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hearing aid professional about the extent to which your hearing aids are immune

to interference, if they have wireless phone shielding, and whether your hearing

aid has a HAC rating.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HEARING AIDS AND DIGITAL WIRELESS

PHONE

•

FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control –

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html

•

Hearing Loss Association of America –

http://www.hearingloss.org/learn/cellphonetech.asp

•

CTIA –

http://www.accesswireless.org/hearingaid/

•

Gallaudet University, RERC –

http://tap.gallaudet.edu/voice

FDA CONSUMER UPDATE

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION  CENTER

FOR DEVICES AND RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH

CONSUMER UPDATE ON WIRELESS PHONES

1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?

The available scientic evidence does not show that any health problems are

associated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless

phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency

energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. They also emit very low

levels of RF when in the home screen. Whereas high levels of RF can produce

health eects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not produce

heating eects causes no known adverse health eects. Many studies of low

level RF exposures have not found any biological eects. Some studies have

suggested that some biological eects may occur, but such ndings have not

been conrmed by additional research. In some cases, other researchers have

had diculty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the reasons for

inconsistent results.

2. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?

Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer

products such as wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new

drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take action if

wireless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level that

is hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers of

wireless phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace or recall

the phones so that the hazard no longer exists. Although the existing scientic

data do not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the wireless phone

industry to take a number of steps, including the following:

•

Support needed research into possible biological eects of RF of the type

emitted by wireless phones;

•

Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that

is not necessary for device function;

and

•

Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible

information on possible eects of wireless phone use on human health.

FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that have

responsibility for dierent aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated eorts at the

federal level. The following agencies belong to this working group:

•

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

•

Environmental Protection Agency

•

Federal Communications Commission