BHM contact forte User manual

Instruction for Use
Digital bone conduction hearing system

3
Instruction for Use
Congratulations on acquiring your digital bone
conduction hearing system contact forte – a
quality product from BHM. Your state-of-the-
art hearing system is manufactured in Austria
in accordance with provisions set by the Euro-
pean Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC, and
is in line with the latest audiological findings
and technological innovations. It bears the CE
mark, signalling its adherence to the latest
quality and safety requirements.
The bone conductiond hearing system is suita-
ble for the home healthcare environment and
due to their portability it may happen that it is
used in professional healthcare facility environ-
ment like physician offices, dental offices etc.
Your bone conduction hearing system, which
is characterised by its high-quality signal pro-
cessing, can be worn on a number of different
wearing options. Please be aware of the differ-
ent sizes of these when choosing your wearing
option, to make sure that you will be comfort-
able wearing your device. This Instruction for
Use contains many hints and tips on how to get
the best from your new contact forte and how to
care for it properly. Please read these carefully,
and always keep this Instruction for Use handy in
order to get the best out of your hearing system.
Intended Use: The bone conduction hearing
system contact forte has been designed to
compensate hearing loss by processing sound
and transmitting it to the inner ear.
User group(s): The hearing system is suitable
for people of any age with hearing loss.
Indications: For conductive hearing loss, mixed
hearing loss and single sided deafness.
Contraindications: Do not use in case of irritat-
ed and injured skin or pressure marks.
Warning! Potential side effects: Possible pres-
sure points, irritation of the skin or pain in case
of wrong size selection of the wearing option.

4
Instruction for Use
For additional, current information, please visit
www.bhm-tech.at
The contact forte is designed for a lifetime of
5 years.
Your contact forte has been specially chosen
for you by your hearing care professional based
on your personal hearing impairment, and has
been adapted to meet your hearing needs. Your
hearing care professional will provide you with
comprehensive instruction on first-time use,
proper handling, how to wear it, and regular
maintenance. You may of course contact your
hearing care professional to discuss any ques-
tions or issues concerning your hearing or use
of the hearing system.
Various individual settings, such as the sound-
ing of warning tones or their volume is the
responsibility of your hearing care professional.
Please fit these settings together.
Your contact forte uses radio technology
with Bluetooth Low Energy and operates
in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz to 2.48 GHz.
Always pay attention to the environment in which
you use it. Any restrictions must be observed.
When flying please check if flight operator re-
quires devices to be switched into flight mode,
see chapter “Wireless”.
The couplings to the contact forte con-
tain a magnet. Magnets generate a far-
reaching, strong magnetic field. Among other
things, they can damage televisions, laptops,
computer hard disks, credit and debit cards,
data carriers, mechanical watches, loudspeak-
ers, etc. Keep magnets away from any equip-
ment or objects that may be damaged by
strong magnetic fields.
Magnets can also affect medical devices
(pacemakers, defibrillators,…) or electronic
systems and cause malfunctions.

5
Instruction for Use
excessive mechanical strain. If it has fallen
onto the ground or is damaged in any other
way, please send it to your hearing care pro-
fessional to be checked and repaired. Never
pass your bone conduction hearing system
to other people i.e. please prevent any unau-
thorised use.
Each hearing system is intended for use on
the left-hand side when shipped. Your hearing
care professional will adjust the device for the
right-hand side if necessary.
For a binaural system, your hearing care pro-
fessional will mark one device with a blue
sticker and one device with a red sticker
(Symbolic image 1). The blue marked device
must then be worn on the left-hand side and
the red marked device on the right-hand side.
Use the contact forte only if there are no doubts
about the safety. Manufacturers of equipment
that may be susceptible or sensitive to mag-
nets (such as pacemakers) must provide rea-
sonable safety advice.
The safety margin of coupling and magneti-
cally sensitive devices (e.g. pacemaker) must
be at least 30 cm.
Please read this Instruction for Use fully
and carefully before using the device. If
you are not the person using the hearing system,
please bear in mind the following information
on behalf of the person concerned.
Before using the device, please make sure
that it is functioning correctly and in good
working condition. Never use the device if
you suspect that it is not working flawlessly
or is in any way damaged, especially the bat-
tery compartment or the battery compartment
safety lock! Do not put your device under any

6
Instruction for Use
Content
Key........................................................7
Technical data ........................................8
The hearing system contact forte...............9
Inserting/replacing battery......................10
Switching on/off....................................11
Key functions........................................12
Programme "Automatic" .....................14
Wearing options ....................................14
Making phone calls................................19
Wireless...............................................20
Fitting & programming ...........................22
Troubleshooting.....................................25
Cleaning ..............................................28
Warnings..............................................28
Important information ............................29
Warranty, maintenance & repairs.............31
Disposal...............................................32
Required information .............................32
Declaration of Conformity
for the hearing system ...........................35
In order to ensure that your hearing system
is safe and functional, please only use BHM
accessories!
ø 3 mm Symbolic image 1

7
Instruction for Use
Key
Symbols
Follow instructions for use!
Manufacturer
CE marking and Notified Body number
Do not dispose of in household waste
Important information for usage and
product safety
Warning! Pay attention to the warnings
notices in these instruction for use
-20°C
+60°C
Temperature during transport and storage
10%
95%
Humidity during transport and storage
Protect from moisture
Symbols
The Bluetooth®word mark and logos are
registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth
SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by
BHM-Tech Produktionsgesellschaft m.b.H. is
under license. Other trademarks and trade
names are those of their respective owners.
Japanese Radio Law and Japanese Tele-
communications Business Law Compliance
Equipment includes radio transmitter
RCM - Regulatory compliance mark for
ACMA (Australian Communications and
Media Authority)
Type B Applied part
Serial number
Due to the limited size available on the device, relevant approval markings
are found in this document.

8
Instruction for Use
Technical data
According to IEC 60118-9:2018
Weight, incl. battery < 15 g
Dimensions Height: < 15 mm; Length: < 35 mm; Width: < 22 mm
Battery size 13 (PR 48, Zinc–Air)
Battery current 1.6 mA (@ 65 dB SPL Input, 1 kHz)
Battery rating up to 13 mA
Operating temperature range +5° C to +40° C
According to IEC 60118-9:2018 Measured on Artificial Mastoid
with Headband adapter Measured on Skull Simulator
Frequency Range 300 Hz – >8000 Hz 350 Hz – >8000 Hz
Max. Output Vibratory Force Level
(@ 90 dB SPL, FOG) 119 dB rel. 1 µN 127 dB rel. 1 µN
Max. Acousto-Mechanical Sensitivity Level
(@ 50 dB SPL, FOG) 43 dB rel. 1 µN / 20 µPa 49 dB rel. 1 µN / 20 µPa

9
Instruction for Use
6
32
1
The hearing system contact forte
5
4
1Microphones
2Control buttons
(programme and volume)
3Coupling for wearing options
4
Battery compartment
5Battery compartment safety lock
6
Programming socket (under the cover)
Symbolic image 2

10
Instruction for Use
the hearing system (Symbolic image 3d)!
6. Close the battery compartment carefully with
your fingers and then seal the battery com-
partment safety lock in a clockwise direction
using the BHM screwdriver supplied until it
clicks into place (Symbolic image 3c, 3b, 3a).
Battery warning sound
The contact forte is equipped with a battery
warning as standard. When the battery is weak,
the device will emit a warning tone and the sig-
nal gain will automatically be reduced. Please
replace the battery immediately!
Swallowing a battery is harmful to health
and may cause severe damage or even
death! Therefore: never store batteries alongside,
for example, medicines! If you have swallowed a
battery, please seek medical attention immedi-
ately. Always store batteries out of reach of chil-
dren! Pay attention to an intact battery compartment
and an intact battery compartment safety lock!
Inserting/replacing battery
1. To open the battery compartment and to
insert or replace the battery, turn the bat-
tery compartment safety lock anti-clockwise
with the BHM screwdriver supplied (Symbolic
image 3a & 3b).
2. Carefully open the battery compartment until
it is fully open (Symbolic image 3c).
3. When replacing the battery, please remove
the old battery and dispose of this in accor-
dance with local regulations.
4. Take a new battery, size 13, from the pack-
age and remove the adhesive strip from the
positive terminal. Then wait the amount of
time stipulated by the manufacturer before
inserting the battery into the hearing system.
5. Please ensure that the battery has been in-
serted correctly, in alignment with the cor-
rect terminal (please check the + marking
on the battery). Always insert the battery into
the battery compartment, never directly into

11
Instruction for Use
The use of the BHM screwdriver by child-
ren and persons with cognitive impair-
ment is prohibited. In this case, the battery must
be changed by the supervisor or the person in
charge. Improper handling may result in injuries.
Symbolic image 3a
Switching on/off
The hearing system contact forte does not
have an ON/OFF switch. The device switches
on when the battery compartment is closed
and switches off when it is opened. After your
day's use and/or when the device is not being
used, the battery must be removed. The hea-
ring system must be stored with the battery
compartment open, in a safe place, out of re-
ach of anyone. Opening the battery compart-
ment also enables you to dry any moisture that
has accumulated. Use only non rechargable
size 13 zinc-air hearing aid batteries.
Images: Opening and closing the battery compart-
ment with the BHM screwdriver supplied.
Symbolic image 3b
Symbolic image 3c
Symbolic image 3d

12
Instruction for Use
A stand-by function can be programmed by
your hearing care professional for you.
Key functions
Adjusting the volume
Press the control buttons (Symbolic image 4)
briefly to increase (+) or reduce (-) the vol-
ume of the device. A signal confirms whether
Volume / Programme
- +
Symbolic image 4
the volume has been increased or decreased.
The device will beep three times to signal that
the maximum or minimum volume has been
reached.
Selecting a programme
In your hearing system, up to four programmes
for various hearing situations can be stored.
Use the control buttons to switch between the
programmes that your hearing care professional
has set for you with your approval.
Pressing one of the two control buttons (approx.
1 second) will – depending on the button
selected – switch to the next programme or
switch it back. When the battery compartment
is closed and the hearing system switches on,
it will automatically start with programme 1. If
you switch to a different programme by pressing
one of the control buttons, you will hear a con-
firmation signal. For a better overview, please
complete the following table:

13
Instruction for Use
Programme Confirmation signal Description of hearing situation
1
1 beep
22 beeps
33 beeps
44 beeps

14
Instruction for Use
Depending on the classification, the parameters
of the hearing system are configured in such
a way as to achieve optimum hearing comfort
and optimum speech intelligibility.
Wearing options
When selecting a suitable option for
wearing the device, please consider the
various sizes! Incorrect use and selection of
the sizes of the wearing options can lead to
skin irritation, pressure points and pain.
The device or its parts must not be touched
or covered by headgear or other things!
Attaching to wearing options
The contact forte can only be used with a variety
of wearing options. BHM offers a range of options
to get the most out of your hearing system. After
the selected wearing option has been positioned
Key lock
Key lock prevents you from accidentally ad-
justing the sound processor settings (such as
programme selection or volume). Your hearing
care professional can activate or deactivate this
function. We recommend activating the key lock
if the hearing system is used by a child or a
person with a mental impairment.
Programme "Automatic"
In the programme setting "Automatic", the
signal received via the microphone is anal-
ysed and classified as one of several different
hearing situations. These are:
• Quiet environment
• Speech in quiet environment
• Loud environment
• Speech in loud environment
• Musical environment
• Windy environment

15
Instruction for Use
correctly on the wearer's head (options listed on
the following pages), simply attach the magnetic
snap coupling of the hearing system to the
mechanism (conductor plate) integrated into the
wearing option (Symbolic image 5).
The hearing system must be positioned behind
the ear on the head (mastoid) or – if recommended
by your hearing care professional – elsewhere
on the head. The microphones must be pointing
downward and positioned level with one another
when in a standing position (Symbolic image 6).
The device must not touch the pinna! To adjust
the tilt, the hearing device can be individually
aligned in 6-degree increments.
To remove the hearing system from the wearing
options, do not simply pull the hearing system
from the conductor plate. The coupling will
detach more easily by tilting it to the side
(Symbolic image 7).
Symbolic image 5
Symbolic
image 7
6°
Symbolic
image 6

16
Instruction for Use
Plastic headband
BHM plastic headbands also come already fitted
with the conductor plate.The contactforte is sim-
ply placed onto the back of the conductor plate using
the coupling (Symbolic image 9). Plastic head-
bands are available in both monaural and binaural
models, and in the sizes small,medium,standard
and large. Your hearing care professional will
advise you on the
correct size.
Image shows plastic headband
in unilateral (monaural) use
(Symbolic image 9).
For babies and children, care must be
taken to ensure that, due to the soft cranial
bones, the wearing option is repositioned at re-
gular intervals to avoid deformation. Your hearing
care professional will show you how to proceed.
Adapter for individual headbands or
softbands
The BHM contact forte adapters can be used to
make custom-made headbands or softbands.
The adapters are already fitted with the ne-
cessary conductor plate. The contact forte is
simply attached to the coupling on the back of
the conductor plate (Symbolic image 8).
Image shows a softband in unilateral
(monaural) use (Symbolic image 8).

17
Instruction for Use
The following images depicts use on the left-
hand side.
1. Find a suitable point behind the ear on the
mastoid bone and clean this thoroughly (Sym-
bolic image 10). This area must be clean and
hair-free; if necessary, please shave this area.
2. Peel the large protective liner from the sticker
and make sure that the exposed adhesive
surface remains clean (Symbolic image 11).
Adhesive adapter
The contact forte can be worn virtually invisibly
by using an adhesive adapter.We kindly point out
that using the adhesive adapter results in a
lower signal gain!
Adhesive adapters (consisting of adhesive
pad and sticker) are available for both
the right-hand and left-hand side.
You can obtain the sticker from your hearing
care professional.
The sticker is intended for single use. If the
sticker is used several times, it will no
longer stick to the skin. There is a risk of inade-
quate supply of the hearing system and loss of
the device. Only stickers from BHM may be used.
left-hand
side
right-hand
side
Symbolic
image
Symbolic image 10

18
Instruction for Use
3. Place the adhesive surface onto the adhe-
sive pad and firmly stroke down (Symbolic
image 12).
4. Now remove the small protective liner from
the sticker itself and ensure that the exposed
adhesive surface remains clean (Symbolic
image 13).
5. Now apply the adhesive adapter to the se-
lected area and press the system firmly for
approx. 5 seconds (Symbolic image 14).
Symbolic image 14
Symbolic image 13
Symbolic image 12
Symbolic image 11

19
Instruction for Use
6. The hearing system simply snaps onto the
adhesive adapter via the coupling (Symbolic
image 15).
The adhesive adapter can be worn on the skin for
several days. The adhesive pad is intended for
multiple use; the sticker is intended for single
use. After use, simply remove the adhesive
adapter from the skin. Remove the sticker from
the adhesive pad and dispose of this properly.
Then, clean the adhesive pad with a clean
cloth and store it in a safe, preferably dust-
free place, out of reach of children.
In case of skin irritation, consult a doctor or
your hearing care professional.
The use of accessories made by other
manufacturers i.e. products not appro-
ved by BHM may put your health at risk and
cause irreparable damage to your health. Only
accessories from BHM may be used.
Your hearing care professional will advise you
on this matter.
Making phone calls
Making phone calls becomes quite easy with
your contact forte. Simply hold the telephone
loudspeaker close to the two microphones in
your device. If you hear feedback (whistling),
simply move the two devices further apart.
Depending on your individual requirements,
Symbolic image 15

20
Instruction for Use
your hearing care professional can also set
up a special phone programme. It is important
that you find the position between your hearing
system and your phone that is right for you.
Wireless
The illustration (Symbolic image 16) below
shows the connectivity options available for
your contact forte.
* The TV Streamer can be connected to any audio
source such as a TV, PC or hi-fi system.
Wireless-Streaming
Your contact forte hearing system can receive
wireless audio signals from a TV streamer. In
order for these audio signals to be received
by your hearing system, your hearing care
professional must set an appropriate hearing
programme. Your hearing care professional will
instruct you how to use the TV Streamer and
programme your hearing system accordingly.
To obtain a TV Streamer, please contact
your hearing care professional. For more
information, please refer to the TV Streamer
instruction for use.
Initial pairing to a Bluetooth®enabled
mobile device
It is only necessary to perform the pairing pro-
cedure once with each mobile device featuring
Bluetooth Low Energy. After the initial pairing,
your hearing system contact forte will connect
automatically to the mobile device. This can take
Mobile
device
TV Streamer *
Symbolic image 16