straight to your hearing aids may be enough.

And sometimes the best phone call is no phone call. Text, email or online forms are often easier, and you can ask for them.

2. How does Relay UK work?

Relay UK is the national relay service, run by BT. A Relay Assistant sits in the middle of the call and types what the hearing person says, so you can read it.

You can use it two ways:

Speak and read. You talk into the phone as normal, then read the other person's replies in the app.
Type instead of speaking. You type, and the Relay Assistant speaks your words. You can listen to the reply if you have some hearing, or read it.

To make a call with the app: dial 18001 followed by the full number. On a smartphone, the app adds 18001 for you. Go back to the app and tap Join when the prompt appears.

To receive a call: answer the phone, open the Relay UK app and tap Join.

The app is free for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows. Relay UK also works with traditional textphones.

What does it cost? Relay UK says the service itself is free. You only pay your normal charges for the calls you make.

Expect pauses while the assistant types. Tell the other person at the start, so they don't hang up.

"Hello, I'm deaf and I'm calling through Relay UK. There may be short pauses."

3. How do people call me through Relay UK?

A hearing person dials 18002 followed by your full number. A Relay Assistant joins and types what they say.

Even easier: get a Relay UK TextNumber. These start with 03306 or 07777. Anyone who calls it is connected to a Relay Assistant automatically, so friends, family and businesses don't need to remember a prefix.

Some organisations list an 18001 number on their contact pages, such as the Access to Work helpline (18001 then 0800 121 7479). Look for one before you call.

4. Can I get captions on a phone call?

Often, yes, especially if you can speak for yourself. These are automatic captions, so they will make mistakes.

Android. Google's Live Caption captions phone calls and video calls on compatible phones. Turn it on by pressing a volume button, then More > Live Caption > Done. On Pixel 6 and newer, you can also type replies during a call and have them read aloud. Google says it isn't intended for calls with more than one other person, and works best with clear speech and little background noise. Captions are processed on the phone, not sent to Google.

iPhone. Apple describes Live Captions as working in any app, such as FaceTime. Here's how to turn on Live Captions on iPhone. Try it on a call with someone you know before you rely on it.

Apple's Live Speech lets you type and have your words spoken aloud on phone and FaceTime calls. Turn it on in Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech.

For anything that matters, such as a bank, a hospital or an appointment time, read back the key detail. Or use Relay UK, where a person is doing the typing.

5. Can I make phone calls in BSL?

Yes, through a video relay service. You sign to an interpreter on a video call; they speak to the hearing person and sign the replies back.

SignVideo. SignVideo's FAQs say it is free to deaf people: the organisation you're contacting pays, not you. Its SignDirectory lists organisations you can call, including banks, energy companies and NHS 111. You need a good internet connection, on wifi or mobile data. The only cost to you may be the mobile data you use.

InterpreterNow. Another BSL service that connects you to an online interpreter through its app or website. Some public services offer it free to deaf callers. Check the organisation's accessibility page to see which service it uses.

Scotland. Contact Scotland BSL is Scotland's national BSL video interpreting service. It offers free calls to BSL users living in Scotland, 24 hours a day.

In a bright office with city views, a woman reads live captions on her phone as a colleague explains something on her laptop.

6. Can my hearing aids help with phone calls?

They might, and it's worth checking.

RNID says most modern hearing aids and implants can connect wirelessly to your smartphone, so the call goes straight to your hearing aids. Many phones also have a hearing aid or telecoil setting, so you can use them with your hearing aids on the hearing loop ("T") setting. For a landline, a hearing aid compatible phone can help too.

If you're not sure what yours can do, ask your audiologist. They may need to switch a setting on for you.

Small things help as well. Use the speaker on a quiet table. Try a video call instead, so you can lipread. Set the phone to vibrate or flash for incoming calls.

7. Can I ask organisations to contact me without phoning?

Yes. Ask once, clearly, and ask them to record it.

In England, the NHS Accessible Information Standard says organisations providing NHS care or publicly funded adult social care must have accessible contact methods in place. That includes your GP, hospital and dentist for NHS treatment. Here's what to ask your GP practice for.

For NHS 111 in England, call 18001 111 through Relay UK, or use the NHS 111 BSL interpreter service. More in our guide to using NHS 111 if you're deaf.

Banks, energy companies, councils and other services often have accessibility options too. Look for "accessibility", "Relay UK" or "BSL" on their contact page.

Subt, our app, is for face-to-face conversations and does not caption phone calls. Where it can help is when a call turns into a visit: the engineer you booked by email arrives, or a neighbour knocks because they couldn't get through. Open the free web app, put your phone between you, and their words appear as large text. Nothing is saved. The web version uses your browser's speech service; a £1.99 iPhone app that captions on-device is coming.

8. How do I contact 999 if I'm deaf?

Set this up now, not in an emergency.

Relay UK: call 18000, or tap the 999 button in the Relay UK app. A Relay Assistant and the 999 operator join you.

emergencySMS: you must register first. Text register to 999 and follow the replies. In an emergency, text 999 with the service you need (police, ambulance, fire or coastguard), what's happening and exactly where you are. Relay UK warns it can take a couple of minutes to get a reply. Use it only if you've no other option. If no reply comes, call 18000 if you can or ask someone to call 999.

999 BSL: a free emergency video relay service for BSL users, through the 999 BSL app or website. You don't need to register. Download the app beforehand so it's ready.

Quick answers

Is Relay UK free?

Yes. Relay UK says the service is free and you pay only your normal call charges. The app is free to download.

Can I text 999 without registering?

No. You need to register with emergencySMS first by texting "register" to 999. If you haven't registered, use 18000 through Relay UK, or 999 BSL if you sign.

How can my family call me through Relay UK?

They dial 18002 followed by your full number, or call your Relay UK TextNumber, which connects them to a Relay Assistant automatically.

Sources

Live captions. Right there.

Read what’s being said.

Put Subt between you and the person speaking. Their words appear in big, clear type as they talk.

Or try the web app

The iPhone app runs on Apple’s latest on-device speech recognition. Faster, and nothing leaves your phone. £1.99 one-off; the web app is free.