hearing-aid feedback with handset

[jeff_sweeney]

I have a new Cisco  IP Phone 7942 that was activated this week. The handset generates  feedback in my hearing aids. The issue is not related to the sound  level. In fact, I can unplug the handset from the phone and it will  still generate feedback when I hold it close to either ear. Cisco's  literature says this phone complies with FCC telecoil regulations but I  am not convinced because I have not had this issue with any phone in the  past. I normally hear an audio cue when my aids enter  their telecoil  mode. I don't hear it with this Cisco handset.  I can probably survive by holding the handset some distance from my head  or by putting the phone on speaker, but should I have to do that?

[Karthik Sivaram]

hi Jeff ,

79XX phones  have hearing aid complaint handsets (meets FCC requirements).Please check the doc below...

Accessibility Features for Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cuipph/all_models/accessibilit

y/english/user/guide/access_70.html#wp39194

Here are somethings you need to check....

1>how many 7942 phones are experiencing this? if your testing this wiht only 1 phone then please try with another

7942 phone.

2>Press ? on the Cisco 79xx twice during the call in order to display information on the call in progress. Check these items:

AvgJtr

MaxJtr

If these values are high. Then you could have issues with voice quality. Check that the size of the buffer and the difference between the average jitter value and maximum jitter value are not too high. If they are, there is a chance of a problem.

3> Do others who use this phone with or without hearing aids also experience an audio feedback ?

Also Cisco 7900 Series IP Phones provide user adjustable volume control, with a maximum gain (from default volume setting) of 15 dB, and a maximum attenuation (from default volume setting) of 30 dB, for a total adjustable volume range of 45 dB. If a higher volume is required, you can also  use a 3rd party amplified handset on a 7900 series phone. Walker Equipment(1-800-HANDSET) is an example of a manufacturer selling 3rd party handset

amplifiers.

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Karthik

[jeff_sweeney]

As I said, this has nothing to do with sound volume.

Satisfying the FCC is not the same  as satisfying Cisco customers. My recent experience leads me to believe  the Cisco handsets will inductively couple to hearing aids that are in  telecoil mode. The problem is there is not sufficient magnetic field  strengh in the handset to automatically switch hearing aids to telecoil  mode. If a hearing aid has a manual telecoil switch then that will work.  However, many only have automatic switches because manual switches are  bulky, fragile and prone to failure.

Cisco  could have compensated for the lack of magnetic field strengh during  design by including a small permanent magnet in the earpiece of the  handset. It probably would have cost less than a cent for each. Clearly,  it is too late for that. Now, Cisco can either continue to claim  compliance and frustrate customers, or admit the short-comings of these  handsets and provide a fix. From both a business and ethical standpoint,  the latter strategy should be prefered.

We are waiting for Cisco to do the right thing.

[bill.roland]

For what its worth, I have several employees with hearing aids where I work.  They have used a variety of Cisco IP phones, 7965, SPA525G, and SPA508's, and they haven't experienced any issues using the Cisco handsets with their hearing aids.  Perhaps there was a bad production run and you got one, but if Cisco was universally putting out equipment that didn't work with telecoils, we would have seen the problem on our phones and we are not seeing it.  I would try contacting Cisco directly and see if you can get a new handset replaced under warranty. 

[Rob Huffman]

Hi Jeff,

You would be well served to open a request with;

Contact the Cisco Accessibility Team

http://www.cisco.com/web/about/responsibility/accessibility/contact.html

Like Bill, we have a number of users that use various 7900 series phones with

Hearing Aids and have not seen this issue.

Cheers!

Rob

[jeff_sweeney]

Rob,

Thanks for the link to Cisco's Accessibility Team. I sent them a note.

Your and Bill's experience with 7900 series phones is different from mine. I suggest you ask a hearing impaired co-worker to try a 7942 if you can find one. I believe there is a design or manufacturing problem with IP Phone 7942. Our entire office now uses these phones so I have access to many of them. I have tried seven and they all have the same problem. One of my co-workers also wears a hearing aid and he has the same problem.

Regards,

Jeff