Phones and Mobile Devices

Mobile and Landline Phones

For people with hearing loss, communication by phone can be a challenge. In fact, trouble hearing phone conversations is often the first sign of a problem. Even if you have a cochlear implant or hearing aids, phone calls can still be difficult to understand.

But you don’t have to avoid phone calls, as both landline and mobile phones are available that can be used by people with hearing loss. There are many options that can help you keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues by phone.

Mobile phones include cell phones, which are basic portable phones, and smartphones, which can access the internet. Most mobile phones on the market work very well with cochlear implants or hearing aids.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the agency that sets rules for hearing aid compatibility of telephones. In October 2024, the FCC approved a rule to ensure that 100% of mobile phones are hearing aid compatible (HAC) within a two to three-and-a-half year transition period. HLAA provided extensive comments in this rulemaking process. Learn more about what this means for people with hearing loss.

The FCC’s current standards require that at least 85% of a manufacturer’s or provider’s telephone handsets must sufficiently reduce interference and allow hearing aid users to connect to the phone via a telecoil. New wireless handsets that adhere to these standards are labeled as “hearing aid compatible” or “HAC” on their packaging. Although consumers may still purchase devices certified under older technical standards which use M and T ratings, HAC models may not be easily identifiable. You have the right to test a phone with your hearing aid or cochlear implant before purchasing.

Smartphones can be paired with a variety of accessories that can help you better hear phone conversations and incoming call alerts. These include:

• Earphones that amplify sound at low, middle and/or high frequencies
• Phone docks with lights that flash when a call comes in
• Home alert devices that connect to your phone

Bluetooth technology allows you to stream calls and audio from your smartphone to your hearing aids, which may require downloading an app. There are also several captioning applications (or apps) available for Android and iPhone smartphones that convert speech to text, both for in-person and telephone conversations.

Both iPhone and Android smartphones include built-in accessibility features that enable you to:

• Prevent hearing loss by allowing you to monitor and control device volume levels
• Convert the speech in videos or any other spoken audio into text on your device
• Use the live transcription feature to convert speech in your environment to text
• Be alerted to sounds like a smoke alarm, door knock, running water or a baby crying
• Stream audio directly into hearing aids from your phone

iPhone Hearing Accessibility features

Android Hearing Accessibility features

Conventional landlines are still installed in more than a quarter of all American homes. Many more people use wired internet phones.

Accessible telephones are available that amplify the other person’s voice and the phone’s ringer. Some models flash to indicate an incoming call and others have large buttons and numbers for people who have low vision. These phones may be available to qualified individuals in some states at no cost. Ask your hearing health care provider if a program is available in your state.

Internet phones are available that offer all the same accessibility features as accessory- and app-enabled landline and cell phones. Some VoIP phone handsets are hearing aid compatible; check the packaging for the “HAC” stamp to be sure the internet phone you purchase will work with your hearing aid.

People with any degree of hearing loss have the right to accessible communications under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you experience an issue with telephone compatibility or CTS or IP CTS relay services, you may file a complaint through the FCC’s online Consumer Complaint Center.