Discover everything you need to know about hearing aid compatible (HAC) telephones.
If you use an assistive listening device like a hearing aid, you may be wondering what kind of hearing aid compatible telephones are on the market. Thanks to guidelines established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), there are several hearing aid compatible (HAC) phones available for people with hearing loss. Keep reading to learn about the FCC standards and two types of hearing aid telephones that you may want to consider.
FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility Standards
The FCC requires that all wireless and landline phones not interfere with hearing aids and are compatible with their magnetic coils. Additionally, all landline telephones must offer suitable volume controls. Compliant phones are allocated an M rating and a T rating, each ranging from 1-4, with 4 being the highest rating. These ratings vouch for the ability of the phone to provide minimal microphone interference (M) and interact compatibly with the telecoil within the hearing aid (T). Hearing aid telephones that comply with these requirements are labeled (HAC) so that you can easily identify them.
Next, we’ll explore a couple of different types of hearing aid telephones that meet these FCC requirements.
Types of hearing aid telephones
In this post, we’ll describe two types of hearing aid telephones:
- Captioned telephones
- Amplified telephones
Captioned telephones
CapTel captioned telephones are designed to help people with hearing loss feel confident when connecting with others over the phone. With features including powerful amplification and tone control, captioned telephones also provide written captions of everything your caller says on a large, easy-to-read screen. Imagine never missing a word again! All CapTel models also come with a hearing aid compatible handset, built-in answering machine, one-touch customer support, and a phonebook that stores more than 95 contacts.
Find out how to choose the right captioned telephone for you here.
Amplified telephones
Amplified telephones are similar to classic landline phones, with the addition of amplified volume control that can be turned significantly louder than traditional models. These types of hearing aid telephones may also come with additional auditory features, such as tone equalization and higher volume ringer options. Amplified phones are great for people who are confident in their ability to hear over the phone once the proper volume and frequency is achieved.
To learn more about the bells and whistles available on hearing aid telephones, head to our blog to explore these features to look for in a phone for hearing loss.
In addition to landline phones, you can also find hearing aid compatible cell phones that comply with FCC requirements. You can find out if your phone is HAC by checking the label on the information card next to the phone in the store, the cell phone packaging, or your user’s manual. Use this guide to Hearing Aids and Cell Phones: What to Know Before You Buy from ASHA that covers features to look for in a cell phone, accessories and adapters that can improve your listening experience, and other helpful tips for people with hearing loss.
To discover whether a hearing aid telephone is right for you, check out our quick Q&A or check out these signs that you could benefit from a captioned telephone for hearing loss. For more information about CapTel captioned telephones, call us at 800.233.9130 or visit CapTel.com today.
