User s instructions m-series (Micro) IN-m. Behind-the-ear

User s instructions m-series (Micro) IN-m Behind-the-ear

The hearing aid and accessories shown in these instructions may not look the same as the ones you have. We furthermore reserve the right to make any changes considered necessary. Hearing aids and their accessories should not be disposed of with normal household waste. Please consult your national Widex distributor for advice on how to dispose of your hearing aid. 3

Contents Your new hearing aid.................................. 6 Ear-set solutions....................................... 7 The hearing aid........................................ 8 The battery............................................ 9 Inserting the battery................................... 9 Changing the battery.............................. 11 Turning the hearing aid on and off.................... 13 Possible settings...................................... 14 Automatic adjustment of loudness.................... 15 Listening programs................................... 16 Switching between the available listening programs................................ 18 Hearing aid with an earmold.......................... 20 Placement in/on the ear.............................. 21 Removal............................................. 23 Cleaning............................................. 24 The hearing aid.................................... 25 The microphone openings......................... 25 The earmold...................................... 26 In case of malfunction................................ 27 4

Hearing aid with an Instant ear-tip.................... 29 Right/left identification............................... 30 Placement on/in the ear.............................. 31 Removal............................................. 32 Cleaning............................................. 33 The hearing aid.................................... 34 The microphone openings......................... 34 The ear-set........................................ 35 Changing the ear-set................................. 35 Tubing and ear-tip size............................... 36 The anchor........................................... 37 In case of malfunction................................ 39 Hearing aid with a Custom ear-tip..................... 41 Right/left identification............................... 42 Placement in/on the ear.............................. 43 Removal............................................. 43 Cleaning............................................. 44 The hearing aid.................................... 45 The microphone openings......................... 45 The ear-set........................................ 46 If the tubing needs to be changed.................... 47 In case of malfunction................................ 48 Caring for your hearing aid............................ 50 Good advice.......................................... 52 5

Your new hearing aid Thank you for choosing a Widex hearing aid. This is a hearing aid that allows you to be part of the process of tailoring the sound to your individual hearing loss and lifestyle requirements. We hope you will be pleased with your new Widex hearing aid. All illustrations in this booklet show a right-ear hearing aid. Unless otherwise stated, the same principles apply to the left ear. 6

Ear-set solutions Several ear-set solutions are available for your hearing aid. Below, your hearing care professional can check off the type of ear-set tip chosen for you. General Unless otherwise indicated, the information provided in this booklet applies to all three types of ear-set solution. In addition to the general instructions, please be sure to read the sections that apply to your specific earset solution. Earmold Instant ear-tip Custom ear-tip 7

The hearing aid The illustration below shows the hearing aid without any of its other parts (for example tubing and tip). 1. Microphone openings, where the sound enters the hearing aid. 2. Program button is available on some models. It allows you to choose between different listening programs. If you have a remote control for your hearing aid, the hearing aid does not include a program button. 3. On/off function, which is integrated into the battery drawer (see page 14). 4. Nail grip on the battery drawer for easy opening. 1. 4. 3. 1. 2. 8

The battery The recommended battery type for your hearing aid is: Zinc Air battery type 10 To obtain replacement batteries, please consult your hearing care professional. It is important to take note of the expiration date and the recommendations regarding disposal of used batteries on the battery pack. To ensure proper battery function, do not use batteries past the expiration date. The battery life will depend on a number of factors, such as the setting of your hearing aid, how many hours you use it daily and the listening environments in which you use it. General Inserting the battery Before inserting a new battery in your hearing aid, remember to remove the adhesive tab. Once the tab has been removed, the battery will start functioning after a few seconds. Do not use batteries on which there is a sticky residue from the tab or other unwanted substance. 9

Use the nail grip to gently swing the battery drawer outwards. Do not press the battery drawer beyond the open position. Place the battery in the drawer so that the small plus (+) sign on the battery is facing in the direction indicated by the small plus (+) sign printed on the round battery holder. You can use the provided battery magnet to steer the battery into place. If the battery drawer does not close easily, the battery is incorrectly inserted. Always place the battery in the actual battery drawer as illustrated and not in the open space inside the hearing aid. 10

Changing the battery If you hear four beep-tones from your hearing aid, it is an indication that the battery is nearly exhausted. Once the battery is totally exhausted, the hearing aid will be completely silent. Exactly how long the hearing aid will function after the beep-tones varies from one case to another. We recommend that you always have a spare battery with you. General For adjustment of the beep-tone level or disabling of the function, please consult your hearing care professional. Never leave an exhausted battery in the hearing aid. Exhausted batteries may leak, which could damage the hearing aid. When changing batteries, it is a good idea to hold the hearing aid over a table or a carpet, in case you drop the hearing aid or battery. 11

Your hearing aid may be provided with a battery drawer without a nail grip, which means that you need a tool to open the battery drawer. This type of drawer can be a good choice if the hearing aid is worn by a child. A special tool for opening the drawer will be included with this drawer (see the illustration). Open the battery drawer as illustrated. 12

Turning the hearing aid on and off The battery drawer of your hearing aid also functions as the on/off switch. The hearing aid is turned on when a battery is inserted correctly and the battery drawer is completely closed. General The hearing aid is turned off when the battery drawer is open. Please remember to switch the hearing aid off when it is not in use. Remove the battery if the hearing aid will not be used for several days. 13

Possible settings Your hearing aid can be set to start up in two different ways: In the standard start-up setting your hearing aid may whistle slightly while you place it on the ear. An alternative is a setting where the hearing aid actively suppresses whistling while it is being placed on the ear. Together with your hearing care professional you can choose the start-up setting that suits your needs best. 14

Automatic adjustment of loudness The hearing aid adjusts loudness automatically in accordance with your sound environment. You do not have to think about adjusting the volume it happens quite automatically. General Important: If the volume in your hearing aid is too loud or too weak, or if the reproduced sounds are distorted, or you would like any further information, consult your hearing care professional. 15

Listening programs Your hearing aid may be provided with several listening programs optimized for different listening situations. Your hearing care professional can help you select the programs that are of use to you. If your needs change over time, the combination of listening programs can be changed. In these user s instructions, the hearing care professional should list the listening programs that are available in your hearing aid (see next page). 16

Listening programs Description Chosen program position: General Master Standard program Acclimatization Acclimatization program Music Music program TV TV program Comfort Attenuates background noise Audibility Extender Makes high-frequency sounds audible 17

Switching between the available listening programs If the hearing aid is provided with a program button, you can switch between the programs by pressing this button at the bottom of the hearing aid. Each time you switch to another program, you will hear beep-tones. The beeps tell you which program you have chosen: Program 1: One brief beep Program 2: Two brief beeps Program 3: Three brief beeps (depending on hearing aid model) Some hearing aid models may be provided with a remote control. If your hearing aid has a remote control, please refer to the user s instructions for the remote control. 18

The number of different beeps depends on how many programs you - together with your hearing care professional - have chosen to have in your hearing aid. The selected listening programs are numbered 1-3. General If you in consultation with your hearing care professional decide on other combinations of programs later, these can be written on the blank forms found at the back of these instructions. 19

Hearing aid with an earmold An ear-set consists of three parts: 1. Earhook 2. Tubing 3. Earmold 3a. Sound bore 3b. Vent 1. 2. 3a. 3. 3b. 20

Placement in/on the ear First insert the earmold in the ear canal while holding the lower part of the tubing. It may help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand. Right ear seen from behind. Earmold Right ear seen from the side. The arrows show where to hold the earmold and pull the ear. 21

Once the earmold has been inserted, place the hearing aid itself behind the ear, so that the hook rests comfortably on the ear, close to your head. 22

Removal First remove the hearing aid itself from its position behind the ear. Carefully pull the earmold out of the ear canal, while holding the lower part of the tubing. If it is difficult, it may help to try to move the earmold carefully from side to side while pulling it out. It may also help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand. Earmold The arrow shows where to hold the tubing. 23

Cleaning The following cleaning accessories are available for your hearing aid: 1. Wax removing tool 2. Soft cloth 1. 2. Contact your hearing care professional if you need additional supplies of cleaning accessories. 24

The hearing aid Never clean your hearing aid with water or cleaning solutions. Instead, clean your hearing aid with the soft cloth (no. 2) after use. The microphone openings Use the wax removing tool (no.1) to clean the microphone openings. Pass the wax removing tool straight through the openings. If you feel resistance, withdraw the tool and try again. Use only the recommended wax removing tool. Earmold When the hearing aid is not in use, it is a good idea to leave the battery drawer open, so as to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry. 25

The earmold Make sure that the earmold is clean and free of earwax and moisture. If the vent is plugged, clear the openings with the wax removing tool. Never use alcohol or other cleaning solutions to clean your earmold. Contact your hearing care professional for further instructions on the care and maintenance of your earmold. Please note: To replace the tubing if it becomes slack, stiff, yellow or cracked, consult your hearing care professional. If the earmold no longer fits your ear, contact your hearing care professional. The earmold may need to be changed or adjusted. 26

In case of malfunction If the hearing aid is dead, it could be because: The hearing aid is not turned on. Make sure that the battery drawer is closed. The battery is dead or does not work. Insert a new battery. Make sure the battery is placed correctly. The sound bore of the earmold is blocked. Clean the blocked sound bore. Earmold If the hearing aid volume is not powerful enough, it could be because: The battery is nearly exhausted. Insert a new battery. The sound bore of the earmold is blocked. Clean the blocked sound bore. Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. Your hearing may have changed. Contact your hearing care professional. 27

If the hearing aid whistles continuously, it could be because: Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. The tubing is broken or is yellow and stiff. Contact your hearing care professional. The tubing often comes off the hearing aid hook. Contact your hearing care professional. The hook is cracked. Contact your hearing care professional. The earmold is not correctly placed in your ear canal. Take the earmold out and reinsert it. The earmold fit is too loose. Contact your hearing care professional. 28

Hearing aid with an Instant ear-tip An ear-set consists of three parts: 1. Hook with tubing 2. Anchor 3. Instant ear-tip Instant ear-tip 29

Right/left identification The ear-set is available in five different lengths for the right and left ear, respectively. The individual size is printed on the ear-set. Red print indicates that it is for the right ear and blue print that it is for the left ear. 30

Placement on/in the ear First place the hearing aid behind the ear, so that the hook and tubing rest comfortably on the ear, close to your head. Then insert the ear-tip in the ear canal while holding the lower part of the tubing. Lastly, make sure that the anchor is positioned correctly. It should rest at the opening of the ear canal and secure the position of the ear-tip as well as the entire ear-set. Remember to check at regular intervals that the hearing aid and the ear-set are positioned correctly. Instant ear-tip We do not recommend wearing the hearing aid without the anchor for the Instant ear-tip solution. If the hearing aid is not secured with the anchor, there is a risk of loosing the hearing aid. 31

Removal First remove the hearing aid itself from its position behind the ear. Carefully pull the ear-tip out of the ear canal, while holding the lower part of the tubing. 32

Cleaning The following cleaning accessories are available for your hearing aid: 1. Wax removing tool 2. Soft cloth 3. Cleaning thread 3. 1. 2. Contact your hearing care professional if you need additional supplies of cleaning accessories. Instant ear-tip 33

The hearing aid Never clean your hearing aid with water or cleaning solutions. Instead, clean your hearing aid with the soft cloth (no. 2) after use. The microphone openings Use the wax removing tool (no.1) to clean the microphone openings. Pass the wax removing tool straight through the openings. If you feel resistance, withdraw the tool and try again. Use only the recommended wax removing tool. When the hearing aid is not in use, it is a good idea to leave the battery drawer open, so as to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry. 34

The ear-set Make sure that the ear-set is clean and free of earwax and moisture. Otherwise the ear-tip may come off. Wipe the ear-set with the soft cloth at regular intervals. Never use alcohol or other cleaning solutions to clean the ear-set. Contact your hearing care professional for specific instructions on the care and maintenance of your ear-set and instant tip. Changing the ear-set The life of an ear-set is individual and depends on a number of factors, such as how much the hearing aid is used and the type of earwax produced in the ear. Consult your hearing care professional regarding a schedule of replacement/maintenance. Instant ear-tip 35

Tubing and ear-tip size The ear-set must fit your ear exactly. It is important to choose the correct tubing length and ear-tip size in order to ensure a good and comfortable fit. Furthermore, the anchor must be trimmed to fit your ear canal comfortably. Your hearing care professional will choose the correct size for you, and provide instructions regarding adjustment and future replacements. In these user s instructions, your hearing care professional can circle the sizes selected for you (see page 37). Choice of tubing: The tubing is available in five different lengths for the right and left ear, respectively. It is important to choose the correct one in order to ensure a good and comfortable fit. The tubing must not be uncomfortably short or so long that it is too loose. Choice of ear-tip: The ear-tip is available in four sizes. It is important to choose the correct one in order to ensure a good and comfortable fit. The ear-tip must be positioned comfortably in the ear canal. 36

The anchor To secure the position of the ear-tip in your ear canal, we have made a loose anchor to be adjusted to your ear. The anchor loop has the correct size when it supports the position of the ear-tip in the ear canal, and the earset sits securely in and on the ear. Your hearing care professional should provide the necessary instruction if this is indicated. Circle the sizes selected for your ear-set. Left ear (blue) Right ear (red) ear-tip tubing ear-tip tubing 1S 1L 1 1S 1L 1 Instant ear-tip 2S 2L 2 2S 2L 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 37

Please note: It is important to wipe the ear-set thoroughly with a soft cloth and keep it clean of wax, etc. Otherwise, the ear-tip may come off. To replace the ear-set if one of the ear-set elements becomes slack, stiff, yellow or cracked, consult your hearing care professional. Have the ear-tip replaced if it no longer fits your ear, for example if your ear canal size has changed or the ear-tip becomes broken. 38

In case of malfunction If the hearing aid is dead, it could be because: The hearing aid is not turned on. Make sure that the battery drawer is closed. The battery is dead or does not work. Insert a new battery. Make sure the battery is placed correctly. The sound outlet of the ear-tip is blocked. Clean/ or replace the ear-tip. If necessary, replace the entire earset. If the hearing aid volume is not powerful enough, it could be because: The battery is nearly exhausted. Insert a new battery. The sound outlet of the ear-tip is blocked. Clean/ have the ear-tip, or if necessary, the entire ear-set replaced. Clean or replace the ear-tip. If necessary, replace the entire ear-set. Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. Your hearing may have changed. Contact your hearing care professional. Instant ear-tip 39

If the hearing aid whistles continuously, it could be because: Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. The tubing is broken or is yellow and stiff. Contact your hearing care professional for replacement. The hook is cracked. Contact your hearing care professional for replacement. The ear-tip is not correctly placed in your ear canal. Take the ear-tip out and reinsert it. 40

Hearing aid with a Custom ear-tip An ear-set consists of two parts: 1. Hook with tubing 2. Custom ear-tip with an extraction cord 2. Custom ear-tip 41

Right/left identification The ear-set is marked with red or blue print. Be sure to use the ear-set with red print with the right-ear hearing aid and the ear-set with blue print with the left-ear hearing aid. The ear-tip has Widex printed on it. Red print indicates that it is for the right ear and blue print that it is for the left ear. 42

Placement in/on the ear First insert the Custom ear-tip in the ear canal while holding the lower part of the tubing. It may help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand. Once the Custom ear-tip has been inserted, place the hearing aid itself behind the ear, so that the hook and tubing rest comfortably on the ear, close to your head. Removal First remove the hearing aid itself from its position behind the ear. Then, carefully pull the Custom eartip out of the ear canal by means of the extraction cord. Do not pull the tubing to remove your hearing aid or ear-tip. Custom ear-tip 43

The hearing aid Never clean your hearing aid with water or cleaning solutions. Instead, clean your hearing aid with the soft cloth (no. 2) after use. The microphone openings Use the wax removing tool (no.1) to clean the microphone openings. Pass the wax removing tool straight through the openings. If you feel resistance, withdraw the tool and try again. Use only the recommended wax removing tool. When the hearing aid is not in use, it is a good idea to leave the battery drawer open, so as to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry. Custom ear-tip 45

The ear-set Make sure that your ear-set is clean and free of earwax and moisture. Use a soft cloth to wipe the ear-set at regular intervals. If the ear-set tubing is plugged, it must be cleaned. Consult your hearing care professional regarding the recommended procedure. Never attempt to disconnect the ear-tip from the tubing. Never use alcohol or other cleaning solutions to clean the earset. 46

If the tubing needs to be changed The process involved in changing the tubing for Custom ear-tip solutions requires experience and the appropriate tools. Therefore we recommend that you contact your hearing care professional if the tubing needs replacement. Do not attempt to make any changes on your own. Please note: If the ear-set tubing becomes slack, stiff, yellow or cracked, it must be replaced. Please contact your hearing care professional for help with this. Never attempt to exchange any part of the ear-set yourself. If the Custom ear-tip no longer fits your ear, contact your hearing care professional. The Custom ear-tip may need to be changed or adjusted. Custom ear-tip 47

In case of malfunction If the hearing aid is dead, it could be because: The hearing aid is not turned on. Make sure that the battery drawer is closed. The battery is dead or does not work. Insert a new battery. Make sure the battery is placed correctly. The sound outlet of the ear-tip is blocked. Clean the eartip and tubing. See page 58 for detailed instructions. If the hearing aid volume is not powerful enough, it could be because: The battery is nearly exhausted. Insert a new battery. The sound outlet of the ear-tip is blocked. Clean the eartip and tubing. See page 58 for detailed instructions. Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. Your hearing may have changed. Contact your hearing care professional. 48

If the hearing aid whistles continuously, it could be because: Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your ENT doctor/physician. The tubing is broken. Contact your hearing care professional to have the tubing replaced. The tubing is yellow and stiff. Contact your hearing care professional to have the tubing replaced. The hook is cracked. Contact your hearing care professional to have the tubing replaced. The ear-tip is not correctly placed in your ear canal. Take the ear-tip out and reinsert it. The ear-tip fit is too loose. Contact your hearing care professional. Custom ear-tip 49

Caring for your hearing aid With proper care, your hearing aid will give you years of reliable service. Here are some things you can do to prolong the life of your hearing aid: Switch your hearing aid off when it is not in use. Should you not use it for several days, take out the battery to avoid battery leakage. Treat your hearing aid as the valuable object it is: with care. When your hearing aid is not in use, keep it in its case in a cool, dry location where it cannot be reached by children or pets. When not in use, do not expose your hearing aid to extreme temperatures or high humidity. In environments with high humidity (including that created by heavy perspiration), a drying kit may be used daily to reduce the amount of moisture inside the hearing aid. See the instructions enclosed with the drying kit. Do not wear your hearing aid in the shower or swimming, or when using a hair dryer, hair spray, or other sprays or gels such as suntanning crème/lotion. Never try to open or repair the hearing aid yourself. 50

Do not wear your hearing aid during x-ray, MRI scans, CT scans, short-wave diathermy, or similar radiation treatments and never place your hearing aid in a microwave oven. These are some of the types of radiation that can damage your hearing aid. Radiation from, for example, room surveillance equipment, burglar alarms and cellular telephones is weaker and will not damage your hearing aid but may create interference. Widex hearing aids are not certified for use in mines or other areas with explosive gases. To maintain the proper shape of the ear-set, be careful not to twist or squeeze it out of shape when your hearing aid is placed in the case. The below illustration shows two hearing aids with Instant ear-tips. General 51

Good advice You may notice increased accumulation of earwax with hearing aid usage. Contact your physician/ent doctor if you suspect that a plug of earwax has accumulated in your ear. Earwax may not only reduce your own hearing but also the effect of the hearing aid considerably. It is a good idea to ask your physician to clean your ears a couple of times a year. Please be sure to keep the hearing aid and its parts and accessories out of the reach of children, who might place them in their mouths. Also keep batteries out of children s reach and discard used batteries carefully. Do not change batteries in front of children and do not let them see where you keep your supply. 52

Never put a battery in your mouth for any reason as you may risk swallowing it. In case of ingestion, contact your physician immediately and the 24 Hour National Battery Hotline at: 1-202-625-3333. The hearing aid is made of modern non-allergenic materials. Still, in rare cases skin irritation can occur. If you notice skin irritation in or around your ear or ear canal, contact your hearing care professional. Please be aware that the use of any type of hearing aid may involve a slightly increased risk of infection in the ear canal. An infection can arise as a result of inadequate ventilation of the ear. Therefore, we recommend that you remove the entire hearing aid from your ear at night to allow the ear canal to be ventilated. Make sure that you clean and inspect your hearing aid and all its parts as required. If an infection occurs, you should seek medical attention and contact your hearing care professional for advice on how to disinfect the various hearing aid parts. Do not under any circumstances use alcohol, chlorine or similar substances to clean your hearing aid and its parts. General 53

Listening programs Master Description Standard program Chosen program position: Acclimatization Acclimatization program Music Music program TV TV program Comfort Attenuates background noise Audibility Extender Makes high-frequency sounds audible 54

Reorder # CIB117/0710 Printed by HTO / 2010-07 9 514 0095 041l #02y 9 514 0095 041 #02