Hearing Aid Compatibility

Hearing Aid Compatibility with Mobile Phones
When some mobile phones are used near some hearing devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants), users may detect a buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some hearing devices are more immune than others to this interference noise, and phones also vary in the amount of interference they generate.

Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Ratings system

The wireless telephone industry has developed ratings for some of their mobile phones, to assist hearing device users in finding phones that may be compatible with their hearing devices. Not all phones have been rated. Phones that are rated have the rating stated on the box or will display the following icons:

1) M-rating only Rated for Hearing Aids: M3 1) M&T-rating only Rated for Hearing Aids: M3

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.
  • They are likely to generate less interference to hearing devices than unrated phones.
  • M4 is the better/higher of the two ratings(M3 & M4).
  • T-Ratings:  Phones rated T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements.
  • They are likely to be more usable with hearing device's telecoil than unrated phones.
  • T4 is the better/higher of the two ratings(T3 & T4)
  • *Note that not all hearing devices have telecoil in them.

In addition to rating wireless phones, the ANSI standard also provides a methodology for rating hearing aids from M1 to M4, with M1 being the least immune to RF interference and M4 the most immune. To determine whether a particular digital wireless telephone is likely to interfere with a particular hearing aid, the immunity rating of the hearing aid is added to the rating of the telephone. A sum of four indicates that the telephone is probably usable; a sum of five indicates that the telephone would probably provide normal use; and a sum of six or greater indicates that the telephone would probably provide excellent performance with that hearing aid. Note that not all hearing aids are rated.

HAC Compatible Phones Currently Offered

Model Air Interface Band M/T Rating Feature
AX155 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3 GPS
AX265(Rumor2) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
AX300 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, Camera
AX390 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3 GPS,PTT
AX500(Swift) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
AX585(Rhythm) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 EvDO, BT,FMT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
AX840(Tritan) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
LG200C CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4 GPS
LG260(Rumor) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
LG300 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, Camera
LX165(Flare) CDMA PCS1900 M4 BT, GPS
LX260(Rumor) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
LX265(Rumor2) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
LX370 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
LX400 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera, PTT
LX600(Lotus) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
UX265(Rumor2) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
UX280(Wine) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
UX300 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 BT, GPS, Camera
UX585(Rhythm) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 EvDO, BT,FMT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
UX840(Tritan) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
VX5400 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 BT, GPS, Camera
VX5500 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 BT, GPS, Camera
VX7100(Glance) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4 BT, GPS, Camera
VX8360 CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
VX8560(Chocolate3) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera, FMT
VX9100(EnV2) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 EvDO, BT, GPS, Camera, MP3
VX9200(EnV3) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
VX9600(Versa) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
VX9700(Dare) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3T3 EvDO, BT, GPS, Camera, MP3
VX10000S(Voyager) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M3 EvDO, BT, GPS, Camera, V-Cast
VX11000(enVTouch) CDMA CDMA835/1900 M4T4 EvDO, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
CP150 GSM GSM850/1900 M3T3 GPRS
LG400G GSM GSM850/1900 M3T3 GPRS
LG600G GSM GSM850/1900 M3T3 BT, GPRS, Camera
CF360 WCDMA GSM850/1900/WCDMA850/WCDMA1900 M3T3 GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, BT, GPS, MP3 player, Camera
CU405 WCDMA GSM850/1900/WCDMA850/WCDMA1900 M3T3 GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, BT, MP3 player, Camera
CU515 WCDMA GSM850/1900/WCDMA850/WCDMA1900 M3T3 GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, BT, MP3 player, Camera