Section 8A: Important Safety Information 387
Safety
Using Your Phone With a Hearing Aid Device
Your Treo 800W smart device is compliant with the FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC)
requirements. For additional HAC information, including the HAC rating of this product, please
go to www.palm.com/treoHAC
.
Your Treo has been tested for hearing aid device compatibility. When some wireless phones
are used near some hearing devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants), users may detect
a buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some hearing devices are more immune than others
to this interference noise, and phones also vary in the amount of interference they generate.
The wireless telephone industry has developed ratings for some of their wireless phones, to
assist hearing device users in finding phones that may be compatible with their hearing
devices. Not all phones have been rated. Phones that have been rated have a label on the
box. Your Treo 800
W smart device phone has an M4/T4 rating.
These ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary, depending on the level of immunity of your
hearing device and degree of your hearing loss. If your hearing device happens to be
vulnerable to interference, you may not be able to use a rated phone successfully. 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 and are likely to generate less
interference with hearing devices than phones that are not labeled. 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 contain telecoils.)
The more immune your hearing aid device is, the less likely you are to experience
interference noise from your wireless phone. Hearing aid devices should have ratings similar
to those of phones. Ask your hearing health care 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 best use.
ⅷ Any combined rating equal to five is considered normal use.
