A few years ago, the Committee for Communication Access in New Mexico (CCAnm) was formed to spur legislative effort to require New Mexico’s Speech-Language Parthoroly, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Boards to inform hearing aid users of the option to have telecoil technology in their hearing aid.

More than 70 percent of hearing aids on the market have the ability to be fitted with telecoil, however 66 percent of hearing aid users were unaware of this functionality. Telecoils are the only technology satisfying the ADA hearing aid compatibility requirement.

Late last year, the CCAnm generated traction by having House Bill 48 introduced and sponsored by several NM Representatives and Senators. It was finally passed and signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2019. New Mexico is now one of six other states having a law to inform consumers about telecoil technology.

This legislation had the support of TDI and several other national organizations like Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Two former TDI Board members were involved with CCAnm, Roy Miller, former TDI & ALDA Board President and Carol Sliney, former member of the Board for TDI and HLAA.

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