You're shopping a new cell phone, but are looking for one that will support hearing aids. These days, most cell phones support hearing devices and have Accessibility settings to assist those with hearing impairment. In this article, we'll tell you about the best cell phones for the hearing impaired.
Hearing Aids and Cell Phones
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all cell phone manufactures test their products against the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) C63.19 standard. With this regulation, all cell phones come with a rating for how well they interact with hearing aids and how likely they are to interfere with one another. You can check the Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) on a given cell phone's packaging or user manual to see its rating.
What Are M and T Ratings?
There are two main types of ratings for how cell phones coexist with hearing aids. The “M” rating represents how likely a cell phone is to interfere with a hearing aid set to microphone mode. The higher the M rating, the less likely the phone is to interfere with a hearing aid. The highest M rating a phone can receive is M4, and most cell phones these days are rated at least M3.
The “T” rating represents the estimate for how much a phone will interfere with a hearing aid featuring a telecoil. A high T rating indicates that there's a low chance of interference. The highest T rating a phone can receive is T4, and most cell phones have a T rating of at least T3.
We recommend choosing a phone with a combined M and T rating of at least 7 for solid performance. It can be difficult to find phones with a ratings of M4 and T4, but they do exist.
Best Cell Phone For The Hearing Impaired: iPhone
Every iPhone released since the 5s has had an M rating of 3 and a T rating of 4. All of them have been compatible with a wide array of hearing aids, both with and without telecoils, and there are many hearing aids available specifically designed to work with iPhones, in adherence to Apple's Made For iPhone (MFi) program.
If you'd like to know the M and T ratings for a specific iPhone, check out Apple's Chart on HAC Ratings. Although many iPhones have high HAC, we recommend purchasing a more recent model that will support major iOS updates for the next few years.
On A Budget: iPhone SE 2
The iPhone SE 2 provides state-of-the-art functionality with a compact display and unbeatable price. Essentially half the price of other contemporary iPhones, the SE 2 comes with the same A13 processor as the 11 series, but without some of the bells and whistles.
Compact, efficient, and durable, you won't find a better deal on a brand new iPhone than the SE 2. If you want a solid iPhone experience, but don't mind a smaller display or camera, the SE 2 is the perfect option.
Best Overall: iPhone 12
With consideration to price and features specifically offering assistance for hearing impaired users, we recommend the iPhone 12 as the best cell phone choice. This iPhone was released in October 2020 and it's the best one you'll find on the market right now. Plus, this device features an M rating of 3 and a T rating of 4.
The iPhone 12 comes in five different colors and has storage capabilities ranging from 64 GB to 256 GB. The iOS operating system, wireless charging features, and access to 5G network are just a few of the perks you'll enjoy with an iPhone 12. The stereo speakers feature Dolby Atmos technology which is great for all users. The starting price for this device tends to range from $799 to $979 depending on your carrier.
Recommended iPhone Hearing Aids
There are many hearing aids that are compatible with iPhones. The following list are some of the best ranges of iPhone hearing aids. All of these have different features and models for different types of hearing impairment.
| Model Name | Brand | Compatible With iPhone? | Number of Variants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oticon Opn S Range | Oticon | Yes | 4 |
| Styletto Connect | Signia | Yes | 1 |
| Oticon Siya Range | Oticon | Yes | 5 |
| Bernafon Zerena 9 Range | Bernafon | Yes | 9 |
| Philips Hearlink Range | Philips | Yes | 4 |
How To Pair Hearing Aids to iPhone
First, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, and then open the battery doors on your hearing aid. Next, open Settings on your iPhone, then select Accessibility, followed by Hearing, and finally Hearing Devices. Close the battery doors on your hearing aid and your iPhone should say it's searching for devices under the MFi Hearing Devices label.
When your hearing aid shows up on your iPhone, select it. Tap Pair when prompted, and then give the devices a minute to pair. If it says your hearing aid's connected to your iPhone, you should be ready to start using your hearing aid and phone together.
Google Pixel 4
If you're looking for a solid HAC phone, but don't want to confine yourself to the exclusive nature of Apple products, the Google Pixel 4 is a great alternative. With a rating of M3 and T4, the Pixel 4 improves upon the previously released Pixel 3a, regarding HAC functionality.
At a price comparable to the iPhone 11, the Pixel 4 functions with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and a 5.7 inch display. Water and dust resistant, the Pixel 4 offers high functionality and HAC with a unique user experience.
Recommended Hearing Aids For The Pixel 4
The Pixel 4 is compatible with a wide range of different hearing aids. However, here are a few that we recommend:
| Model Name | Brand | Compatible With Pixel 4? | Number of Variants |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReSound LiNX Quattro | ReSound | Yes | 1 |
| Beltone Amaze | Beltone | Yes | 1 |
| Audigy AGXR Q | Audigy | Yes | 1 |
| Nucleus 7 Sound Processor | Cochlear | Yes | 1 |
Google Pixel 4a 5G
With an M rating of 3 and a T rating of 4, the Google Pixel 4a 5G offers high speeds and a highly-rated user experience. This device has a great camera, 128 GB of storage, and a 6.2-inch screen display. The dual stereo speakers offer great listening for all users, including the hearing impaired!
We like the Pixel 4a 5G a little more than the Pixel 5 because it has similar specs and comes at a significantly lower price.
Jitterbug Cell Phones
Jitterbug phones are produced by GreatCall, a wireless carrier that primarily focuses on accommodating the cellular needs of seniors. Typically, we don't recommend GreatCall. The combination of their cell phone plans being overpriced and the Jitterbug phones being cheap and mediocre makes it difficult for us to recommend their services.
The reason we're mentioning Jitterbug is that two of their models, the Lively Flip and the Jitterbug Smart, have the maximum ratings of M4 and T4. It's rare to find a phone with maximum HAC like this. If you're mainly looking for a phone to make calls on, these phones from GreatCall are worth considering.
Recommend Hearing Aids For Jitterbug Phones
Many of the hearing aids listed above will work with Jitterbug phones. Jitterbug phones may be a bit mediocre phones in general, but their M4 and T4 ratings make them perfect choices for those who need them.
The Otofonix Apex Hearing Aid is one of the ones that we recommend, but Jitterbug's compatibility on their devices should make nearly any hearing aid usable.
Wrapping Up
There are plenty of excellent cell phones for the hearing impaired, regardless of what specific features you're looking for. Thanks to modern technological integration, anyone who lives with a hearing impairment can experience contemporary cell phone designs to the fullest. This list is just a jumping off point, we hope you take this information and seek out the right cell phone for you! Make sure to share this article with your family and friends and let us know what you think in the comments below.
My dad is 91 and has only one ear and is very hard of hearing with that one. He is also blind in one eye and legally blind in the other.
Hearing aids are not enough for him to hear with.
He was using an iPad before he lost his eye.so he does know how to use it some. He needs amplification that would be so loud that it would harm my ears. How do we find a device that is that loud? Can the iPad go that loud?
Thank you
My parents are elderly hearing aid users who have no tech savvy. I need to find them a super simple, inexpensive, phone. They only need talk and text as neither of them understands the internet. Their hearing aids are not Bluetooth compatible. What suggestions do you have for a no-contract phone and plan. I use straight talk and love it. They are very frugal and want to spend as little as possible.
Hi, Diane! This isn’t something that I think we can answer for certain. You should consult your parents’ audiologist or the manufacturer of the hearing aids to see what phone they would recommend. As for what phone plan they should get, we recommend you check out our comprehensive guide about the best cell phone plans for seniors. I hope that you are able to find what they need!