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Safety
phones be compatible with hearing-aids.
The intent of the HAC Act is to ensure
reasonable access to telecommunications
services for persons with hearing
disabilities.
While some wireless phones are 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.
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