Cell Phone Tips

Platinum Series (PSP) Body-Worn Sound Processor

Using Cellular Phones with Platinum Series Body-Worn Processors

There are many cellular phones that work with the Platinum Series Processor (PSP), and we have not found one that works everywhere for everyone.

We suggest contacting your local cellular phone vendor and ask about using demonstration models or doing an in-home trial. We also recommend talking to other cochlear implant and hearing aid users to find out which cellular phones and what features have worked best for them in their area.

Advanced Bionics offers several listening options for using a cellular phone with your PSP:

1. Use the headpiece microphone
2. Custom-made telephone adapter cable
3. Telecoil Pickup Telephone Adapter

Using the Headpiece Microphone
Simply place the handset speaker of the cellular phone over your headpiece microphone. This is the most convenient method.

Custom-Made Telephone Adapter Cable
Another option for using a cell phone with a PSP is using a custom-made hands-free telephone adapter cable that will plug into the auxiliary jack on the side of your sound processor. To order a custom made cable, contact the vendors below.* Be sure to have your cellular phone brand and model information available.

*Advanced Bionics does not support any products that are supplied by outside vendors.

Telecoil Pickup Telephone Adapter
The Telecoil (t-coil) Pickup Telephone Adapter accessory is a cable with a suction cup that houses a t-coil. It provides access to inductive loop environments via the t-Coil.

To order the Telecoil Pickup Telephone Adapter (#AB-7750), visit the Webstore or contact Customer Care at: (877) 829-0026, (800) 678-3575 TTY, or customercare@advancedbionics.com

What are induction loops and t-coils?
An induction loop is a special wire within a room or phone that emits an electromagnetic signal. This signal is picked up by the t-coil (telecoil), and then transmitted to the sound processor. When you plug the Telecoil Pickup Telephone Adaptor into the auxiliary jack, you are ready to pick up the signal from an induction loop.

Note: You do not have to attach the suction cup directly to the phone or loop. It simply must be close to it.

Traditional phones are required to be hearing-aid and t-coil compatible by having built-in inductive loops; however, cellular phones do not yet have this requirement. Some cellular phone manufacturers make certain styles of phones that are hearing-aid or t-coil compatible, while others make adapters. For options in your area, contact your local cellular phone provider for available products.

T-coil compatible phone choices include:

1. Nokia and Motorola have a t-Coil neckloop with a built-in microphone. Contact them to find out which phones work with this neckloop. The neckloop plugs into the phone, is worn around the neck, and emits electromagnetic energy that is picked up by the t-coil.
2. Audex has a product called the CHAAMP that makes specific Verizon, Alltell or US cellular phones hearing-aid or t-Coil compatible.
   1. Visit the website for more details: http://www.audex.com/chaamp.html 
   2. Contact an Audex representative at (800) 237-0716 if you have questions.
3. Motorola has a cellular phone that is t-coil compatible called the Motorola V60. Not every t-coil user is able to use this phone, so try it before you buy it.

Other Information on Using a Cellular Phone

Audio Mixing
Audio mixing allows the headpiece microphone to remain active when connected directly to a telecoil or other external audio-input. This is important so you can hear your own voice and environmental sounds in addition to the signal transmitted through the auxiliary device. You may need to see your audiologist to set up a program with the correct audio mixing for connecting to a cell phone. If you are directly connecting to a telephone with a cable or adapter, you may want your audiologist to set up an audio mixing ratio of 100% auxiliary so that you hear only the sounds from the telephone.

If You Hear Buzzing on Your Cellular Phone
Some cochlear implant recipients experience interference when using digital cellular phones, which transmit information on radio frequency (RF) that is picked up by the electronic circuitry of the sound processor or by a telecoil attached to the processor. This can create an audible interference or buzz. The interfering energy comes from many parts of the cellular phone including the backlight, antennae, battery, and internal circuitry.

Here are some tips on avoiding the buzz:

1. Using the headpiece microphone, as opposed to a telecoil, tends to lessen interference.
2. Design of phone: Clamshell or flip-style phones, as opposed to open-face phones, tend to put the bulk of the receiver below the ear and position the extended antenna away from the head. This reduces the interference by increasing the distance of the phone and PSP antenna.
3. Type of wireless service: Cellular phone companies use different transmitting technologies for their wireless services; some cause more problems than others.
   1. Try a provider that uses the CDMA digital protocol such as Verizon or Sprint or iDEN technology such as Nextel as these tend to cause the least interference.
   2. Also, find the CDMA or iDEN provider that has the best network coverage in the area(s) where you expect to use the phone (e.g., home, office, other cities, and places where you travel).
   3. GSM and TDMA protocols are prone to causing interference with cochlear implants.
4. Ask a cellular phone provider to see their models with reduced RF. Since 2005, the FCC requires most service providers and phone manufactures to offer a certain percentage of cellular phone models with reduced emissions.
5. Try before you buy. Contact your local cellular phone vendor and ask about using demonstration models in the store or in-home trials. You may need to listen with several phones from several companies before you decide.
6. Talk to your audiologist and other cochlear implant recipients. Ask what types of phones and cellular phone service has been successful for them in your local area.

For more information, please contact the Bionic Ear Association at hear@advancedbionics.com