Nucleus Freedom BTE User manual

User Manual
for the Nucleus®Freedom™
BTE and Bodyworn sound processors
Nucleus is a registered trademark of Cochlear Limited.
Cochlear and the elliptical logo, Freedom, Beam, SmartSound, Whisper, Mic Lock and ACE are trademarks of Cochlear Limited.
ADRO is a trademark of Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd.
Printed in Switzerland
N31886F ISS1 OCT08 Englilsh

User Manual
for the Nucleus®Freedom™
BTE and Bodyworn
sound processors
Part Number: N31886F Issue 1

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................ 5
Overview ...........................................................................................................5
Warranty, registration and patient identification card........ 8
Serial number ...........................................................................................9
Other Information..................................................................................9
Program options available............................................................... 10
Nucleus SmartSound......................................................................... 11
Sound processor Components..............................................12
Processing Unit ............................................................................................ 12
Earhook .................................................................................................... 13
Indicator light.......................................................................................... 15
Changing the Controllers................................................................ 16
Coil .................................................................................................................... 20
Coil connection..................................................................................... 20
Freedom Controllers................................................................................ 23
Display key............................................................................................... 24
Display ...................................................................................................... 25
On and off ............................................................................................... 27
Program selection................................................................................ 28
Listening controls ................................................................................ 29
Microphone sensitivity ...................................................................... 30
Volume control ..................................................................................... 31
In-built Telecoil ...................................................................................... 32
Button lock .................................................................................................... 33
Resetting the Freedom sound processor............................... 34
Private and public tones ......................................................................... 35
Batteries ........................................................................................................... 36
BTE Controller and Mini BTE Controller............................... 37
Bodyworn Controller ........................................................................ 41
General precautions for the use of batteries....................... 44

Accessories.................................................................................45
Connecting accessories........................................................................... 46
Using accessories........................................................................................ 48
Lapel microphone................................................................................ 48
Audio mixing and other accessories......................................... 48
Accessories and the telecoil.......................................................... 50
Using the Telephone with your processor............................. 52
Care and Troubleshooting.......................................................54
Care.................................................................................................................... 54
Storage ..................................................................................................... 54
Cleaning..................................................................................................... 55
Disposal..................................................................................................... 56
Warnings and precautions.............................................................. 56
Microphone protector...................................................................... 56
Troubleshooting ......................................................................................... 58
Help messages....................................................................................... 59
Private and public tones................................................................... 60
Indicator light ........................................................................................ 62
Bodyworn Controller battery indicator.................................. 62
Other problems.................................................................................... 63
Monitor earphones............................................................................. 67
Other Information....................................................................70
Technical information ............................................................................... 70
Specifications.......................................................................................... 70
Operating characteristics ............................................................... 71
Environmental conditions .............................................................. 72
Equipment classification .................................................................. 72
Certification and applied standards................................................. 72
Labelling symbols ........................................................................................ 73

5
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Introduction
Overview
The Nucleus®Freedom™Sound Processor is used together
with a Nucleus®Freedom™implant or a Nucleus®24 implant,
(specifically the CI24R and CI24M models) to transmit sound
to the cochlea.
The Freedom Sound Processor consists of a Processing Unit,
coil and a choice of three Controllers.
The BTE Controller allows the Sound Processor to be worn
behind the ear as a BTE Sound Processor. It is powered
by three 675 disposable batteries or the BTE rechargeable
battery.
The Mini BTE Controller also allows the Sound Processor
to be worn behind the ear as a BTE Sound Processor. It is
powered by two 675 disposable batteries.
The Bodyworn Controller is worn on the body as a body
worn Sound Processor. It uses either two AAA nickel/metal-
hydride (NiMH) batteries, or disposable alkaline batteries.
The three Controllers can be used interchangeably with the
same Processing Unit.
Warning
The Freedom Sound Processor contains small parts
that may be hazardous if swallowed, or may cause
choking if ingested or inhaled.
Infants and young children should wear the Bodyworn
Controller in a Cochlear-provided, tamper-resistant
pouch.

6
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Processing Unit
BTE Controller
(see below)
Freedom Sound Processor
with BTE Controller and Mini BTE Controller
Select
button
Increase
button
Accessories
connection
Display
Decrease
button
Mini BTE
Controller
(see below)
BTE Controller
three 675 disposable batteries
or the BTE rechargeable battery
Mini BTE Controller
two 675 disposable batteries
The Mini BTE Controller cannot
be used with accessories

7
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Bodyworn Controller
two AAA batteries
Processing Unit
Accessories
connection
Bodyworn Shoe
and Cable
Coil
Display
Control
buttons
Freedom Sound Processor
with Bodyworn Controller
Increase
button
Decrease
button
Select button
Magnet
Indicator
light
Earhook

8
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Sound can be received in four ways by the Freedom
processor:
1) by the microphone
2) via the in-built telecoil
3) via an accessory
4) by a mix of microphone sound and sound from the in-
built telecoil or an accessory.
The sound is coded by the Processing Unit and transmitted
through the coil to the cochlear implant.
The implant’s electrodes stimulate the cochlea’s hearing nerve
fibres, which relay the signals to the brain to produce hearing
sensations.
Your Sound Processor has been programmed for use with
your implant only. It is important to only use your own
Sound Processor, to never swap yours with another person,
and if you have two implants, to correctly match the Sound
Processor to the correct implant.
Warranty, registration and patient
identification card
Your warranty is enclosed.
Please complete the registration card and return it to
Cochlear within 30 days of receiving your product.
You should also complete the supplied patient identification
card and carry it with you at all times.

9
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Serial number
For more information on how to remove the microphone
protector, see Care and Troubleshooting.
Other Information
For future reference, keep this manual in a safe place.
For information about the ‘H’ or Help messages, see Care
and Troubleshooting or a Freedom Sound Processor Quick
Reference Guide.
Your Freedom Sound Processor stores your first name, last
name, implant type, MAP identifier and recipient identifier.
This allows you to
• attendanotherclinicforprogramming,whenyouwish
• identifyaSoundProcessorasyourown.
Access to this information occurs when the clinician opens
the program.That is, it is only able to be accessed in a
programming session.
The serial number is 101005
plus the number found on
the spine of the Processing
Unit, under the microphone
protector, for example,
1010051234579.
We suggest you make a note
of the full serial number for
future reference.

10
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Program options available
Up to four speech processing programs (P1 to P4) are
available for your use.
The program levels and features are selected at the
programming session, when your clinician programs your
Freedom Sound Processor to suit your listening needs.
By including different features, the programs can be varied to
help you hear better in different listening situations:
• Programscanincludewaystoimproveyourhearing,
using Nucleus®SmartSound™.
• Whileyouarenormallyabletovarysettingsfor
microphone sensitivity or volume, your clinician can also
have them set at a fixed level within a program so they
cannot be changed.
• Thevolumefunctionmaybeturnedoff.
• Theindicatorlightandprivatetonescanbeactivatedor
turned on at the programming session. In addition, users
of Bodyworn Controllers can have public tones and
backlighting to the display turned on.
For more information on:
• NucleusSmartSound,seethenextsection
• microphonesensitivityandvolume,seeControllers
• howtochangebetweenandvaryprograms,see
Controllers, Accessories and Care and Troubleshooting
• theindicatorlight,privateandpublictones,seeProcessing
Unit and Care and Troubleshooting

11
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Nucleus®SmartSound™
The following functions may be included as options, within a
program:
• Beam™allows you to focus on the sounds coming from
the direction in which you are looking. It can be used, for
example when you are talking with someone in a crowd,
where there is a lot of distracting noise behind or beside
you.
• Whisper™is better able to detect soft sounds in quiet
situations. It can be used, for example when you are in
a lecture or meeting where it is difficult to hear from a
distance.
• ADRO™makes automatic adjustments where there
are large changes in sound between loud and soft. It
can be used, for example where there is a lot of noise:
soft sounds are better detected, loud sounds are more
comfortable and speech is clearer.
• Autosensitivityadjuststhesensitivitylevelofthe
microphone automatically for comfortable listening in
different environments. It can be used, for example, to
prevent background noise from becoming too loud such
as when driving a car. Autosensitivity will reduce the
microphone sensitivity so that the background noise is
comfortable.
Discuss with your clinician how you want these options
applied to your programs. You can only use these options
if your clinician has set them up in one or more of your
four programs. You can then use a SmartSound option by
changing to the program(s) where it is available.

12
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Sound Processor
Components
This section of the manual describes the component parts of
your Nucleus®Freedom™Sound Processor.
Processing Unit
The Processing Unit, incorporating Nucleus®SmartSound™
technology, is the brain of the Sound Processor, where sound
signals are encoded for transmission via the coil to the
implant.
Processing Unit
Bodyworn Shoe
and cable
Processing
Unit
BTE
Controller
It is worn on the ear, with
either the BTE Controller (or
Mini BTE Controller) or the
shoe that connects it to the
Bodyworn Controller.
Both the coil cable and Bodyworn Shoe cable are available in
a variety of lengths and colours.

13
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Earhook
Two earhooks are available, to fit differently sized ears. One is
designed for use by adults, the other by children.That is, one
is for use on larger ears, the other on smaller ears.
To attach the Bodyworn
Shoe and cable to
the Controller, line
up the dot mark on
the plug with the dot
mark at the top of the
Controller and push the
plug into the socket.
To avoid damaging
the cable, grip the
connector as shown
when pushing the cable
in, or pulling it out.
Smaller earhook
for use by an
adult
Larger earhook
for use by a child
Line up dot
marks

14
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
The microphone protector should be replaced when it
becomes dirty or the sound quality deteriorates.
For more information on how to change the covers, see Care
and Troubleshooting.
Avoid twisting the
earhook. It may become
loose when twisted too
much.
Microphone protector
Always use the microphone
protector that covers the
microphone ports. It is designed
to protect your Sound Processor
from dirt and moisture.
In addition, the earhook can be shaped to better fit, or be
more comfortable on your ear.
To shape the earhook, remove it from the Processing Unit,
place it in hot water for a few minutes and then bend it to
the shape you want.
To change or remove the earhook, pull it away from the
Processing Unit. Replace the earhook by pushing it back into
place.
Pull earhook
to remove
Microphone
protector
Pull earhook
to remove

15
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Indicator light
The red indicator light on
the Processing Unit can be
used as a visual indication
of normal function or to
indicate situations which
require attention, such as help
messages.
It can be turned on or off
in any program when the
clinician sets up each program.
Indicator light indications:
• ashesregularlywhenprocessorisrespondingto
incoming sounds
• lowashratetowarnthatthebatteryislow
• highashrateforallotherwarningindications,for
example, if the coil has come off the head, the indicator
lightwillashmorequickly.
Indicator light
Note: Never poke anything
into the microphone
ports on the spine of the
processing unit.
Microphone
ports

16
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Changing the Controllers
To remove the Processing Unit from the BTE Controller, the
Mini BTE Controller or the Bodyworn Shoe and Cable, gently
twist the Controller or Shoe to your left and the Processing
Unit to your right, until the parts separate.

17
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
To attach the BTE Controller, Mini BTE Controller or
Bodyworn Shoe and Cable to the Processing Unit:
1. Hold the Controller or Shoe, and the Processing Unit so
they touch, with the Controller or Shoe side facing you
to the left and the Processing Unit to the right of the
final position.
2. Twist the Controller or Shoe, and the Processing Unit
until the two parts click into place.

18
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
Mic Lock™
A Mic Lock™can be used to hold the Processing Unit in place
behind the ear. The tube Mic Lock can be used on the BTE
Controller, the Mini BTE Controller and the Bodyworn Cable.
The stirrup Mic Lock is for use with the Bodyworn Cable.
2. Put the processor on your ear.
3. Bring the tubing around to the front of your ear and up
to the earhook. Either sized earhook can be worn with
the Mic Lock.
If the tube Mic Lock does not feel comfortable, for
a better fit, rotate the band around the base of your
Sound Processor.
To fit the Mic Lock:
1. For the tube Mic Lock,
thread the earhook and
Processing Unit through
the Mic Lock tube and
move it down the unit
until it fits firmly.
For the BTE or Mini
BTE Controller,
position the Mic Lock
between the buttons,
so the transparent band
covers the display.
Alternatively, clip the stirrup Mic
Lock into the two holes towards
the base of the Bodyworn
Controller shoe.

19
Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor
4. Hold your Sound Processor firmly in place, and
determine where the tubing should be cut.
5. Mark the tubing, allowing for an additional few
millimetres, so it can attach to the earhook.
6. Cut the tubing ONLY when you are certain the length
will allow a secure and comfortable fit.
7. Feed it on to your earhook.
To wear the Processing Unit with the Mic Lock in place, fold
your ear down and gently pass your ear lobe through the
loop made by the Processing Unit and Mic Lock until it is in
position on your ear.
Alternatively, bring the tubing to the front of your ear and
feed it on to your earhook.
Your Sound Processor, with the Mic Lock in place, should fit
securely.
To remove the Processing Unit with the Mic Lock
attached, fold down your ear lobe and reverse the process.
Alternatively, ease the tubing off the earhook.