BS EN IEC 60118-13:2020

What is BS EN IEC 60118-13 - Hearing aids with Electromagnetic immunity requirements for mobile digital wireless devices about?

BS EN IEC 60118-13 is the 13^th part of the BS EN IEC 60118 series of documents that covers the relevant EMC phenomena for hearing aids.

Hearing aid immunity to high-frequency fields originating from digital wireless devices such as mobile phones was identified as one of the most relevant EMC phenomena impacting hearing aids.

Who is BS EN IEC 60118-13 - Hearing aids with Electromagnetic immunity requirements for mobile digital wireless devices for?

BS EN IEC 60118-13 on requirements and methods of measurement for electromagnetic immunity is beneficial for:

• Manufacturers of medical devices
• Manufacturers of wireless devices
• RF wireless developers and manufacturers

Why should you use BS EN IEC 60118-13- Hearing aids with Electromagnetic immunity requirements for mobile digital wireless devices?

Experience in connection with the use of hearing aids in recent times has identified digital wireless devices, such as wireless telephones and GSM mobile phones, as potential sources of disturbance for hearing aids.

BS EN IEC 60118-13 provides measurement methods and requirements for digital hearing aid immunity. Most hearing aids have DSPs, and some have wireless transceivers. In most cases, the BS EN IEC 60118-13 performance criteria will allow hearing aid users to utilise wireless telephones without interference or noise. Various approaches for testing hearing aid immunity have been considered. When a digital wireless device is used near a hearing aid, the hearing aid is illuminated by RF. However, validation studies for BS EN IEC 60118-13 have revealed a link between measured far-field immunity and the immunity experienced by a hearing aid when used with a digital wireless device. A far-field test has great repeatability and is deemed sufficient to determine hearing aid immunity. Near-field illumination of hearing aids (using a dipole antenna to generate an RF field) gives significant data during hearing aid design and development.

Overall, BS EN IEC 60118-13 is helpful as it gives precise descriptions of measurement setups for several types of hearing aids that are given by the manufacturer. BS EN IEC 60118-13 provides a wearable instrument intended to aid a person with impaired hearing, usually consisting of a microphone, amplifier, signal processor, and earphone, powered by a low-voltage battery, and containing an induction pick-up coil and which is fitted using audiometric and prescriptive methods.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN IEC 60118-13:2020 supersedes BS EN IEC 60118‑13:2011, which is withdrawn. BS EN IEC 60118-13:2020 cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2016 and constitutes a technical revision.

BS EN IEC 60118-13:2020 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• It introduces a new measurement method and set of EMC requirements for hearing aids immunity to mobile digital wireless devices
• Generic EMC requirements for hearing aids are no longer included – should be covered by other standards as appropriate).