Thinking about getting a new cellphone? Before purchasing, make sure the model you want is compatible with your hearing aids.
What Is a Hearing-Aid Compatible (HAC) Cellphone?
On October 17, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission began requiring all cellphones sold in the U.S. to be hearing-aid compatible. To earn the HAC designation, the phone must have been tested and passed for both telecoil (t-coil) and acoustic (having the phone at the ear) coupling. This means it should appropriately minimize unwanted noise and allow the user’s hearing aids to connect to it through a telecoil.
What About Smartphones With Bluetooth®?
In general, most smartphones are hearing-aid compatible. The majority also come with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows two or more devices (in this case, a smartphone and hearing aids) to connect wirelessly within 30 feet. Bluetooth makes it possible for you to stream music, calls and other sounds from your smartphone straight to your hearing aids.
However, keep in mind that not all smartphones with Bluetooth can connect to all hearing aids—your hearing devices must be Bluetooth-enabled, and your smartphone should have software that works with your hearing aids, in addition to the most recent operating system.
How Can I Find Out If the Phone I Want Will Work With My Hearing Aids?
You’ll have to do a little detective work to determine if your hearing aids and potential new phone are a good match, such as:
- Visiting your hearing aid manufacturer’s website to view a list of compatible phones
- Testing the phone to see if it works with your hearing aids before purchasing it
At Precision Hearing, we offer a great selection of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids from the top manufacturers. Contact us today to make an appointment to try them out!