Sprint Nextel Cell Phone - Manual (Page 252)

234 Section 4A: Important Safety Information
Using Your Phone With a Hearing Aid Device
A number of Sprint Nextel phones have been tested for hearing aid device
compatibility. When some wireless phones are used with certain hearing
devices (including hearing aids and cochlear implants), users may detect a
noise which can interfere with the effectiveness of the hearing device.
Some hearing devices are more immune than others to this interference
noise, and phones also vary in the amount of interference noise they may
generate. ANSI standard C63.19 was developed to provide a standardized
means of measuring both wireless phone and hearing devices to determine
usability rating categories for both.
Ratings have been developed for mobile phones to assist hearing device users
find phones that may be compatible with their hearing device. Not all phones
have been rated for compatibility with hearing devices. Phones that have
been rated have a label located on the box. Your KATANA DLX by SANYO has
M4 and T4 ratings.
These ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary depending on the user’s
hearing device and individual type and degree of hearing loss. If a hearing
device is particularly vulnerable to interference noise; even a phone with a
higher rating may still cause unacceptable noise levels in the hearing device.
Trying out the phone with your hearing device is the best way to evaluate it
for your personal needs.
M-Ratings: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet FCC requirements for hearing aid
compatibility and are likely to generate less interference to hearing devices
than unrated phones. (M4 is the better/higher of the two ratings.)
T-Ratings: Phones rated T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and are likely to be
more usable with a hearing device’s telecoil (“T Switch”or “Telephone
Switch”) than unrated phones. (T4 is the better/higher of the two ratings.
Note that not all hearing devices have telecoils in them.)
Hearing aid devices may also be measured for immunity to interference noise
from wireless phones and should have ratings similar to phones. Ask your
hearing healthcare professional for the rating of your hearing aid. Add the
rating of your hearing aid and your phone to determine probable usability:
ⅷ
Any combined rating equal to or greater than six offers excellent use.
ⅷ
Any combined rating equal to five is considered normal use.
ⅷ
Any combined rating equal to four is considered usable.
Thus, if you pair an M3 hearing aid with an M3 phone, you will have a
combined rating of six for “excellent use.”This is synonymous for T ratings.