North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973 § 143B-216.30. Definitions

(1) “Council” means the Council for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(2) “Deaf” means the inability to hear and/or understand oral communication, with or without assistance of amplification devices.

(3) “Division” means the Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(4) “Hard of hearing” means permanent hearing loss which is severe enough to necessitate the use of amplification devices to hear oral communication.

(5) “Ring signaling device” means a mechanism such as a flashing light which visually indicates that a communication is being received through a telephone line. This phrase also means mechanisms such as adjustable volume ringers and buzzers which audibly and loudly indicate an incoming telephone communication.

(6) “Speech impaired” means permanent loss of oral communication ability.

(7) “Telecommunications device” or “TDD” means a keyboard mechanism attached to or in place of a standard telephone by some coupling device, used to transmit or receive signals through telephone lines.

(8) “Volume control handset” means a telephone handset or other telephone listening device which has an adjustable control for increasing the volume of the sound being produced by the telephone receiving unit.