Consumer Groups Warn of Problems From Hearing-Aid Compatibility Waiver
The Hearing Loss Association of America and other groups representing deaf and hard-of-hearing people warned the FCC that a temporary waiver allowing use of the interim volume-control testing method for hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) compliance could create problems for some consumers. In filings last month, industry groups supported extending the waiver, while consumer groups said it should be renewed for not more than a year (see 2507210008).
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A filing this week in docket 23-388 said two recently purchased handsets highlight the problem. “One handset provides 13 dB of conversational gain (without hearing aids), while the other provides 19 dB.” Because decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, “even small differences in gain … can represent significant, perceptual changes,” the groups said. “An increase of 6 dB from 13 dB to 19 dB of gain can be the difference between struggling to hear and comfortably following a conversation.”
Those most likely to be affected are people with mild to moderate hearing loss who don't use hearing aids and rely instead on higher handset gain levels, the groups said. An absence of complaints “should be interpreted cautiously and considered who the affected individuals are likely to be,” the filing added. “Individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss who do not use hearing aids experience communication barriers, especially during phone conversations when they cannot see their calling partner, but may not associate those difficulties with HAC compliance. As a result, they may not file complaints.” The filing was also signed by Deaf Equality, TDIforAccess and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.