Radio New Zealand

The National Foundation for the Deaf says a new telephone service will help to end the isolation of thousands of people with hearing loss.

The Government on Monday announced that a new captioned telephony service will be available later this year.

It will use voice-recognition software to overcome long delays associated with the existing service used by people with impaired hearing.

A spokesperson for the foundation says conversations will take place in almost real-time, which will be a relief to people who struggle with or who cannot use the telephone.

Chris Peters says it is likely more than one in 10 New Zealanders live with hearing loss.