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17
buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some
hearing devices are more immune than
others to this interference noise, and phones
also vary in the amount of interference they
generate.
The wireless telephone industry has
developed a rating system for wireless
phones, to assist hearing device users to find
phones that may be compatible with their
hearing devices. Not all phones have been
rated. Phones that are rated have the rating
on their box or a label located on the box.
The ratings are not guarantees. Results will
vary depending on the user’s hearing device
and hearing loss. If your hearing device
happens to be vulnerable to interference,
you may not be able to use a rated phone
successfully. Trying out the phone with your
hearing device is the best way to evaluate it
for your personal needs.
M-Ratings: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet
FCC requirements and are likely to generate
less interference to hearing devices than
phones that are not labeled. M4 is the
better/ higher of the two ratings.
T-Ratings: Phones rated T3 or T4 meet FCC
requirements and are likely to generate less
interference to hearing devices than phones
that are not labeled. T4 is the better/ higher
of the two ratings.
Hearing devices may also be rated. Your
hearing device manufacturer or hearing
health professional may help you find this
rating.
Higher ratings mean that the hearing device
is relatively immune to interference noise.
The hearing aid and wireless phone rating
values are then added together. A sum of 5
is considered acceptable for normal use. A
sum of 6 is considered for best use.
In the example to the left,
if a hearing aid meets the
M2 level rating and the
wireless phone meets the
M3 level rating, the sum of
the two values equal M5.
This should provide the hearing aid user with
“normal usage” while using their hearing aid
with the particular wireless phone. “Normal
usage” in this context is defined as a signal
quality that’s acceptable for normal
operation.
The M mark is intended to be synonymous
with the U mark. The T mark is intended
to be synonymous with the UT mark. The
M and T marks are recommended by the
Alliance for Telecommunications Industries
Solutions (ATIS). The U and UT marks are
referenced in Section 20.19 of the FCC
Rules. The HAC rating and measurement
procedure are described in the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) C63.19
standard. To ensure that the Hearing Aid
Compatibility rating for your phone is
maintained, secondary transmitters such as
Bluetooth and WLAN components must be
disabled during a call.
When you’re talking on a cell phone,
it’s recommended that you turn the BT
(Bluetooth) or WLAN mode off for HAC.
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