Motorola is aware that hearing aid compatibility (HAC) is a crucial issue for hearing aid wearers*. That is why we require our phones to create a magnetic field that can be coupled with a telecoil-equipped hearing aid. However, all digital wireless phones, regardless of phone manufacturer or wireless service provider, have the potential to cause interference (e.g. annoying "buzzing" sounds). Hearing aid compatibility is only achieved when the specific combination of hearing aid and digital wireless phone work together to give a compatible user experience. Specific HAC performance ratings can help clarify how certain wireless phones and hearing aids may perform together. HAC compliant wireless phones are capable of working with hearing aids that have a minimal immunity rating of at least 2. The immunity rating indicates how susceptible a hearing aid is to picking up interference from a digital wireless phone. It can rate the performance of the hearing aid for either microphone and/or telecoil coupling.

The performance rating system** for HAC compliant wireless phones that follows is also explained in the Motorola product's user manual:

The "M" (microphone) indicates that the product has been tested and rated for acoustic coupling. The "T" (telecoil) represents that the product has been tested and rated for inductive coupling. The higher the "M" or "T" rating, the less likely the hearing aid user will experience interference when the hearing aid is set to the respective microphone or telecoil mode. The highest values to date are 3 and 4 (e.g., "M4" or "M3/T3").

Hearing aid usability with digital wireless technology does not have one easy, all-encompassing answer to date. At Motorola, we want you to be informed of these issues, and we want you to know we are working to solve them. To better inform you of the issues that hearing aid users face when using wireless phones, we have identified examples of the interference sounds caused by various wireless service technologies in the United States or other sources that you might hear in your phone. Click here to view more information about hearing aid interference and wireless phones.

Just as with your hearing aid, we recommend that you try before you buy to find the wireless phone that is the 'best fit' for your communication needs. However, if you are not able to reduce interference, please consider using compatible assistive devices with your Motorola wireless phone or speaking to your hearing health professional about the immunity rating of your hearing aid and/or compatibility with digital wireless phones.

For tips and more information, visit http://www.accesswireless.org/hearingaid/brochures.cfm or our FAQs (Frequently Asked questions) page.

* For cochlear implant wearers, we have found that these general principles can assist you as well.
**Applies to United States-shipping products.