TIA Publishes Standard for Improving HAC

Editor: The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has approved a standard that allows them to test cell phones for hearing aid compatibility (HAC). Here's the press release from the Telecommunications Industry Association.

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The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) approved TIA 1083 - Telecommunications Telephone Terminal Equipment Handset Magnetic Measurement Procedures and Performance Requirements. The standard will allow makers of digital cordless telephones to test their products for inductively generated noise that can interfere with some types of hearing aids.

This standard will benefit users of hearing aids because it will help manufacturers reduce interference and allow hearing aid users to determine which digital cordless phones will work best for them, TIA said.

"TIA believes that the more people who can access the telecom network, the more powerful and useful that network is for everybody," said TIA President Grant Seiffert.

"As soon as TIA learned of the problem with interference between cordless phones and hearing aids, we engaged the help of the hearing loss community in order to take proactive steps to fix it. Those with hearing loss will soon be able to avoid the interference that was ruining their ability to use cordless phones."

In developing the standard, TIA received help from both Gallaudet University and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA).

"Development of the standard benefited greatly from subjective studies organized by Gallaudet researchers at the past two HLAA conventions," said Steve Whitesell, chair of the parent TIA TR-41 Engineering Committee responsible for the standard. Seiffert said while there is room to improve telecommunications compatibility with hearing aids, the standard is a "positive first step."