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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. Mogul is rated M3.
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 phones
FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html
Gallaudet University, RERC:
http://tap.gallaudet.edu/DigWireless.KS/DigWireless.htm
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