Audina FLX User manual

ver: 1.0 010109 INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Extremely
Flexible
Contoured
Comfort
Crystal-Clear
Sound
P.O. Box 877
Casselberry, FL 32718
www.audina.net
HEARING HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
MADE IN U.S.A.
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Welcome to a world of better hearing! We understand
that hearing loss affects one's quality of life. That is
why we are dedicated to building the highest quality
hearing instruments. Your new hearing instruments
will soon be indispensable to you and will bring new
pleasure and enjoyment to your life.
Our family-owned, U.S. company was established in
1990 and is well-known domestically and
internationally for offering high quality, reliable, state-
of-the-art technology. These mini Behind-the-Ear
(BTE) or Over-the-Ear (OTE) hearing instruments
have been programmed or adjusted to your individual
hearing loss to precisely fit your hearing and
communication requirements. If necessary, your
hearing healthcare provider can make further
modifications to enhance your listening experience.
A period of adjustment may be needed to become
accustomed to your new hearing instruments and the
renewed world of sounds you will experience. The
adjustment time varies for each individual and may be
as little as a couple of weeks to as long as several
months. Allow yourself time to become familiar with
those sounds you have not heard for a long time.
Before operating your hearing instruments, please read
this manual thoroughly.
WELCOME
i
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flx®Diagram ..........................................1
Proper Placement on Ear ........................2
Left & Right Instruments ......................3
On/Off Function ....................................3
Battery Information ................................4
Cleaning Your Instrument ......................7
Caring For Your Instrument ................10
Push Button Memory ..........................12
iScroll®................................................12
Telephone Use ......................................12
Cell Phone Compatibility ....................13
Do's and Don'ts....................................15
Troubleshooting....................................17
Binaural Amplification..........................19
Children with Hearing Loss..................20
Warranty Information ..........................21
Service and Repair Information ............22
Notice to Prospective Users ..................23
Notice to Providers ..............................24
Serial Numbers ....................................25
Owner Information ..............................26
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ii
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proper placement
on ear
Your flx hearing instruments should fit
comfortably and easily over the top of your
ears. Your hearing healthcare provider will
provide instruction on proper insertion and
removal.
Step 1: Place the
hearing instrument
over the top of your
ear.
Step 2: With your
index finger, hold the
sound tube where it
attaches to the ear bud
and gently push the
ear bud into your ear
canal until it is just
inside the canal.
Step 3: Place the
retention guard
of the sound
tube into the
bowl of your
concha.
1
3.
flx®design is
patent pending.
2
2.
1.
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left and right
instruments
turning the hearing
aid on and off:
grills are available from your hearing healthcare
professional.
To turn your hearing instrument “on”, you
simply need to close the battery door after
inserting a battery.
There are two ways to turn your hearing
instrument “off”:
1. Grasp the notch
on the battery door
and pull it until one
click is felt. Your
instrument is now
“off ”.
2. You may choose to
open the battery door
completely which will
also turn off the
hearing instrument.
In fact, when the hearing instrument is not in
use, it is recommended that you open the
battery door and remove the battery. This
helps to prevent excessive battery drain and
allows for proper ventilation of the hearing
instrument.
4
proper placement
on ear continued
Placement of custom mold with sound tube or
optional ear hook:
Step 1: Place the hearing
instrument over the top of
your ear. Then gently push
down to rest behind the top
of your ear.
Step 2: With your index finger,
hold the sound tube where it attaches
to the custom earmold and gently
push the earmold into your ear canal
until it is properly seated inside the canal.
Be sure to open the battery door after removing
the instruments from your ears, this will turn
the instruments off and conserve battery power.
If you are wearing hearing instruments on both
ears, it is important to use the
correct device in each ear.
The sound tubes are marked
with “red” lettering for the
Right ear and “blue” lettering
for the Left ear. Optional red
and blue microphone
3
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with the “+” side
up, matching to
the “+” on the
battery compartment door.
Step 3: Swing the door
into the closed position.
The compartment should
close easily. Do not force it.
If resistance is noted, check
that the battery is inserted
correctly.
The life of your hearing
instruments' batteries will vary
depending on length of daily
use, listening environments, and how your
hearing instruments are programmed. When
the hearing instrument batteries go dead,
remove them immediately and replace them
with new batteries. Batteries may be purchased
through your hearing healthcare professional.
When your hearing instruments are not in use,
open the battery compartment to prevent
excessive battery drain and ventilate the
instruments.
Important: Always discard used batteries. Small
batteries can be harmful if swallowed. Keep
batteries out of the reach of pets and small
children. In case of ingestion, contact your
physician or call the National Button Battery
Hotline collect at [phone]. 6
battery
information
The low battery detection system continuously
monitors battery life.
When the battery becomes low, the low
battery warning sequence consisting of 3
double beeps is initiated. After the warning
beeps are complete, normal operation resumes.
The low battery warning sequence will repeat
every 10 minutes until the battery becomes
critically low. At that time, the end of the
battery life warning sequence consisting of 6
double beeps is issued. The device is then
muted and put into low power sleep mode.
Battery replacement will then be required.
The volume of the low battery indicator can be
adjusted by your hearing healthcare provider.
To replace your hearing instrument battery,
follow these steps:
Step 1: Lift the notch
at the edge of the
compartment and
swing the door open.
Remove the battery.
Step 2: Remove the “brown”
colored tab on the 312
battery, slide in the battery
5
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cleaning your
hearing instrument
7
The following instructions will assist in
extending the life of your hearing
instruments.
To Clean the Exterior of the Instrument:
You should inspect and clean your hearing
instruments daily to control wax buildup. To
clean, very gently wipe the surface with a soft,
dry cloth or moist cleaning wipes made
especially for hearing instruments. Do not
allow water or liquid to enter any openings
on the instruments.
The sound tube delivers the amplified sound
from the hearing instrument into the ear. It is
important that these components fit properly
in your ear. The materials used in your
hearing instruments are of the highest quality
available, and the likelihood of an allergic
reaction is slight. If the sound tube or the ear
bud irritates your ear in any way, contact your
hearing healthcare provider. Please don't
attempt to modify the shape or length of the
sound tube yourself. The tube and bud
should be cleaned regularly according to the
instructions on the following pages.
The wearing of a hearing instrument may
accelerate the accumulation of ear wax. This
can easily be removed by your physician or in
some cases your hearing healthcare provider.
You should not use cotton swabs to clean
your ears, due to the risk of pushing the wax
deeper into the ear canal.
To Clean the Sound Tube and Ear Bud
Remove the sound tube from the hearing
instrument by gently twisting the tube 90°
and pulling it straight off, away from the
instrument.
Use a damp cloth to clean the exterior of the
sound tube and bud. Use the cleaning rod
(provided in storage case) to clean the sound
tube and bud.
Lightly “push” the
cleaning rod
through the sound
tube, inserting at
the opening where
the tube attaches to
the body of the
instrument and push
out through the bud.
8
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The sound tube and the bud may need to be
changed if the sound tube becomes stiff,
brittle, kinked or damaged. Only your hearing
healthcare professional should change the ear
bud. This is to prevent the bud from
detaching from the sound tube during
insertion into the ear. If your hearing
healthcare provider instructs you to change the
buds yourself, make sure they are securely
fastened to the sound tube before inserting
them in your ear. Failure to change the bud in
accordance with the instructions could result
in injury.
Hearing instruments are exposed to moisture
in the form of humidity and perspiration while
being worn. The daily use of a dehumidifying
system or drying kit approved by your hearing
healthcare provider is recommended. These
accessories may be purchased from your
hearing healthcare provider.
The most common causes of hearing
instrument repair are wax and moisture. If
you are encountering recurrent repairs, please
discuss the various wax/moisture prevention
systems and accessories with your hearing
healthcare provider.
10
Do not rinse or submerge these parts in
water, there is a risk of damage if a water drop
becomes trapped in the sound tube. If this
should occur, it will prevent sound from
coming through the tube and may be harmful
to the instrument's electronics.
Re-attach the sound tube onto the body of
the instrument by holding the sound tube in
one hand and the hearing instrument in the
other hand. Line-up the sound tube and the
connecting end of the instrument, push the
sound tube straight on to the instrument
body. No need to rotate the sound tube
when re-attaching.
9
cleaning your
hearing instrument
caring for
your instrument
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caring for
your instrument
push button
multi-memory
iScroll®
volume control
These hearing aids feature multiple memories
for different environmental settings and
listening situations. The push-button control
is used to switch between memories that have
been programmed for different situations.
Your hearing healthcare provider will discuss
these options with you and program the
memories accordingly.
The new iScroll®volume control gives you a
smooth, gliding roller that is easy to adjust.
If your hearing instrument has the iScroll®
volume control, roll “up” to increase the
volume and roll “down” to decrease the
volume. A short
beep will be heard
to signal the lowest
volume level and
the highest volume
level available as you
roll the control in
either direction.
1211
Sound Inlet Filters
Your flx hearing instrument is equipped with
two microphone grills. The grills are located
at the front and back on the top of the
instrument; these grills prevent moisture and
debris from getting into the hearing instrument.
If the hearing instrument seems to have lost
power and changing the battery does not
correct the situation, the grills may be blocked
and need to be changed. Consult your hearing
healthcare provider to have the grills checked.
Extended Storage
If it is necessary to store your hearing
instruments for an extended amount of time,
follow the steps below for proper storage.
1. Remove the batteries.
2. Clean the instrument according to
instructions in this manual.
3. Place the instruments in a cool, dry place.
Either their original container or a hearing
instrument dehumidifier is recommended.
Front Grill
Back Grill
To help identify the left and right instruments, optional
red and blue microphone grills are available from your
hearing healthcare professional.
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adaptive
directionality®
telephone
use
cell phone
compatibility
1413
If your hearing aid is equipped with Adaptive
Directionality, it automatically switches
between omni and directional microphones
depending on the environment. This feature
eliminates the need to push a button when in
different listening situations, allowing hands-
free operation of your hearing instrument.
Ask your hearing healthcare provider if
Adaptive Directionality is a featured option
on your hearing instrument.
Your flx hearing instrument allows you to use
the phone as you normally do - holding the
phone up to your ear. If you experience
discomfort from the bud pressing in your ear
canal, you may need a different size sound
tube. If this occurs, contact your hearing
healthcare professional.
Some hearing aid users have reported a
buzzing sound in their hearing aids when they
are using cell phones, indicating that the cell
phone and hearing aid may not be compatible.
According to the ANSI C63.19 standard
(ANSI C63.19-2006 American National
Standard Methods of Measurement of
Compatibility Between Wireless
Communications Devices and Hearing Aids),
the compatibility of a particular hearing aid
and cell phone can be predicted by adding
the rating for the hearing aid immunity to the
rating for the cell phone emissions. For
example, the sum of a hearing aid rating of 2
(M2/T2) and a telephone rating of 3
(M3/T3) would result in a combined rating of
5. Any combined rating that equals at least 5
would provide “normal use;” a combined
rating of 6 or greater would indicate “excellent
performance.”
The immunity of this hearing aid is at least
M2/T2. The equipment performance
measurements, categories and system
classifications are based upon the best
information available but cannot guarantee
that all users will be satisfied.
NOTE: The performance of individual
hearing aids may vary with individual cell
phones. Therefore, please try this hearing aid
with your cell phone or, if you are purchasing
a new phone, be sure to try it with your
hearing aid prior to purchase. For additional
guidance, please ask your cell phone provider
for the booklet entitled "Hearing Aid
Compatibility with Digital Wireless Cell
Phones."
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DON'T wear the hearing instruments when
using a hair dryer at home or when at the
beauty salon, spa or barber.
DON'T wear the hearing instruments when
having medical tests done such as MRI, X-rays
or CT scans; as different types of radiation
may damage the hearing instrument.
DON'T apply hair spray when wearing your
hearing instruments. It may damage the
microphone and erode the faceplate.
DON'T wear the instruments while taking a
bath, shower, spa treatment or while
swimming.
DON'T store the instruments in the bathroom
during a shower or near a steam room as
moisture created by the steam may cause
damage.
16
the do's and don'ts
of hearing aid care
DO store the instruments overnight in a
hearing aid dehumidifier to absorb moisture
(Be sure and remove batteries first).
DO always carry spare batteries.
DO replace the battery when the low-battery
warning beep sequence begins.
DO always care for your instrument as
outlined in this manual.
DO dry the battery contacts with a cotton
swab in cases of humid weather or heavy
perspiration.
DO safely store hearing instruments when not
in use. Keep them out of the reach of small
children and pets.
DO remove your hearing instruments if you
are going to have X-rays at your dentist or
medical facility. It is best to keep them
outside the room of the X-ray equipment.
DON'T leave your hearing instruments on the
radiator, near a stove, in a sunny window, in a
car or in any other hot place. Excessive heat
and cold can damage the instruments.
15
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• Excessive earwax and improperly sized
instruments can cause whistling. Contact
your hearing healthcare provider.
Sound is Distorted or Unclear:
• Replace the battery.
• Microphone Grill may be dirty.
• Hearing instruments may have a poor
battery contact or may not be
programmed properly. Return to your
hearing healthcare provider.
Intermittent Sound:
• Replace the battery.
• Ensure that there is no wax or debris in
the sound channel.
• Hearing instruments may have a poor
battery contact. Return to your hearing
healthcare provider.
Too Much Bass:
• Hearing instruments may need
reprogramming. Return to your hearing
healthcare provider.
Static Noise:
• Replace the battery.
• If you are near an electromagnetic field
(i.e. near a computer screen or fluorescent
lights), step away to see if the static clears.
• Hearing instruments may have a poor
battery contact. Return to your hearing
healthcare provider.
18
troubleshooting
guidelines
No Sound:
• Ensure that hearing instruments are turned on.
•Replace the battery.
• Ensure that there is no wax or debris in the
sound tube.
• Microphone Grill may be dirty.
• Rotate iScroll volume control to increase
volume
Not loud enough:
• Replace the battery.
• Ensure that there is no wax or debris in the
sound tube.
• Ensure that hearing instruments are placed
up, behind the ear and the dome (ear bud)
is placed properly into the ear canal.
• Microphone Grill may be dirty.
• Excessive earwax can prevent sound from
entering the ear. Contact your physician or
hearing healthcare provider.
• Changes in your hearing loss can affect how
you hear with a hearing aid. Contact your
hearing healthcare provider if you suspect
any change in your hearing status.
Whistling/Feedback:
• Ensure that hearing instruments are properly
placed up, behind the ear and the dome (ear
bud) is put into the ear canal.
17
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binaural
amplification
children with
hearing loss
Hearing loss can be improved, in most cases,
through medicine, surgery, or with hearing
instruments. Hearing aids are the most
commonly chosen option.
Today's hearing instruments are quite small in
size and feature sophisticated electronics that
accommodate a wide variety of hearing losses.
Nature gave us two ears for a reason and since
the majority of people who have a hearing
loss are affected in both ears, two (binaural)
hearing instruments are typically
recommended. Two hearing instruments
should provide these benefits:
• Better overall sound quality when
compared to one hearing instrument
(“stereo sound”).
• The ability to locate a sound source in
noisy and normal listening conditions.
• Increased ability to understand speech in
noisy and normal listening conditions.
• A sensation of balanced hearing.
Talk with your hearing healthcare provider
about what is best for you. Even the best
technology can't do the work of two ears!
In addition to seeing a physician for a medical
evaluation, a child with a hearing loss should
be directed to an audiologist for evaluation
and rehabilitation since hearing loss may
cause problems in language development and
the education and social growth of a child.
An audiologist is qualified by training and
experience to assist in the evaluation and
rehabilitation of a child with hearing loss.
19 20
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warranty
information
returning
for service
Please see your hearing healthcare provider
regarding your specific warranty information.
Our guarantee covers any defect in material or
faulty production, except cords and batteries.
We will, at our option, repair or replace the
instruments or any defective part, at our
expense, within the limits of the warranty.
This warranty will become invalid if the hearing
instruments have been tampered with or altered
in any way, or if the serial number has been
altered, effaced, removed, or if any repairs have
been made without authorization.
This warranty does not include a promise of
specific hearing improvement because that
depends upon your audiologic needs, proper
fitting and adjustments by your hearing
healthcare provider and proper use by the
owner.
Any implied warranty shall be limited to two
years from date of purchase. The only entity or
individual who is authorized to perform the
warranty obligations is the manufacturer. All
in-house warranty work performed by the
manufacturer will be done within a reasonable
period of time. If warranty work is performed
and there appears to be a defect, malfunction,
or failure to conform to the warranty, the
obligations will be met if brought to our
attention within one month from the date of
the original warranty work.
This warranty is specifically limited to the
scope set forth herein, and may not in any
way be expanded by the other oral or written
representations.
You should visit your hearing healthcare
provider if your hearing instruments are in
need of service. If you no longer have a
hearing healthcare provider and are in need of
one, you may contact Audina and we will
assist you in finding one in your area. If you
are unable to visit a hearing healthcare
provider, you may send your hearing aids
directly to the manufacturer.
Before planning to return your instruments
for repair, please refer to the troubleshooting
chart on the preceding pages. Many times
these solutions can prevent the time and cost
associated with a repair.
21 22
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returning for
service continued
notice to
prospective users
If you need to send your instruments directly to
the manufacturer, carefully pack your
instruments in a sturdy box and send it to:
Audina®Hearing Instruments, Inc.
P. O. Box 877
Casselberry, FL 32718-0877
You must include your current phone number
and home address. There is a $25 charge to
cover shipping and handling. Please include a
check, payable to Audina Hearing Instruments,
Inc. for said amount when sending your
instruments for service. It is recommended to
purchase shipping insurance when sending your
hearing aids to the manufacturer.
If your hearing instrument(s) are out of
warranty, we will assist you in finding a hearing
healthcare provider in your local area.
Good health practice requires that a person with
a hearing loss have a medical exam by a licensed
physician, who specializes in diseases of the ear,
before purchasing a hearing instrument.
Licensed physicians who specialize in the
diseases of the ear are often referred to as
Otologists, Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and
throat - ENT) or Otorhinolaryngologists.
The purpose of a medical evaluation is to
assure that all medically treatable conditions
that may affect hearing are identified and
treated before the hearing instrument is
purchased. Following the medical evaluation,
the physician will give you a written
statement that your hearing loss has been
medically evaluated and that you may be
considered a candidate for a hearing
instrument.
A hearing healthcare professional will conduct
an evaluation to assess your ability to hear.
The hearing instrument evaluation will enable
the hearing specialist to select and fit a
hearing instrument to your individual needs.
Federal law restricts the sale of hearing
instruments to those individuals who have
not obtained a medical evaluation from a
licensed physician. Federal law allows a fully
informed adult to sign a waiver statement
declining the medical evaluation for religious
or personal beliefs that preclude consultation
with a physician. The exercise of such a
waiver is not in your best interest, and its use
is strongly discouraged.
23 24
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notice for hearing
healthcare providers
Special care should be exercised in selecting and
fitting a hearing instrument which has a
maximum sound pressure level in excess of 132
dB (decibels) because there may be a risk of
damaging the remaining hearing of the hearing
instrument user.
Each hearing instrument has its own unique
number located on the exterior of the hearing
aid. The first two digits of the serial number
represent the year in which the instrument was
manufactured.
26
Hearing healthcare providers should advise a
prospective hearing instrument user to consult
promptly with a licensed physician (preferably
an ear specialist) before dispensing a hearing
instrument if the hearing healthcare provider
determines through inquiry, actual observation,
or review of any other available information,
that the prospective user has any of the
following conditions:
• Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of
the ear.
• History of active drainage from the ear
within the previous 90 days.
• History of sudden or rapidly progressive
hearing loss within the previous 90 days.
• Acute or chronic dizziness.
• Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent
onset within the previous 90 days.
• Audiometric air-bone gap greater than or
equal to 15 decibels at 500 Hertz (Hz), 1000
Hz, and 2000 Hz.
• Visible evidence of significant cerumen (wax)
accumulation or a foreign body in the ear
canal.
• Pain or discomfort in the ear.
25
serial number
interpretation of
serial number
flx manual 3/6/09 3:56 PM Page 31

OWNER INFORMATION
Model:
Serial Numbers:
Left:
Right:
Purchase Date:
Battery Size:
Memory Set-Up:
Memory A:
Memory B:
Memory C:
Memory D:
Original Warranty Expires:
Hearing Health Care Provider:
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