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FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility
(HAC) Regulations for Wireless
Devices
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
has established requirements for digital wireless mobile
devices to be compatible with hearing aids and other
assistive hearing devices.
When individuals employing some assistive hearing
devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants) use
wireless mobile devices, they may detect a buzzing,
humming, or whining noise. Some hearing devices are
more immune than others to this interference noise, and
mobile devices also vary in the amount of interference
they generate.
The wireless telephone industry has developed a rating
system for wireless mobile devices to assist hearing
device users find mobile devices that may be compatible
with their hearing devices. Not all mobile devices have
been rated. Mobile devices that are rated have the rating
on their box or a label located on the box.
The ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary
Internal Use Only
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 mobile
device successfully. Trying out the mobile device with
your hearing device is the best way to evaluate it for
your personal needs.
M-Ratings: Wireless mobile devices rated M3 or M4
meet FCC requirements and are likely to generate less
interference to hearing devices than mobile devices that
are not labeled. M4 is the better/higher of the two
ratings. M-ratings refer to enabling acoustic coupling
with hearing aids that do not operate in telecoil mode.
T-Ratings: Mobile devices rated T3 or T4 meet FCC
requirements and are likely to generate less interference
to hearing devices than mobile devices that are not
DRAFT
Health and Safety Information
11
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