11
WHAT IS HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY?
The
Federal
Communications
Commission
has
implemented rules and a rating system designed to enable
people who wear hearing aids to more effectively use these
wireless telecommunications devices. The standard for
compatibility of digital wireless phones with hearing aids is
set forth in American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
standard C63.19. There are two sets of ANSI standards with
ratings from one to four (four being the best rating): an “M”
rating for reduced interference making it easier to hear
conversations on the phone when using the hearing aid
microphone, and a “T” rating that enables the phone to be
used with hearing aids operating in the telecoil mode thus
reducing unwanted background noise.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHICH WIRELESS PHONES ARE
HEARING AID COMPATIBLE?
The Hearing Aid Compatibility rating is displayed on the
wireless phone box. A phone is considered Hearing Aid
Compatible for acoustic coupling (microphone mode) if it has
an “M3” or “M4” rating. A digital wireless phone is
considered Hearing Aid Compatible for inductive coupling
(telecoil mode) if it has a “T3” or “T4” rating.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY HEARING AID WILL
WORK WITH A PARTICULAR DIGITAL WIRELESS
PHONE?
You’ll want to try a number of wireless phones so that you
can decide which works the best with your hearing aids. You
may also want to talk with your hearing aid professional
about the extent to which your hearing aids are immune to
interference, if they have wireless phone shielding, and
whether your hearing aid has a HAC rating.
