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SAFETYSAFETY
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) to require digital wireless 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 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 quality that is 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.
For information about hearing aids and digital wireless phone:
• FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html
• GallaudetUniversity,RERC
http://tap.gallaudet.edu/DigWireless.KS/DigWireless.htm
090115_7076PP_EN_M_size.indd 168-169090115_7076PP_EN_M_size.indd 168-169 2009.1.29 11:59:46 AM2009.1.29 11:59:46 AM