| The Receiver Much of people's phone-related | | | | consequence of prolonged working with the |
| discomfort stems from poor receivers (the | | | | neck bent to the side. Working with this |
| part of the phone into which you talk and | | | | posture can result in hypercontracted muscles |
| listen). When buying a phone, hold the | | | | on phone side restricting blood supply, |
| receiver against your ear as if you were | | | | becoming irritated, and going into spasm. |
| having a conversation. If the earpiece is | | | | |
| uncomfortable, try a different model. Phones | | | | Elongated muscles on opposite side can also |
| - like people - come in different shapes and | | | | cause pain. To reduce the chances of TNS you |
| sizes, so you should be able to find one | | | | might want to consider hands-free options, |
| that's comfortable. Also make sure that the | | | | such as: A headset (one of the most common |
| receiver fits comfortably in your hand. | | | | and effective solutions) ; A speakerphone |
| | | | (more difficult for private conversations if |
| If you're shopping for a phone for your home | | | | you're in a shared space or in a noisy |
| office, think about whether it should be | | | | setting); and A neck rest that attaches to |
| cordless, which will allow you to move | | | | the back of the phone headset and allows you |
| around. You can also look for a headset | | | | to cradle the phone between the neck and |
| option on nearly any phone (corded or | | | | shoulder without an awkward posture. |
| cordless) which allows you to talk | | | | |
| hands-free. This is often the preferred | | | | Note that using a hands-free feature also |
| solution for people who talk for long periods | | | | makes it easier to conduct simultaneous tasks |
| of time. | | | | (such as typing or writing) while using the |
| | | | phone. |
| The Keypad While you're in the store, try | | | | |
| dialing a phone number on the keypad. Make | | | | Headsets facilitate hands-free phone use, |
| sure that you can easily and accurately hit | | | | while protecting the privacy of the |
| the buttons. (Some phones have their buttons | | | | conversation. A headset has an earpiece for |
| placed closer together, making it harder for | | | | listening with one or both ears, and an |
| people with large fingers to dial). Verify | | | | attached microphone for speaking. |
| that you can read any information displays on | | | | |
| the phone. Think about how you'll use the | | | | Additional features of headsets may include |
| phone. The advantage of most desktop phones | | | | ear buds that discretely fit inside the ear, |
| is that the keypad is on the base unit, which | | | | cordless units that allow increased mobility, |
| allows you to see what you're dialing while | | | | noise-cancelling microphones that cancel out |
| holding the handset. This is especially | | | | background noise, and amplifiers to increase |
| useful if you spend a lot of time in voice | | | | the audible signal. |
| mail and other automated systems where you | | | | |
| have to make numeric selections. Phones with | | | | Speakerphone Speakerphones facilitate |
| the number pad on the handset are less | | | | hands-free phone use, though there is little |
| convenient for this kind of work, since it's | | | | a user can do to maintain call privacy. |
| difficult to simultaneously push numbers and | | | | |
| listen to automated voice commands. | | | | Neck Rest Neck rests are large pieces of |
| | | | plastic or cushioned material that attach to |
| Accessories/Options If you use your phone a | | | | the back of a receiver, minimizing the strain |
| lot, keep in mind the risks of developing | | | | involved with wedging the receiver between |
| telephone neck syndrome (TNS). TNS is a | | | | the shoulder, neck and ear. |