Old folks call it a receiver. Most folks call it a handset. And despite the increasing use of headsets, the handset -- the thing that goes in your hand while you talk -- is a vital part of telecommunications.

It's probably also the most fragile part.

• Handsets fall out of wet hands onto hard floors.
• Handsets get covered with crud and clogged with food, makeup, tobacco and saliva.
• Handsets get slammed and smashed as the final punctuation in emotional conversations.
• Handset jacks get stressed and deformed when cords get yanked.

If you hear crackly sounds, or no sounds, or people can't hear you, your problem may be caused by a bad handset, bad handset cord, or a problem in the phone base; so swap some pieces around to isolate the malfunction.

If you determine that you do need a replacement handset, we can offer you several options:

(1) Brand-new "official" Panasonic replacements, for a wide variety of KX-T and VA phones. Price is $39, with FREE "ground" shipping in the US. ORDER ONLINE

(2) We can also supply amplified handsets, for noisy environments and people with hearing impairments. ORDER ONLINE

The latest amplified handsets don't require external amplifiers, so there's no box next to the phone that reveals a hearing handicap. Some use internal batteries, and some are self-powered, so they're very simple to set up and are extremely reliable.

Most people gradually lose some hearing ability, and if you or a relative or employee has been suffering with a loss, there is a simple and inexpensive solution to phone conversation problems.