The Hearing Review, July 20, 2007
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Hearing Devices to Carry HAC Information
The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) has notified the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) its members will voluntarily include information about
hearing aid compatibility with digital cellular telephones (HAC) in
materials that accompany the sale of certain hearing aid models.
This collaboration has involved the FDA, the cell phone manufacturers, the
FCC, and HIA.
In a letter to Linda Kahan, Deputy Director of FDA's Center for Devices and
Radiological Health (CDRH), HIA provided the language that hearing aid
companies will supply regarding immunity to digital cell phone emissions.
HIA also advised the Agency that the information below will be included in
the user brochure.
In announcing the voluntary information program, HIA Chairperson Cathy
Jones, president and CEO of Phonak US, noted: "We have a shared goal of
providing equal access to consumers with hearing disabilities. We are
pleased that our hearing device wearers will be able to use this information
and the phone labeling mandated by the FCC to match the function of their
hearing instruments and cell phones successfully.
"Both industries are innovating at a very rapid rate. Ongoing collaboration
is a must. We will strive towards continued improvement in all communication
channels for the hearing impaired.”
The wireless industry is providing similar information in a brochure
available at phone retail outlets and is training retail sales staff to
assist hearing aid users with instrument awareness in the purchase of
appropriate phone models.
Source: Hearing Industries Associaton
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