If you utilize a hearing aid we understand that you need the most compatible device possible. So we offer numerous phones that meet your specific needs in addition to this site to help answer any of your questions. If you have any additional questions, please visit a Nex-Tech Wireless store near you or call 1-844-881-6091.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has wireless handset hearing aid compatibility requirements. These requirements deal with handset operations near hearing aids that operate in either acoustic coupling or inductive coupling mode.
Hearing aids operating in acoustic coupling mode receive and amplify all signals, such as a telephone audio signal, as well as unwanted ambient noise. Hearing aids operating in inductive coupling mode avoid amplifying unwanted ambient noise by turning off the microphone and using a telecoil to receive only audio signal-based magnetic fields generated by telecoil-compatible telephones.
TTY mode is a feature of mobile phones that stands for either “teletypewriter” or “text telephone”. A teletypewriter is a device designed for the hearing impaired or those who have difficulty speaking. It translates audio signals into words and displays them for the person to see.
TTY may be unavailable or unreliable when using Wi-Fi Calling or on a Voice over LTE call. If TTY services are needed (for an emergency call or otherwise), Nex-Tech Wireless recommends disabling the Wi-Fi Calling feature and VoLTE on your Device and continue using your existing TTY services on the Nex-Tech Wireless network.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established technical standards to measure wireless phone handsets for "compatibility" with acoustic and inductive hearing aids and have been adopted by the FCC. These standards are known as Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) ratings.
An "M" rating measures compatibility with acoustic hearing aids while a "T" rating measures compatibility with induction hearing aids. So the higher the number (e.g., M3, M4 etc.) the more compatible the handset. Generally, handsets rated "M3" or "T3" by ANSI or better are considered compliant with FCC requirements.
Acoustic Hearing Aids
- M3-rating indicates the handset has satisfied the ANSI standard
- M4-rating indicates the handset has exceeded the ANSI standard
Induction Hearing Aids
- T3-rating indicates the handset has satisfied the ANSI standard
- T4-rating indicates the handset has exceeded the ANSI standard
Nex-Tech Wireless Compatible Phones and Devices
We strive to make the phone selection process for our customers with hearing aids as easy as possible. Nex-Tech Wireless categorizes phones into three different categories based on their levels of functionality: Basic Phones, Android™, and Apple iOS.
Basic Phones
Basic phones are those that are primarily used for voice calls.
Android™
These are voice and data-capable wireless devices (i.e. converged) that integrate voice calling, email access (corporate and personal), web browsing and PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks) all in one device. These devices use Google's Android™ operating system.
Apple® iPhone®
These are voice and data-capable wireless devices (i.e. converged) that integrate voice calling, email access (corporate and personal), web browsing and PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks) all in one device. These devices use Apple's iOS operating system.
Below is a list of Nex-Tech Wireless devices and their hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rating:
Handset Hearing Aid Compatibility List - updated 1/15/2024
FCC HAC Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules
