AOL has created an instant messaging system designed for deaf and hard of hearing users.

The client works in real time and adds text from messages while still being typed, instead of waiting for the 'send' command.

Tom Wlodkowski, director of accessibility at AOL, claimed that the system produces communication that is more like a spoken conversation.

"This is a big win for AOL and the deaf community," he said. "The use of real-time text is receiving increased attention as a necessary equivalent to voice communication for consumers with disabilities."

The software, which was developed with the help of Gallaudet University in Washington and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is currently undergoing tests in the US.