Hearing Aid Compatibility With Mobile Phones
A number of Sprint Nextel phones have been tested for hearing aid compatibility. When some wireless phones are used with certain hearing aids, users may detect a noise which can interfere with the effectiveness of the hearing aid.
Some hearing aids are more “immune” than others to this interference noise, and phones can also vary in the amount of interference noise they may generate. ANSI standard C63.19 was developed to provide a standardized means of measuring both mobile phone and hearing aids to determine usability rating categories for both.
Ratings have been developed for mobile phones to assist hearing aid users find phones that may be compatible with their hearing aid. Not all phones have been rated for compatibility with hearing aids. Phones that have been rated have a label with the rating(s) located on the box, and at www.motorola.com/accessibility.
These ratings are not guarantees of compatibility. Results will vary depending on the user's hearing aid and individual type and degree of hearing loss. If a hearing aid is particularly vulnerable to interference, even a phone with a higher rating may still cause unacceptable noise levels in the hearing aid. Trying out the phone with your hearing aid is the best way to evaluate it for your personal needs.
“M” Rating: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet FCC requirements for hearing aid compatibility and are likely to generate less interference to hearing aids than unrated phones. (M4 is the “better” or higher of the two ratings.) On those models with an extendable antenna, this rating is determined only with the antenna extended.
