Choosing a cell phone that will work with your hearing aid can be a difficult task, but with the right information, it is certainly possible.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates hearing aid compatibility with cellular phones.  They have stated that the phone may provide normal use with the hearing aid if the sum of the phone’s compatibility rating and the hearing aid rating equal 5. This does not mean that the phone will provide excellent use, but does meet the minimum standards for normal use. The compatibility ratings range from 1-4 and are classified with either an “M” rating or a “T” rating. So, if a phone has a T3 rating, it means that it scored a 3 while in the telecoil mode. An “M” rating means that the phone was tested with a hearing aid in microphone mode.  Obviously, the higher the rating of the cell phone, the more likely it will be compatible with your hearing aid.

Interference is another concern for cell phone use with hearing aids. Interference can be caused from many sources including backlighting on the phone, the style of the phone, radio frequencies emitted by the phone, and the sensitivity of the hearing aid to the electromagnetic interference. To reduce the interference you may try to reposition the phone to maximize the distance between the antenna of the phone and the microphone on the hearing aid.

When purchasing a cellular phone compatibility information can be obtained from several sources. It can be found on the packaging of the phone, in the product manual and on the display cards in the store next to the phone. Remember, retailers are required to allow customers to assess the phone and its hearing aid compatibility in the store before making a purchase. Try before you buy.

For more information on cell phone compatibility go to
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/hac_wireless.html