How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cellphone
The following info come from Western Institute of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
There are so many cellphones on the market these days, it can be
overwhelming when it comes to finding a phone appropriate for you.
Following are some tips on what to look for in a cellphone so that it will
be hearing aid compatible.
Look for a Cellphone with a rating of AT LEAST M3/T3
In the US all cellphones are tested for hearing aid compatibility. The M#
represents how well the cellphone will work with a hearing aid in
microphone mode. M1 is the lowest rating and is an indication of high
interference. M4 is the highest rating and indicates low interference.
The T# rating represents how well the cellphone will work with a heairng
aid in T-Coil mode. Again T1 is the lowest rating and T4 is the highest.
The whereabouts of this information differs with all cellphone
manufacturers. Commonly it can be found on the display card next to the
device, on the product packaging, or in the phone manual. Some websites
such as PhoneScoop maintain a database of this information. (note: when you
go to the website, type in the name of the phone in the Jump to a phone box
- top right of main screen. When the phone information comes up scroll down
to features and click on 'show missing features'. You will find the M/T
rating under Accessibility, Hearing Aid Compatible)
Choose a Provider that Uses CDMA rather than GSM
In Canada, both Telus and Bell operate on the CDMA network. Rogers, Fido
and all other carriers operate on the GSM network. Phones connected to the
CDMA network will interfere less with your hearing aid.
Choose a "Flip" Style Phone
A cellphone's antenna is a significant source of interference. Generally
speaking, the antenna on a flip phone will be positioned farther from the
speaker than on a candy bar phone. Be wary of phones with no visible
antenna.
Find a Phone with a Smaller LCD Screen
The screen is also a significant source of interference. Often phones with
very large or multiple LCD screens (such as iPhones etc)will have low M#
ratings. Look for a phone with one small screen.
Be Mindful of the Cellphone's Outer Casing
There is a growing trend towards manufacturing metallic phones. The idea
being that a metal phone is stronger when dropped than a plastic phone.
While this is all well and good, metal phones will not work as well with
your hearing aid.
Try Before You Buy
In the US it is mandatory that all phone retailers have a 'live' phone in
store for you to try. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Canada. Still,
many retailers will have working phones to demo.
Test that the volume is adequate, and that you can hear clearly on
microphone and T-Coil modes.
Know the Return Policy
In store testing is no substitute for the real world. Be sure to try the
phone in a variety of listening situations: at home; in the car; at a noisy
restaurant etc.
Usually the return policy is based on both days and usage. Ensure that you
have adequate time to do your own testing, and can exchange the phone if it
is unsuitable for your needs.
Look for a Headset Jack and Bluetooth Connectivity
There are several accessories designed to assist you in hearing on a
cellphone. Almost all of these rely on either a 2.5mm headset jack or
Bluetooth connection. If your phones has these useful features, you will
have a lot more options to assist you.
Two of the most common accessories that you can plug into the 2.5mm jack
are:
1. Silhouette cord - a small thin piece of plastic is worn behind your ear,
beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It emits a magnetic field and
transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid when the hearing
aid is on the t-coil setting. The silhouette cord has a microphone for
handsfree operation.
2. Neckloop - a 'necklace' style cord you wear around your neck. The
neckloop emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to
your hearing aid while the hearing aid is on the t-coil mode. The neckloop
as a microphone for handsfree operation. Note custom hearing aids with
t-coils are not always stong enough to use with a neckloop - you may have
better success with a silhouette cord in these cases.
Posted via email from Ann Reflection
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Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 9/30/2011 07:00:00 AM
Posted by annchou-2000
at 10:01 AM EDT
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