The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires phones to be compatible with hearing aids. Hearing aid compatibility (HAC) is evaluated per the technical standard ANSI C63.19. Prior to December 4, 2023, phones can show HAC compliance with ANSI C63.19-2011 or ANSI C63.19-2019. After December 4, 2023, only ANSI C63.19-2019 is accepted for HAC compliance.
ANSI C63.19-2011 utilizes the M and T ratings. Per the FCC, a mobile phone is considered hearing aid compatible if rated M3 or M4 for acoustic coupling and T3 or T4 for inductive coupling.
- M rating is a measure of immunity to radio frequency interference for acoustic coupling hearing aids
- T rating is a measure of performance when used with an inductive coupling (telecoil) hearing aid
ANSI C63.19-2019 does not use the M and T ratings of ANSI C63.19-2011. Instead, the 2019 ANSI Standard requires that phones meet or exceed a single threshold for each type of test (i.e., “PASS”) and requires that phones meet volume control specifications in order to be considered hearing aid-compatible. To pass the volume control requirement, a phone must meet a two-part test: the first part of the requirement tests for conversational gain with a hearing aid, and the second part of the requirement tests for conversational gain without a hearing aid. The term “conversational gain” refers to acoustic gain, or how loud sound is, compared to a normal, face-to-face conversation. To pass the first part of the requirement, a phone must have at least 6 dB of conversational gain with a hearing aid. To pass the second part of the requirement, a phone must have 6 dB of conversational gain if tested under the requirements of the FCC’s limited waiver (DA 23-914), or a phone must have 18 dB of conversational gain if tested without the waiver.
Pixel phones have been tested and certified for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that they use. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in these phones that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of the phone thoroughly and in different locations, using hearing aids or cochlear implants, to determine if any interfering noise can be heard. Consult your service provider or Google for information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer.
Turn on hearing aid compatibility
- Open your device's Phone app.
- Tap Menu
.
- Tap Settings
Accessibility.
- Turn Hearing aids on or off.
OR
- Open your device’s Settings app.
- Tap Accessibility
- Turn Hearing aid compatibility on or off.
Pixel phone compatibility & ratings
Certain Pixel phones can stream audio, like media and calls, directly to hearing aids over Android Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) or the Bluetooth SIG profile Hearing Access Profile (HAP). These ASHA and HAP hearing aids connect to Pixel so you can stream audio and answer phone calls.
To use these functions, both the Pixel phone and the hearing aid need to support ASHA or both the Pixel phone and the hearing aid need to support HAP. To make sure that your hearing aid supports audio streaming over Bluetooth, check with your audiologist or hearing aid manufacturer.
Phones compliant with ANSI C63.19-2019:
| Phone model | Phone model number | ASHA hearing aid compatibility | HAP hearing aid compatibility | Conversational Gain1 | Test Note |
| Pixel 8a |
G8HHN, GKV4X |
Yes | Yes |
G8HHN: 17 w/ aid; 18 w/o aid GKV4X: 17 w/ aid; 19 w/o aid |
Waiver2 |
Notes:
1 The lowest overall conversational gain results are shown.
2 Volume control testing for this phone was performed according to the FCC’s limited waiver (DA 23-914).
Phones compliant with ANSI C63.19-2011:
| Phone model | Phone model number |
ASHA hearing aid compatibility |
HAP hearing aid compatibility | Hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rating |
| Pixel 8 Pro | G1MNW | Yes | Yes | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 8 | GKWS6, G9BQD | Yes | Yes | M3, T4 |
| Pixel Fold | G9FPL | Yes | Yes | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 7a | G0DZQ, GWKK3 | Yes | Yes | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 7 Pro | GE2AE | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 7 | GQML3, GVU6C | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 6a | GB62Z, GX7AS | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 6 Pro | G8V0U | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 6 | G9S9B, GB7N6 | Yes | No | M3, T3 |
| Pixel 5a (5G) | G1F8F | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 5 | GD1YQ | Yes | No | M4, T3 |
| Pixel 4a (5G) | G025E, G6QU3 | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 4a | G025J, G025N, G025M | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 4 | G020I | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 4 XL | G020J | Yes | No | M3, T4 |
| Pixel 3a | G020E, G020G | Yes | No | M3, T3 |
| Pixel 3a XL | G020A, G020C | Yes | No | M3, T3 |
| Pixel 3 | G013A | Yes | No | M3, T3 |
| Pixel 3 XL | G013C | Yes | No | M3, T3 |
| Pixel 2 | G011A | No | No | M4, T3 |
| Pixel 2 XL | G011C | No | No | M4, T3 |
| Pixel 1 | G-2PW4100 | No | No | M4, T4 |
| Pixel 1 XL | G-2PW2100 | No | No | M4, T4 |
Non-ASHA hearing aids
There are hearing aids that aren't ASHA or HAP compatible, but offer streaming to Pixel phones through other devices. For support, check with your audiologist or hearing aid manufacturer.
Last updated: May 13, 2024