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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
forcompatibilityofdigitalwirelessphoneswithhearingaids
is set forth in American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
standardC63.19.TherearetwosetsofANSIstandardswith
ratingsfromonetofour(fourbeingthebestrating):an“M”
rating for reduced interference making it easier to hear
conversations on the phone when using the hearing aid
microphone, anda “T” ratingthatenablesthe phone to be
used with hearing aids operating in the telecoil mode thus
reducingunwantedbackgroundnoise.
HOWWILLI KNOWWHICH WIRELESS PHONES ARE
HEARINGAIDCOMPATIBLE?
The Hearing Aid Compatibility rating is displayed on the
wireless phone box. A phone is considered Hearing Aid
Compatibleforacousticcoupling(microphonemode)ifithas
an “M3” or “M4” rating. A digital wireless phone is
considered Hearing Aid Compatible for inductive coupling
(telecoilmode)ifithasa“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
candecidewhichworksthebestwithyourhearingaids.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
whetheryourhearingaidhasaHACrating.
