How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phone

Buying a cell phone that works well with hearing aids is a valid concern for many hearing instrument users. The Better Hearing Institute has published some great information on how to buy a cell phone that is compatible with hearing aids. Here's some tips they offer:

• Buy a cell phone that has M3 or M4 and T3 or T4 ratings
• The "M" rating represent microphone interference potential 
• The "T" rating represents the telecoil coupling capability of the cell phone
• Purchase a hearing instrument and cell phone combination with an "M" score that adds up to "5."
• This will help ensure that the cell phone will not interfere with the programming of the hearing aids.
• Purchase a cell phone with CDMA transmission technology. 
• Cell phones with this type of transmission technology will have a M3 or M4 rating.
• Cell phones equipped with GSM transmission technology are limited to a M3 rating.

For a list of BHI's hearing aid compatible cell phones, click here.

For BHI's publication entitled "How to Buy a Cell Phone When You Have a Hearing Loss" (the article from which this information is taken), click here.

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