Thread Subject: Re: Bluetooth

From: Jagbell
Date: Wed, Jan 03 2007 2:50 PM

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Hi David-

Actually this is an issue for any hearing aid users who also use an
FM system that has hearing aid boots and wants to use a bluetooth
compatible cell phone. It is my understanding that currently both
items cannot be used concurrently.

FM systems that students use for school require a boot (a connector)
to be attached to a hearing aid. These boots then attach to the
electonic attachment called the shoe. The combined total of this
equipments can cost roughly $2,500. This is not something someone
would want to have to continuously remove to use hearing aid
compatible blue tooth compatible cell phone. The chance of losing
the equipment is too great since the booth/shoe combo is pretty small.

There are some new phones that have come out that are blue tooth and
hearing aid compatible but conflict with the FM equipment. The
hearing aid compatible bluetooth requires either the FM boot/shoe or
the bluetooth. It is my understanding from the cell phone company
that the company wasn't even aware of the potential FM conflict. No
one knew of the boot/shoe issue.

So, this is definitely an area that we should include in TEITAC.
Cell phone companies should understand how hearing aid users function
and the equipment they use when designing their new equipment. I am
not an engineer but it seems to me that a combo piece is achievable
if it had been considered at the initial design stage.

Best,

Janice



On Jan 3, 2007, at 4:15 PM, Baquis David wrote:

> I had a question today about bluetooth and hearing aid compatibility.
> This inquiry pertained to telecom products, such as wireless earpeices
> that interface with cell phones. However, I am aware that other
> products
> (non telecom) can utilize bluetooth technology as well.
>
> If bluetooth is known to not pose a problem to hearing aid and
> cochlear
> implant users, is this something the TEITAC would like to recommend
> that
> the Access Board explicitly mention in an advisory note? Maybe the
> wireless industry can help inform this discussion.
>
> However, instead of getting technology-specific, this topic could be
> part of a more general discussion about the parameters of magnetic and
> radio emissions that may be cause for concern. Then companies can
> consider those parameters in the design of new product types.
>
> David Baquis
> Accessibility Specialist
> U.S. Access Board
> 1331 F Street, NW, #1000
> Washington, DC 20004
> 800-USA-ABLE; (202) 272-0013 (voice)
> www.access-board.gov; = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>

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