IEC 60118-13:2011

IEC 60118-13 ®
Edition 3.0 2011-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Electroacoustics – Hearing aids –
Part 13: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

Électroacoustique – Appareils de correction auditive –
Partie 13: Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM)

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IEC 60118-13 ®
Edition 3.0 2011-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Electroacoustics – Hearing aids –
Part 13: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

Électroacoustique – Appareils de correction auditive –
Partie 13: Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM)

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX S
ICS 17.140.50; 33.100.20 ISBN 978-2-88912-456-5

– 2 – 60118-13  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3

INTRODUCTION . 5

1 Scope . 7

2 Normative references . 7

3 Terms and definitions . 8

4 Requirements for immunity . 9

5 Immunity test procedures . 10

6 Measurement uncertainty . 13
Annex A (informative) Background for establishing test methods, performance criteria
and test levels . 15
Bibliography . 20

Figure 1 – Example of a test arrangement for hearing aid immunity measurements
using a one-port TEM cell (asymmetric septum) . 11
Figure 2 – Examples of input-output response curves at 1 000 Hz and the
determination of gain at an input level of 55 dB . 12
Figure 3 – Positioning of hearing aid during RF exposure . 12
Figure 4 – Examples of determination of IRIL by electromagnetic immunity (EMI)
testing . 13
Figure A.1 – Ratio of 1:2 between field strength and interference level in dB . 16
Figure A.2 – Example of test arrangement for hearing aid immunity measurements
using dipole antenna . 18
Figure A.3 – Digital wireless devices antenna designs . 19

Table 1 – Field strengths of RF test signals to be used to establish immunity for
bystander compatible and user compatible hearing aids . 9

60118-13  IEC:2011 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
ELECTROACOUSTICS –
HEARING AIDS –
Part 13: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

FOREWORD
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patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60118-13 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 29:

Electroacoustics. It has the status of a product EMC standard in accordance with
IEC Guide 107, Electromagnetic compatibility – Guide to the drafting of electromagnetic
compatibility publications.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2004 and constitutes a
technical revision. It introduces a new set of requirements for use of hearing aids with mobile
phones.
– 4 – 60118-13  IEC:2011
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting
29/737/FDIS 29/745/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in

the report on voting indicated in the above table.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

A list of all parts of the IEC 60118 series, under the general title: Electroacoustics – Hearing
aids, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.
60118-13  IEC:2011 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
This standard introduces specifications for EMC requirements for hearing aids.

Hearing aids basically consist of a microphone, an amplifier, a induction pick-up coil and a
small earphone (receiver). For behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids the sound is often fed to the

ear canal by means of an individually made ear mould (ear insert). In the ear (ITE) hearing

aids have the active circuitry located in the auditory canal.

The power source normally used is a small battery. On some hearing aids, the user can

perform some adjustments of the controls of the hearing aid, which in some cases is by

means of a remote control.
The standard only deals with hearing aid immunity, as experience has shown that hearing
aids do not emit electromagnetic signals to an extent that can disturb other equipment. Other
EMC phenomena, such as RF emission and electrostatic discharge, are not currently known
to be a significant problem in connection with hearing aids. Based on new knowledge, they
could be considered in connection with future revisions or extensions of this standard.
Hearing aids containing RF transmitting equipment are covered by this standard regarding
immunity, however the RF transmitting equipment is not cover
...