If you wear hearing aids but hate talking on the phone because of that annoying buzzing sound, know that there are ways to combat it. In this post, we review why this happens and what you can do about it, whether you’re talking on the phone at home or Woodland Park in Lexington.
What Causes the Buzzing Sound?
The reason you may hear a buzzing sound when you hold your cellphone up to your ear when you’re wearing hearing aids is called radiofrequency (RF) emissions. While RF interference does not occur for all combinations of cellphones and hearing aids, it does happen for many. This can make it difficult to understand your conversation partner, pay attention to what is said and may even contribute to you not wanting to wear your hearing aids.
What Can I Do About It?
The good news is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that cellphone manufacturers test their wireless handsets’ hearing aid compatibility using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
Manufacturers must offer one-third of their models with T3 or T4 rating, meaning they are compatible with a hearing aid telecoil. In addition, half of their models must have M3 or M4 ratings, meaning they are compatible through acoustic coupling.
The labeling on the cellphone packages can tell you if they are compatible. You can also talk to your audiologist if you make a lot of phone calls, so they can recommend a hearing aid with Bluetooth® compatibility. This way, you can stream audio from your phone directly to your ears without having to hold your phone up to your head.
Other Causes of Buzzing
If you’re experiencing buzzing sounds at other times other than when talking on the phone, there may be another problem at play. The buildup of dirt or wax, for example, can cause a buzzing sound, which is why it’s essential to clean your devices thoroughly every single day.
For more information about hearing aids compatibility with cellphones or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call The Hearing & Speech Center today.
