Purchasing a cell phone The M rating (M3 or 4) represents microphone interference potential to a

when you have a hearing aid from the cell phone and the T rating (T3 or 4) represents the telecoil

hearing loss can be a coupling capability of the cell phone. The higher the rating, the more likely

daunting task. the cell phone will be compatible with a

How do consumers know which cell phones will work for their hearing needs? Why do some cell phones work for some people with a hearing loss but not others?

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) fact sheet on “Hearing Aid Compatibility for Wireless Telephones” provides an excellent over- view of this topic and can be accessed at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/ hac_wireless.html. ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Incubator and CTIA-The Wireless Association also developed
a terrific brochure on “Hearing Aid Compatibility for Wireless Telephones and Services,” which can be viewed at http://www.accesswireless.org/files/pdf/ HACBrochure.pdf.