Beltone ACS 85 User manual

Instructions for use
Digital Behind-the-Ear
hearing instrument
ACCESS
ACS 85 and ACS 85D Power BTE
ACS 75 and ACS 75D BTE
ACS 75 Open and ACS 75D Open BTE

Anew Beltone hearing instrument
Congratulations on your choice of a Beltone hearing instrument.
This is an important step towards clearer hearing and better
understanding. We have used all our experience with hearing
instruments to help you communicate, lead an enjoyable social
life and listen to the world around you.
Your hearing instrument is a very advanced device. Your hearing
care practitioner has tuned it to your individual needs. With a little
devotion and patience you will become familiar with it.
This booklet is a short guide to assist you in getting acquainted
with your hearing instrument. Read it carefully and use it as a
guideline.
We wish you happiness and pleasant listening with your new
instrument.
Beltone

This booklet & your instrument
In this booklet you will find instructions for inserting and
controlling your new hearing instrument. You will find
explanations on controlling your instrument, on daily handling
and on its use. Furthermore, you can read what to do if things do
not live up to your expectations. We will give a few practical steps
towards better hearing.
Contents
Switching on and off 3
Changing batteries 4-5
Inserting and removing the instrument 6-7
Recognising left and right instrument 8-9
Setting the volume 10
Program button 11-12
Directional microphone 12
T-program 13-14
Audio input 15-16
Maintenance and cleaning 17-20
General warnings 21
Solving small problems 22-23
Eight steps towards better hearing 24-27
Hearing Instrument identification 28
International warranty and service 29
General Precautions 29
Warning to hearing are practitioners 30
Technical Specifications 30
1

2
plastic tube
earmould
ACS 85 / ACS 85D
tone tube microphone behind cover
volume wheel
program button
battery door
plastic tube
earmould
ACS 75 / ACS 75D
tone tube microphone behind cover
volume wheel
program button
battery door

Switching on and off
Switch your hearing instrument on by closing the
battery door. Switch your instrument off by a small
movement of the battery door till you feel a click.
After switching on, your hearing instrument will
always start in program 1. Read more on this subject
on page 11.
On page 13 you will read more on the T-program.
• Switch your instrument off if you are not using it. This will
increase the battery life.
• Atnight, switch off your instrument and open the battery door
completely. Itallows moisture in your instrument to evaporate
and will increase the instrument’s life span.
3
off
plastic tube
mini dome
ACS 75 open/ ACS 75D open
tone tube microphone behind cover
volume wheel
program button
battery door

Changing batteries
When the hearing instrument generates a warning signal it's
advisable to change your battery as soon as possible. The signal
will continue as long as the battery is not changed or unless it does
not run out of power, and therefore it is advisable to keep an extra
battery at hand.
Remove ‘dead’ battery
Open the battery door by placing your fingernail or a pencil on
the edge of the battery door and gently pull it down. When
opened, remove the dead battery by sliding it out as shown in the
drawing.
The replacement batteryhas to be of type: 13 zinc-air. Remove
the protectiveseal from the fresh batteryand insert it in the battery
door, with the plus side facing down. You will recognize the plus
side of the batterybecause marked with a +. Check whether the +
symbols on the battery and on the battery door are on the same
side. Close the batterydoor. This should go smoothly, so never
force it as this could damage your instrument.
ACS 85 / 85D
4

ACS 75 / 75D / ACS 75 Open / 75D Open
Warnings
• Keep batteries away from children and mentally challenged
persons.
•Batteries can be harmful if swallowed. If you do, seek medical
attention immediately.
• Donot attempt to recharge the batteries, as they could explode.
• Do not burn the batteries, as they could explode.
• Replace spent batteries and do not leave them in the instrument
for a prolonged period.
• Used batteries areharmful to the environment. Please dispose
of them according to local regulations or return them to your
hearing carepractitioner.
5

Inserting and removing the instrument
Inserting the instrument
• With the battery door opened in
the off position take the earmould
between thumb and index finger
and position its ‘point’ in your ear
canal. Now, slide the earmould all
the way into your ear with a
gentle, twisting movement.
Insertion can be easier if you
gently pull your auricle backwards
with your other hand.
•Turn the top-part of the earmould
gently backwards and forwards so
that it fits behind the fold of skin
above your ear canal.
• Place the hearing instrument
behind your ear. Move the
earmould up and down and press
gently to ensure it is positioned
correctly in the ear. Opening and
closing your mouth can ease
insertion. You will feel when the
earmould is positioned correctly.
• When correctly positioned switch
on your instrument by closing the battery door.
6

• You can as well insert the hearing instrument while in the on
position. However you might experience some feedback
(whistling) during the operation.
Removing your instrument
• Switch off the instrument by pressing the battery door in the
‘off’ position.
• Lift the hearing instrument from behind the ear. For a
moment, let it hang beside your ear.
• Using your thumb and index finger, gently pull the earmould
(not the instrument or the tubing) loose from the ear.
• Remove the earmould completely by gently twisting it.
7

Recognising left and right instrument
If you have two hearing instruments, they may be tuned differently.
One for your left ear, the other for your right. Do not swap them.
Please pay attention to this when cleaning, storing and inserting
the instruments.
8
left right
left right
ACS 85 / 85D
ACS 75 / 75D

•You might want to ask your hearing care practitioner to mark
your instruments with a coloured Left and Right indication: Left
is blue and Right is red.
9
ACS 85 / 85D
indication
ACS 75 / 75D / 75 Open / 75D Open
indication
left right
ACS 75 open / 75D open

Setting the volume
(BTE with Volume Control)
Your instrument has a volume control which allows you to set and
control the volume manually.
During the fitting of the hearing
instrument, your hearing care
practitioner will have chosen an
optimal volume setting for you.
Please note the setting of that
particular level.
Your volume control has numbers on
it to indicate the sound level.
• If you prefer not to use the volume wheel your hearing care
practitioner can switch the wheel off.
10

Program Button
Your hearing instrument has a push button allowing you to use
up to three different listening programs, each of them suitable for
certain situations.
After pressing the program button,
the instrument will switch program.
If it was in program 1 it will switch
to program 2, if it was in program 2
it will switch to program 3 etc. If
program 2 or 3 are not activated,
nothing will happen. Your instru-
ment will give an audible signal after
pressing the program button. A little
later, the instrument will give:
•one single beep if set in program 1
•two beeps if set in program 2
•three beeps if set in program 3
When you close the battery door and
switch the instrument on it will start in program 1, confirmed by
one single beep.
Press the program button if you want to move to a different
listening program.
11

Let your hearing care practitioner fill out the following table:
Directional microphone
BTE and Power BTE can have a directional microphone function.
If you want to listen to a person in a noisy environment, the
microphone in these hearing instruments can help you to
concentrate on the speech. Ifthe microphone is in the directional
mode the background noise will be suppressed. In this mode the
sounds in front of you will be enhanced, so you can hear better
the speech of the person you look at. Your hearing carepractitioner
can program the microphone in the required modes.
12
Program
number
1
2
3
Type of program Intended for
listening situations

T-program
Your hearing instrument has a built in function, the telecoil,
enabling in many cases an improved use of the telephone and better
hearing in those churches or halls where an induction loop system
is installed.
In order to activate this function, the telecoil program has to be
selected (often available in program 2). In this program you will
hear no sounds from the microphone, therefore most
environmental sounds will be lost. If you wish, your hearing care
practitioner can change the setting in such a way that you hear the
microphone and the telecoil simultaneously.
Using the telephone.
•Switch your instrument to the telecoil program.
• Hold your telephone handset behind your ear, close to the
hearing instrument (2- 3 cm.) and
slightly tilt the receiver outwards.
• Listen to the dialing tone and move
the handset a little to find the
position that gives the best
reception.
• If needed, turn the volume up or
down.
• After completing the phone call,
switch your instrument back to the microphone program.
If the phone used has poor telecoil signal, use the microphone
program. Do not hold the handset too tightly against your ear
since this might cause 'whistling'.
13

Hearing through an induction loop
More and more public places, churches, theatres and cinemas, have
induction loops systems. In these particular rooms, they transmit,
wirelessly, the sound of the presenter or show. At home, radio or
television can be connected to an induction loop system. Sound
quality through induction loop is often better because noises from
the environment are not transmitted.
• Switch your instrument to the telecoil program.
• Choose a good spot. Reception is not clear in all locations; it
depends on the position of the induction loop. Watch for signs
or try a different seat yourself.
• Ifneeded, adjust the volume up or down.
• After the service or show, switch your instrument back to the
microphone program. You will now hear through the
microphone again.
• If the sound of your hearing instrument in the telecoil program
is very soft all the time, ask your hearing care practitioner to
make an adjustment.
• Your hearing care practitioner will gladly provide you with advice
regarding an induction loop system at home. Ask for it.
14

Audio input
Your hearing instrument is equipped with a direct audio input
facility. Direct audio input allows direct connection of sound
sources, a radio, television or even school equipment, to your
hearing instrument. Often, this will improve sound quality.
• The sound source is connected to your instrument with a cable
and an audio shoe.
For the ACS 85 / 85D
• The hearing instrument practioner
will set one of your programs for
audio input (usually program 3).
To use this system set the
instrument to that particular
program.
15

For the ACS 75 / 75D / 75 Open / 75D Open
• In this program you will hear no
sounds from the microphone,
therefore most environmental
sounds will be lost. If you wish,
your hearing care practitioner can
change the setting in such a way
that you hear the microphone
and the direct audio input
simultaneously.
• In the ACS 85 / 85D and the ACS 75 / 75D, manually select
the program with enabled direct audio input.
Safety regulations
External equipment, connected to the mains and to the audio input
must comply with these safety regulations: IEC-65,
IEC-601 or comparable.
16

Maintenance and cleaning
Earwax (cerumen) can accumulate in and on the earmould during
use. Therefore, clean your earmould regularly. Failure to do so can
lead to an accumulation of earwax, impairing sound quality.
Keep your hearing instrument clean and dry. Wipe the case with
asoft cloth or tissue after use to remove grease or moisture. You
should avoid exposing your instrument directly to moisture such
as rain or water from the shower. If your instrument does get wet
or if it has been exposed to high humidity or perspiration, it should
be left to dry out overnight with the battery out and the battery
compartment open. It is also a good idea to put them in a sealed
container together with a drying agent (dessicator) overnight.
Consult your hearing careprofessional as to which drying agent
to use.
Storing your instrument
When you are not using your instrument, keep or transport it in
the box supplied. Leave the battery door open. Keep your
instrument in a dry place, not in a bathroom or other humid place.
Alternatively, you could store the instrument in a dessicator
available from your hearing care practitioner.
17

Cleaning the earmould
• First, remove the tubing and
earmould from the hearing
instrument. Keep left and right
instrument separated.
• Remove earwax with the cleaning
brush and a soft cloth. If needed,
use a mild solution of soft soap
and water or a special cleaning solution. Ask your hearing care
practitioner for detailed instructions.
• Rinse the earmould with water.
Note: Do not use water or other liquid on the hearing instrument
itself.
• Dry the earmould with a cloth.
• Blow possible water drops from
tubing and earmould. A special
device is available for this from
your hearing care practitioner.
• Ensure that the earmould and
tubing are completely dry before
attaching them to the hearing instrument. Take carewith left
and right instruments, check the figures on page 8.
Replacing the tube
Ask your hearing care practitioner to replace the tubing from the
instrument to the earmould if it turns stiff or changes colour.
18