Find wireless phones for hearing aids

AT&T Wireless strives to provide people who are deaf or hard of hearing with access to the most compatible wireless handsets. Learn more about AT&T's hearing aid compatible handsets, and the options available for the deaf and hard of hearing.

About HAC

People using hearing aids can experience interference when using a wireless handset that is held to the ear. To address that issue, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pursuant to the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, adopted rules requiring wireless handset manufacturers and wireless providers to offer handsets that are compatible with hearing aids. All the handsets that AT&T offers meet the FCC’s hearing aid compatibility requirements.

Get info on what makes a wireless handset hearing aid compatible and lists of current hearing aid compatible handsets offered by AT&T. For additional information about hearing aid compatibility with wireless handsets, see the FCC Guide or CTIA, the Wireless Association’s accessibility guide.

HAC Ratings

Wireless handsets demonstrate hearing aid compatibility by complying with technical standards from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which are periodically updated to account for new frequencies and technologies. 100% of the wireless handsets offered by AT&T meet either the 2011 ANSI Standard or the 2019 ANSI Standard for hearing aid compatibility.

• 2011 ANSI Standard. The 2011 ANSI Standard uses an M/T rating system to categorize a handset’s ability to operate near a hearing aid without causing interference. A handset’s M (interference reduction) and T (telecoil coupling) ratings can run from 1 through 4. A handset that is hearing aid compatible under the 2011 ANSI Standard is rated M3 and T3 or better.
• 2019 ANSI Standard. Handsets that meet the 2019 ANSI Standard for hearing aid compatibility do not have M or T ratings. They are simply labelled as Hearing Aid Compatible or HAC, which now means that they will operate at the equivalent of the M3/T3 rating or better. Handsets that meet the 2019 ANSI Standard also include volume control capabilities that allow for sound levels sufficient for operation with and without hearing aids.
• Bluetooth®. Bluetooth coupling (pairing) is the process that securely links a hearing aid to a mobile handset so call audio (and often media) can stream wirelessly to the hearing aids.
  How audio is carried (main options):
  • MFi (Made for iPhone) over Bluetooth Low Energy for many Apple® iPhones® and compatible hearing aids.
  • ASHA (Android Streaming for Hearing Aids) over Bluetooth Low Energy for many Android® phones and compatible hearing aids.
  • Classic Bluetooth (HFP/A2DP): Some Bluetooth Classic hearing aids support this directly; others need a streamer or clip accessory to act as a bridge.
  • Bluetooth LE Audio (LC3/Auracast): Newer standard rolling out; improves sound quality and power efficiency when supported by both phone and aids.

Hearing aids may also be measured for immunity to interference from wireless handsets. Your hearing aid manufacturer or hearing health professional can help you find results for your hearing aid. The more immune your hearing aid, the less likely you are to experience interference noise from a wireless handset.

HAC-compatible AT&T wireless handsets

We work closely with wireless handset manufacturers to improve the user experience of customers who have hearing aids. The handsets listed below have been tested and rated for Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) under the 2011 ANSI Standard (with M and T Ratings) or the 2019 ANSI Standard.

• Available handsets that work with hearing aids (English PDF, 83KB)
• Find a store where you can try different hearing aid–compatible phones
• General instructions for pairing your hearing aid with your wireless handset (PDF, 103KB)
• Federal Communication Commission’s Hearing Aid Compatibility webpage

Inquiries regarding the hearing aid compatible handsets offered by AT&T, including pairing issues, can be directed to AT&T as follows:

• Email: [email protected]
• Text: Text HEARINGAID to 60836
• Phone: 800.331.0500
• Mail: AT&T Hearing Aid Compatibility; 4513 Western Ave; Lisle, IL 60532

Tip: Want to make sure there isn’t noise interference with a handset? Use your hearing aid or cochlear implant to try different phone features in different locations. Ask us or the phone manufacturer for info about a phone’s hearing-aid compatibility. We can also answer your questions about return or exchange policies.