• The FCC has adopted HAC rules for digital
wireless phones. These rules require certain phone
to be tested and rated under the American National
Standard Institute (ANSI) C63.19-2011 hearing aid
compatibility standards.
• The ANSI standard for hearing aid compatibility
contains two types of ratings.
• M-Ratings: Rating for less radio frequency
interference to enable acoustic coupling with
hearing aids.
• T-Ratings: Rating for inductive coupling with
hearing aids in tele-coil mode.
• Not all phones have been rated, a phone is
considered hearing aid compatible under FCC rules
if it is rated M3 or M4 for acoustic coupling and T3
or T4 for inductive coupling. These ratings are
given on a scale from one to four, where four is the
most compatible. Your phone meets the M3/T3
level rating.
• However, hearing aid compatibility ratings don't
guarantee that interference to your hearing aids
won't happen. Results will vary, depending on the
level of immunity of your hearing device and the
degree of your 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.
