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so that no interference occurs when a person uses a
“compatible” phone and a “compatible” hearing aid at
the same time. This standard was approved by the
IEEE in 2000.
FDAcontinues to monitor the use of wireless phones
for possible interactions with other medical devices.
Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA
will conduct testing to assess the interference and
work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to:
•FDAweb page on wireless phones
(http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html
•Federal Communications Commission(FCC)RF
Safety Program (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
•International Commission on Non-lonizing
Radiation Protection (http://www.icnirp.de)
•World Health Organization(WHO) International
EMF Project (http://www.who.int/emf)
•National Radiological Protection Board(UK)
(http://www.nrpb.org.uk/)
S
AFETY
G
UIDELINES
distributed leaflets containing such a recom-
mendation in December 2000. They noted that no
evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes
brain tumors or other ill effects. Their
recommendation to limit wireless phone use by
children was strictly precautionary; it was not based
on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless phone interference with
medical equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones
can interact with some electronic devices. For this
reason, FDAhelped develop a detailed test method
to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of
implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators
from wireless telephones. This test method is now
part of a standard sponsored by the Association for
the Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI).
The final draft, a joint effort by FDA, medical device
manufacturers, and many other groups, was
completed in late 2000. This standard will allow
manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers
and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from
handheld wireless phones and helped develop a
voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This
standard specifies test methods and performance
requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones
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