Top 5 Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phones

Are you shopping for a hearing aid compatible Cell phone? Finding the right phone for you is dependent on factors like the frequency of phone usage and the level of hearing impairment, whether severe, moderate or mild. The good news is that the FCC under the 1988 Hearing Aid Compatibility Act ensures that the hearing impaired have access to cell phones and other wireless devices.

It is under this statute that the cell phones are M/T rated. M/T is an abbreviation for Microphone/Telecoil. Cell Phones with an M/T rating of 3 or 4 are regarded as Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC). The higher the M/T rating, the lesser the phone will experience interference with the hearing aid device.

Due to this, many companies have advanced their technology to suit such people. Many brands have hearing aid compatible cell phone devices, and people are benefiting from them. Also the AARP cell phone discount Verizon is quite a good offer for seniors who want to get the hearing aid compatible phones. Below is how you can access the hearing aid compatible phones.

How to access a hearing aid compatible cell phone?

Most of the HAC cell phones are available in most states with different service providers. Most of them will list HAC cell phones on their websites and even stores. For example, you can check out the Verizon phones for the hearing impaired from Verizon Wireless. Check out the M/T ratings (Discussed above) and confirm from the customer support services if the phone is right for you.

Alternatively, you can check out our top 5 hearing aid compatible cell phones review.

Do hearing compatible cellphones use a landline?

Hearing compatible cellphones do not use landlines. These are smartphones which have a specific market target for the hearing impaired, or the device has been customized to help hearing-impaired people. Also, the hearing aid compatibility iPhone is an excellent example since all you need is a hearing aid headset and you are good to go. Currently, it is very rear companies to provide phones which use landlines unless it’s for research purposes.

The 5 best hearing aid compatible cell phones

1. Motorola Moto X4 XT1900

Moto X4 has an M/T rating of 4, making the phone less likely to interfere with your hearing aid device. The audio quality is excellent in the Moto X4, with noise levels capped at -91.5Db. The loudspeaker has a maximum ring of 80db, which makes the phone suitable for the hearing impaired as they cannot miss out on any incoming call or notification.

The phone comes with a 3.5mm jack headphone port with an active noise cancellation technology that filters out unwanted noises of higher frequency, making communication with a hearing-impaired person possible.

Furthermore, the phone has impressive features like speech to text, which makes it easier for the hearing impaired to obtain call transcripts on the text. Most hearing-impaired persons prefer communication via text. They can also access the TTY mode in the settings menu, by turning on the Hearing aid setting on the phone.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 SM-N950U 64GB

The Note 8 is among the best telephones for hearing impaired persons in the market. It comes with a direct access feature that allows users to access various accessibility features using hardware keys. Also, it comes with an AI assistant known as Bixby, where the hearing impaired can command it to convert speech to text when communicating with the Note 8.

It comes with excellent audio playback features, which switches the speaker or headphones from stereo to mono to accommodate the hearing impaired who can only listen with one ear. Alternatively, the sound balance can be adjusted by the left and right volume. The flash notification is an excellent addition in Note 8.

During an incoming call, alarm, and text, the camera flashes light, and there is blinking light on the screen. It’s hard to miss a call even for the hearing impaired. On top of that, hearing impaired users can make use of features like the sound detection system and the assistant menu.

3. UMIDIGI A3X GSM Cell Phone

UMIGIGI A3 pro is rated as M3, which gives the hearing impaired users minimal interference during communication via hearing aid devices. The loudspeaker provides good audio clarity for the mild hearing-impaired users. They can also opt to use the earpiece and the headphones.

For those who have a severe hearing impairment, they can opt for the flash notification setting, which is made possible by the dual-LED camera flash at the back of the device. It features two notification light colours, red for charging and green for missed notifications. The hearing impaired persons cannot miss out on both the ringtone and the flashlight notification during an incoming call or text.

You can also toggle between earpiece and hands-free speaker mode during a call, in case the call volume is too low for you. The phone comes unlocked, or CDMA carrier locked to Verizon. You can purchase the UMIDIGI A3 Pro on AARP Cell phone discount Verizon stores countrywide.

4. LG Stylo 4

The LG Stylo 4 is rated M3/T4, hence it is suitable for use with hearing aid devices as they generate minimal interference during communication. The device comes with an Android 8.1 Operating System with a snapdragon processor which gives it fast processing speeds. It features some of the latest technology like the DTS: X, which gives the speaker good quality audio when communicating or watching movies.

The 6.2-inch display is great, as the hearing impaired can read all transcripts more clearly from the speech to text app. The headphones come with DTS 3D Surround sound technology which gives users precise, crisp and useful quality audio. Also, the Stylo 4 has LED indicators which blink in case of missed calls and texts or any other notifications. You can also activate the LED notification for the apps of your choice.

If your hearing aids devices support Bluetooth technology, then this is the phone to purchase. The Stylo 4 comes with Bluetooth headsets, which can be worn in crowded places for a good communication experience.  The Stylo 4 is arguably one of the best clarity phones for the hearing impaired persons.

5. BLU VIVO XL4 Smartphone

The BLU VIVO features a 6.2-inch widescreen with LED lights strategically placed to notify you of an alarm, missed call or text message. Hearing-impaired users will be happy to know that the XL4 features a TTY/TDD, which automatically provides you with call transcripts in case you have a severe hearing impairment.

You can easily read texts and store them for later use. You also have the option of choosing between the ringtone and the vibration alert system, with most people preferring the latter. The device is rated M3 HAC and provides minimal interference when used with hearing aid devices.

The sound quality is excellent, as the phone features the latest sound enhancement technologies like DTS, making communication seamless. The XL4 is available in two colour variants, black, and gold.  The XL4 has other features like the fingerprint unlock security, facial recognition, and the 12MP camera. For $150, the XL4 is a good budget phone.

Bottom Line

Always seek advice from your doctors about your hearing impairment status, whether mild, moderate or severe. These professionals can also suggest the best telephones for the hearing impaired persons, and can also go a step further to assist you in setting a connection between the cell phone and hearing aid device. It helps put into perspective features that will help you communicate well with your hearing aid devices.

Before purchasing any cell phone, make sure that they are marked as HAC, and verify the M/T rating. The good part is that if you get the device from Amazon, it is already tested. Also, if it has any issues, you are always given a 7-day to return the product.