When the phone is the barrier: AI help with phone call anxiety
Phone calls can be hard for many reasons, from understanding speech to the pressure of speaking clearly. This post is about AI help with phone call anxiety. It covers how to use an AI tool to draft a script before a call, get suggestions during a call, and set handover points in advance for when you speak yourself.
Why managing calls matters
Many people find phone calls difficult. This can be due to hearing challenges, speech differences, or the pressure of needing to respond quickly. Sometimes, it is hard to keep track of what has been said or to remember all the details. An AI tool can draft a script or help during a call, and you choose when to speak yourself.
Preparing for a call with AI
Before you make a call, an AI tool can help you prepare. You can ask it to draft a script for you. Tell the AI what the call is about, who you are calling, and what you want to achieve. For example, you might ask for a script to reschedule an appointment, or to ask about a bill. The AI will give you a draft script that you can review and change. This helps you feel more ready and confident before you dial. You can learn more about setting rules for your AI at Set your AI's rules once: Custom instructions to make AI accessible.
How an assisted call works
During an assisted call, an AI tool can listen to the conversation and give you suggestions. It can show you what to say next, based on the script you prepared or on what the other person is saying. This is not the AI speaking for you, but giving you prompts. You still do the talking. This can be useful if you lose your train of thought or need a reminder of what to ask next. You stay in control of the conversation at all times.
Setting handover points
Handover points are times during a call when you decide to speak yourself, or when you want the AI to stop giving suggestions. You can set these in advance. For example, you might want the AI to help with the opening and closing of a call, but you want to handle the main discussion yourself. Or, you might want the AI to help with factual questions, but you want to speak when discussing personal details. You can tell the AI when to step back and when to offer help, and speak yourself for the parts you prefer to handle.
Keeping control of your calls
Using AI to help with phone call anxiety means you are always in charge. You decide what the AI does and when. You can turn off suggestions at any time. You can also edit any script the AI drafts. This ensures that the conversation always reflects what you want to say and how you want to say it. It is about getting support to communicate in a way that meets your needs.
Common problems and solutions
Sometimes, the AI might not understand exactly what you need. If a drafted script is not quite right, tell the AI what to change. For example, you might say: "Make it shorter" or "Add a question about when something will be delivered." If the AI's suggestions during a call are not helpful, you can ignore them or tell the AI to stop. Practice helps you get better at telling the AI what you need. It is a tool to support you, not to take over.
Using AI for record-keeping
After a call, an AI tool can help you summarise what was discussed. This can be very useful for remembering important details or actions you need to take. You can ask the AI to list the key points, decisions made, or next steps. This summary can be a helpful record for your own reference. It can also be used to share information with others if needed. This is similar to how AI can help with other record-keeping tasks, such as tracking unpaid care work, as discussed in Using AI to log carer hours and keep a record of unpaid care and admin work.
Next steps for your calls
Think about the types of calls you find most challenging. Consider how an AI tool could help you prepare for these calls or assist you during them. Start with simple calls to get used to how the AI works. Experiment with different ways of asking the AI for help.
If you would like support to build this skill, AI mentoring is aXai's program for people with disability who want to learn AI tools for their own goals, at their own pace. You can register your interest on the page.
aXai is a disability-led AI, software and accessibility company, delivering through AI-supported work: skilled people with disability in real, properly paid roles, with AI removing the barriers. Read how AI-supported work works.
Easy Read version
Phone calls can be hard.
This post is about AI help with phone call anxiety.
AI can help you get ready for a call.
AI can help you during a call.
You can choose when to speak yourself.
Why managing calls matters
Many people find phone calls hard.
This can be because of hearing.
It can be because of how they speak.
It can be hard to remember what was said.
An AI tool can write a script for you.
It can help you during a call.
You choose when to speak yourself.
This can make calls easier.
Getting ready for a call with AI
Before you call, AI can help you get ready.
You can ask AI to write a script for you.
Tell the AI what the call is about.
Tell it who you are calling.
Tell it what you want to do.
For example, ask for a script to change an appointment.
The AI will give you a script.
You can check it and change it.
This helps you feel ready for the call.
How an assisted call works
During a call, AI can listen.
It can give you ideas of what to say.
It shows you what to say next.
This is based on your script.
Or it is based on what the other person says.
The AI does not speak for you.
It gives you prompts.
You still do the talking.
This can help if you forget what to say.
You are always in charge of the talk.
Setting handover points
Handover points are when you choose to speak.
Or when you want the AI to stop giving ideas.
You can set these before the call.
For example, you can use AI for the start and end of a call.
But you speak for the main part.
Or you use AI for facts.
But you speak for personal things.
You tell the AI when to help.
And when to stop helping.
You speak for the parts you want to handle.
Keeping control of your calls
Using AI to help with phone call anxiety means you are always in charge.
You decide what the AI does.
You can turn off ideas at any time.
You can change any script the AI writes.
This means the talk is always what you want to say.
It is about getting help to talk in your own way.
Common problems and solutions
Sometimes, the AI might not understand you.
If a script is not right, tell the AI to change it.
Say: "Make it shorter" or "Add a question about when something will be delivered."
If AI ideas during a call are not helpful, you can ignore them.
Or tell the AI to stop.
Practising helps you tell the AI what you need.
It is a tool to help you.
It does not take over.
Using AI for records
After a call, AI can help you sum up what was said.
This helps you remember important things.
Or things you need to do.
Ask the AI to list the main points.
Or decisions made.
Or next steps.
This summary can be a helpful record for you.
Next steps for your calls
Think about calls you find hard.
How could AI help you get ready for them?
Or help you during them?
Start with easy calls to learn how AI works.
Try different ways to ask AI for help.
AI mentoring is aXai's program for people with disability.
You learn to use AI tools for your own goals, at your own pace.
You can register your interest on the page.
aXai is a company led by people with disability.
Skilled people with disability do the work.
They have real jobs with proper pay.
AI removes the barriers.