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Safety
used near some hearing devices
(hearing aids and cochlear implants),
users may detect a 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 above example, 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.