Cell Phones
These days, it seems that everyone is using a cell
phone. You see people using them in their cars, in restaurants, walking
down the street, etc. Do any of these people have hearing loss?
Below are links to several articles regarding
compatibility between mobile phones and hearing aids or CIs. For
additional information, please see the Mobile
Phone Access portion of our Issues section.
Until recently, people who rely on their telecoil
(T-coil) have not been able to use a cell phone, because they don't
produce enough magnetic flux to drive the T-coil. However, Nokia
has introduced a neckloop that provides T-coil compatibility with some
of their cell phones. Our buddy Curtis has researched this and reports
on HA Compatible Cell Phones.
August
2000 - It looks like cell phones are here to stay!! Here's a writeup by
Cheryl Heppner of NVRC of the Cell Phone and Hearing
Aids workshop at the recent SHHH convention.
August 2001 - Have you tried using a cell
phone with your hearing aid? How about with a TTY? Did it work well or
not? Did you know that there are compatibility issues between some
devices for people with hearing loss and some cell phones? This article
about cell phone compatibility
with aids and TTYs should help you learn more about a very
complicated topic.
November
2001 - Wireless phones - hmmmm? can people with hearing loss use
wireless phones? Even someone who's totally deaf can put a wireless
phone to good use - just not for transmitting voice! Learn how a
wireless phone can help you in the
wireless wave.
February 2002 - It's pretty common knowledge that many digital cell phones
are not hearing aid compatible, but fewer people are aware that many
cell phones are not currently TTY-compatible. It seems that the TTY
compatibility issue is an easier one to solve, because the resolution
will be in place by June 30 of this year. (No resolution of the hearing
aid compatibility issue is currently in sight.) Here's
more on TTY
compatibility from CNET News.
July 2003 - The FCC FINALLY did it! They mandated digital
wireless phones that are accessible to people with hearing aids and
cochlear implants!
November 2003 - I think the FCC may be on a roll here! Now they've
mandated wireless phone number portability!
November 2003 - OK, so some cell phones will become compatible with
some hearing aids in the next two or three years. What does this mean to
you? Here's Linda
Kozma-Spytek of the Gallaudet Telecommunications RERC with answers to
your questions!
October 2004 - There's been a long controversy regarding
cell phone use causing cancer. Now there seems to be some evidence that
long
term cell phone use can cause acoustic neuromas - which cause deafness!
October 2005 - Looking for a hearing aid
compatible cell phone? Here's how to find one!
June 2006 - Teens evade rules with a ring tone adults
can't hear
October 2006 - ALDAcon
2006 Presentation - Introduction to mobile phones
March 2007 - Speech Recognition
Empowers Cell Phones
April 2007 - More
HAC Cell Phones Coming
April 2007 - Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) and
Wireless Devices
May 2007 - TIA Publishes Standard for
Improving HAC
June 2007 - Why would anyone want an inaudible
ringtone?
July 2007 -
Here's our report on the cell phone workshop at the 2007 HLAA
convention.
July 2007 - Hearing Aids to Indicate
Cell Phone Compatibility Rating
November 2007 -
FCC Supports
Adoption of ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility Incubator Recommendations
February 2008 -
Analog Cell
Phone Sunset
February 2008 -
Study of
Cell Phone Accessibility Published
April 2008 - Clarity unveils cell phone for
seniors
February 2009 - How to Buy a Cell Phone when You
Have a Hearing Loss
April 2009 - Doro Launches New Mobile Phones
Designed for Baby Boomers & Active Seniors
August 2009 -
2009 HLAA Convention: The Wireless Industry: What's Available? What's
Right for You?
August 2010 - FCC Moves to Improve Cell Phone
Accessibility
August 2010 - FCC Takes Strong Action on
Accessibility of Wireless Phones
September 2010 -
FCC Adopts
Rules on Wireless Hearing Aid Compatibility
September 2010 -
Prolonged mobile phone use may be linked to tinnitus
November 2010 - Hearing Loss Organizations File
Mobile Phone Comments with FCC
December 2010 - Choosing and Using a Cell Phone with
Your Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant
March 2011 - iPhone 4 scores High on Hearing Aid
Compatibility (HAC) Testing
March 2011 - Updated Website Helps Consumers
Choose Accessible Wireless Devices and Services
September 2011 - Cell Phones Which Are Compatible
with Hearing Aids
October 2011 - The Best Phone Apps to Measure Noise
Levels
More on this and related
topics
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: Since the breakup of AT&T way back when, people have been
able to easily switch their local phone service provider. Several years
ago, the providers in my area were competing for business and would
offer incentives for people to switch. Some of my friends switched two
or three times in a year or so and collected some nice gifts. And they
always kept the same phone number.
Wireless phones haven't worked that way; when you change carriers you
get a new phone number. That's one of the reasons people have been
locked into staying with the same carrier, and I think it has helped
sustain high prices.
That's all changing on November 24 in the top 100 metropolitan areas
in the US. As of that date, the FCC is requiring the service providers
to implement number portability across carriers. I've seen predictions
that as many as 30 million people will switch carriers within a couple
of months of that date.
The switch will require people to buy new phones, because the
carriers tend to us proprietary encryption techniques. So there will
probably be 30 million used phones floating around. That could lead to
some good prices on nice used phones! And don't forget that old cell
phones without service can still be used to call "911", so
they could be good emergency phones. Just remember to keep those
batteries charged!
Here's the brief note from the FCC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For years, consumers with wireline phones have been able to switch
from one local carrier to another in the same geographical area without
having to change their phone number. Now, this service will be available
to wireless phone customers as well.
Under the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) wireless
"local number portability" (LNP) rules, you can switch
wireless carriers and keep your existing phone number within the same
local geographical area where it is currently assigned.
On November 24, 2003, wireless carriers in the top 100 Metropolitan
Statistical Areas (MSAs) must implement this program. We will be sending
out more information on this important development gets nearer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2006
In that
old battle of the wills between young people and their keepers, the young
have found a new weapon that could change the balance of power on the cell
phone front: a ring tone that many adults cannot hear. In settings where
cell phone use is forbidden -- in class, for example -- it is perfect for
signaling the arrival of a text message without being detected by an elder
of the species. "When I heard about it, I didn't believe it at first,"
said Donna Lewis, a technology teacher at the Trinity School in New York
City. "But one of the kids gave me a copy, and I sent it to a colleague.
She played it for her first-graders. All of them could hear it, and
neither she nor I could."
Full Story
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/273542_ringtone12.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2007
Are you struggling [with] what those T1 to T4
ratings for cell phone and hearing aid compatibility mean, or how the
values are derived? This article is designed to help you understand
these issues. The use of wireless devices for both personal and business
applications continues to rise exponentially in developed and now in
many emerging countries. Mobile phone use now exceeds 2 billion
customers worldwide, and the market is rapidly approaching 3 billion.
Increased capability is being added everywhere to mobile phones. Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2007
The tone, which is similar to the ringing in your
ears (called tinnitus) after being surrounded by loud music or machinery,
is inaudible to most older ears because of the high frequency of the
sound. It's a noise, or more politely, a buzz, which comes from the
Bluetooth-enabled cell phones of teenagers who want to text message during
class without teacher intervention. . . . Sloan, an incoming sophomore at
Deshler High School, says that the tone "hurts after a while" but makes
text messaging at school a lot easier.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2008
Chattanooga-based Clarity on Tuesday unveiled a
cell phone aimed at people over 65 who have vision and hearing loss.
"Mobile phones have not been designed to meet the needs of the millions of
aging Americans," said Carsten Trads, the company's president. The phone,
dubbed ClarityLife, features a large display with prominent buttons. It
also amplifies incoming sound by up to 20 decibel, according to the
company which debuted the phone at a Las Vegas wireless conference. In
addition, the phone is equipped with a one-touch emergency response
button. When activated, it will call and send text messages to five
pre-programmed numbers.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2010
Hearing Loss Association of America ("HLAA"),
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. ("TDI"),
Association of Late-Deafened Adults, Inc. ("ALDA"), and Deaf & Hard of
Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network ("DHHCAN"), National Association of the
Deaf ("NAD"), and Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing ("AG Bell") (collectively, "Consumer Groups") submit these
comments in response to the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking1 ("FNPRM")
released by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission")
on August 5, 2010 regarding the hearing aid compatibility rules:
1. The Commission proposes to extend the scope of
the rules beyond the current category of commercial mobile radio services
("CMRS") to include handsets used to provide wireless voice communications
over any type of network among members of the public or substantial
portion of the public. It also seeks comment on what transition period is
appropriate for applying the requirements to newly covered handsets.
2. The Commission seeks further comment on whether
to extend in-store testing requirement beyond retail stores owned or
operated by service providers to some or all other retail outlets.
3. The Commission seeks comment on whether to
extend to all circumstances the ability to meet hearing aid compatibility
radio frequency ("RF") reduction standards for GSM operations in the 1900
MHz band through software that enables the user to reduce maximum power
output by up to 2.5 dB.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2010
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
regulations require hearing aid-compatible digital wireless telephones.
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about cell
phones and the FCC regulations. More cell phones are being manufactured
with reduced radio frequency (RF) emissions to minimize interference and
make them more hearing aid user friendly as a result of Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. If you are a hearing aid or
cochlear implant user, the likelihood of finding a relatively interference
free cell phone that will work with your hearing devices has increased
because of improvements in cell phones and hearing instruments. We expect
to see more phones in the 3G network that are compatible with hearing aids
and cochlear implants. However, because hearing loss and hearing
instruments are highly individualized, it is still advisable to try out
cell phones in the store before making a purchase and again at home and
work within the provider's return period.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2011
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
adopted hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rules for digital wireless phones.
This article describes HAC rules and iPhone 4 HAC ratings.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sept 2011
As a service to hearing aid owners BHI is
providing a complete (to their knowledge) list of U.S. phones which are
most compatible with hearing aids. By compatibility we mean they carry the
very highest rating of M4/T4:
* M4
indicates there is the least likelihood of microphone interference and
* T4 means
there is the greatest likelihood of telecoil coupling compatibility with
the cell phone.
The following is a list of the most hearing aid
compatible cell phones. To find out more about a specific model go to
www.phonescoop.com or click on the model.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2011
Every day, we encounter a variety of sounds that
hum, buzz, and ring and at safe noise levels. However, individuals of all
ages sometimes risk exposure to harmful noises that damage the sensitive
structure of the inner ear and cause permanent or temporary Noise Induced
Hearing Loss (NIHL). Inside the ear, small hair cells transmit electrical
signals to the brain. These hair cells are often harmed or completely
destroyed by extremely loud noises at home, in the workplace, and as we go
about living our lives. Common activities like attending rock concerts,
working with shop tools, and operating lawn mowing equipment, as well as
one-time occurrences like explosions, can destroy these delicate hair
cells, resulting in hearing loss and even annoying tinnitus, or ringing in
the ears. Luckily, with modern technology comes help in measuring the
decibel level of sounds around us. We found some great smart phone apps
that raise a red flag when users enter situations that reach noise levels
that may contribute to hearing problems. The mobile nature of the smart
phone makes it easy to take control of your health and hearing wherever
you are, and avoid activities and locations that may be detrimental to
healthy ears. Read on to learn more about our favorite iPhone and Android
apps for measuring noise levels.
Full Story
