oticon ALFA User manual

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE CIC, MIC, ITC, HS, FS

Thank you
Thank you for choosing our product as your means to better hearing. To support your
eorts, we have put great care and attention into making sure that your new hearing
instrument is of the highest quality and it is easy to use and maintain.
We recommend that you read this manual carefully to achieve the full benet of your new
hearing instrument.
To meet your needs, various functions may be congured to your hearing instrument.
The actual conguration of your instrument are marked (ticked o) by your Hearing
Care Professional in relevant sections of this manual. Also see last page for a complete
overview of all functions congured to your hearing instrument(s).
The hearing instrument amplication is uniquely adjusted and optimised to your personal
hearing capabilities by the prescription performed by your Hearing Care Professional.
If you have any questions to the use or maintenance of hearing instrument, please
contact your Hearing Care Professional.
Indications for Use
The hearing instrument are intended to amplify and transmit sound to the ear and
thereby compensate for mild to severe impaired hearing.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Please familiarise yourself with the entire content of this booklet before using your
hearing instrument. It contains instructions and important information about the use
and handling of your hearing instrument and batteries.
Continues on next page
View of size 10 battery instruments (CIC, MIC, ITC, HS) 7a
View of size 312 battery instruments (ITC, HS, FS) 7b
View of size 13 battery instruments (ITC, HS, FS) 7c
Warnings 9
Activating the hearing instrument for the rst time 15
Replacing the battery 16
Turning your instrument ON and OFF 18
Left/Right ear marking 19
Inserting your hearing instrument 20
Individual right/left program control 21
Coordinated right/left program control 22
Coordinated right/left volume control 23
Coordinated right/left program and volume control 24
Volume control by wheel 26
Telecoil (optional) 28
Contents

7a
Autophone (optional) 30
Caring for your hearing instrument 32
Cleaning the instrument 33
Replacing ProWax sound outlet lter 36
Replacing T-Cap microphone lter (Instruments with size 10 batteries) 38
Replacing O-Cap microphone lters (Instruments with size 312 and 13 batteries) 40
Avoiding heat, humidity and chemicals 42
Eight easy steps to better hearing 43
Common problems and their solutions 48
Wireless accessories 50
International warranty 51
Warranty certicate 52
Mobile phone 53
Technical information 55
Settings overview for your hearing instrument 58
View of size 10 battery instruments (CIC, MIC, ITC, HS)
Microphone opening with
T-Cap microphone lter
Battery door
Ventilation opening
Sound outlet with
ProWax wax
protection system
Ventilation opening
Push-button
(optional)

7b
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Open the battery door fully to allow air to circulate whenever you are not using your
hearing instrument, particularly overnight.
View of size 312 battery instruments (ITC, HS, FS)
Battery door
Ventilation opening
Ventilation opening
Push-button
(optional)
Push-button
(optional)
1 or 2 microphone
openings with O-Cap
microphone lter
Sound outlet with
ProWax wax
protection system
Volume control wheel
(optional)

7c
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Open the battery door fully to allow air to circulate whenever you are not using your
hearing instrument, particularly overnight.
View of size 13 battery instruments (ITC, HS, FS)
1 or 2 microphone
openings with O-Cap
microphone lter
Push-button
(optional)
Volume control wheel
(optional)
Ventilation
opening
Sound outlet with
ProWax wax
protection system
Ventilation
opening
Push-button
(optional)

9
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Open the battery door fully to allow air to circulate whenever you are not using your
hearing instrument, particularly overnight.
You should familiarise yourself fully with the following general warnings and the entire
content of this booklet before using your hearing instrument.
Usage of hearing instruments
• Hearing instruments should be used only as directed and adjusted by your Hearing Care
Professional. Misuse can result in sudden and permanent hearing loss.
• Never allow others to wear your hearing instrument as incorrect usage could cause
permanent damage to their hearing.
Choking Hazards
• Hearing instruments, their parts, and batteries are not toys and should be kept out of
reach of children and anyone who might swallow these items or otherwise cause injury
to themselves.
• Never replace the battery or adjust the controls of the hearing instrument in front of
infants, small children or people with learning diculties.
• Discard batteries carefully in a place where infants, small children or people with
learning diculties cannot reach them.
Warnings

10 11
• Batteries have occasionally been mistaken for pills. Therefore check your medicine
carefully before swallowing any pills.
• Never put your hearing instrument or batteries in your mouth for any reason, as they
are slippery and could be swallowed by accident.
• Most hearing instruments can be supplied with a tamper-resistant battery
compartment upon request. This is strongly recommended for infants, small children,
and people with learning diculties.
If a battery or hearing instrument is swallowed, see a doctor immediately.
Battery use
• Always use batteries recommended by your Hearing Care Professional. Batteries of low
quality may leak and cause bodily harm.
• Never attempt to recharge your batteries. They may explode and cause serious injury.
• Never dispose of batteries by burning them. There is a risk that they will explode and
cause serious injury.
Warnings
Dysfunction in hearing instruments
• Hearing instruments may stop functioning, for instance if the batteries have expired
or if the sound outlet is blocked by moisture or ear wax. You should be aware of this
possibility, in particular when you are in trac or otherwise dependent on warning
sounds.
Active Implants
Caution must be shown with active implants. General advice is to follow the guideline as
recommended by manufacturers of implantable debrillators and pacemakers regarding
use with mobile phones:
• If you wear an active implant, then keep the hearing instrument more than 15 cm away
from the implant e.g. do not carry them in a breast pocket.
• If you have an active brain implant, please contact the manufacturer of your
implantable device for information about the risk of disturbance.
Warnings

12 13
• The included case for instrument storage may have a built-in magnet. If so, and you
have an implantable device, such as pacemakers or debrillators, the instrument case
should not be carried in a chest pocket or near to the chest.
If you are in doubt of details of your instrument case, contact your Hearing Care
Professional.
• The MultiTool has a built-in magnet. If you have an implantable device, such as
pacemakers or debrillators, the MultiTool should not be carried in a breast pocket or
near the chest.
Explosives
• The power source in your hearing instrument has insucient energy to cause re in
normal conditions of use. The hearing instrument has not been tested for compliance
with international standards concerning explosive atmospheres. It is recommended not
to use your hearing instrument in areas where there is a danger of explosions.
Warnings
X-ray, CT, MR, PET scanning and electrotherapy
• Remove your hearing instrument for example during X-ray, CT / MR / PET scanning
electrotherapy or surgery as your hearing instrument may be damaged when exposed
to strong elds.
Possible side eects
• Hearing instruments, moulds or domes may cause an accelerated accumulation of ear
wax.
• The otherwise non-allergenic materials used in hearing instruments may in rare cases
cause a skin irritations or any other unusual condition.
Please seek consultation with a physician if these conditions occur.
Warnings

14 15
Interference
• Your hearing instrument has been thoroughly tested for interference, according to
the most stringent international standards. However, interference with your hearing
instrument and other devices may occur, for example for some mobile telephones,
citizens band devices and shop alarm systems. If this occur increase the distance
between the hearing instrument and the device.
Wax protection system
• If the instrument sound outlet is equipped with a ProWax wax protection system,
follow the directions specied in the section “How to replace ProWax lter”.
• Always use the same type of wax lter like that which was originally supplied with the
instrument.
If you are in any doubt about the use or replacement of your wax protection system,
contact your Hearing Care Professional.
Warnings Activating the hearing instrument for the rst time
A hearing instrument is a miniature electronic device that runs on special batteries.
To activate the hearing instrument, you must insert a fresh battery in the battery
compartment.
The hearing instrument will start up when the battery door is closed. It will take a few
seconds until sound is produced. A jingle is played while the start up process is running.
You may insert the hearing instrument immediately upon closing the battery door.
If the hearing instrument is held in the hand while activated, it may produce a whistling
sound. This will stop when properly tted in the ear.

16 17
Replacing the battery
The correct battery size appears in the instrument overview in the rst section of this
document. Batteries perform dierently. Ask your Hearing Care Professional for help
choosing a high quality battery for your hearing instrument.
A worn out battery should be removed immediately and disposed according to local
regulations.
You will hear 2 beeps when it is time to replace the battery.
This pre-warning will be repeated in moderate intervals until the
battery runs out. The battery may run out shortly after a pre-warning
or within the next couple of hours depending on battery capabilities
and individual hearing losses.
If the battery runs out the instrument turns o. When that happens,
4 beeps are played to indicate that the instrument is no longer
operating.
Replace the battery.
To replace the battery, follow these instructions:
• Open the battery door with your ngernail and remove the old battery. The magnet
at the end of the MultiTool may be useful in helping you with the handling of the
batteries.
• Remove the sticky label from the + side of the new battery.
• The new battery may be inserted by using the magnetic end of the MultiTool.
Ensure that the positive (+) marking faces the positive (+) sign printed on the battery
door. Close the battery door.
If any moisture is on the battery surface, it should be
wiped o before use.
When you replace the battery, it will take a few
seconds before the battery works. MultiTool

18 19
Turning your instrument ON and OFF
Turn ON your hearing instrument by closing the battery door completely with the battery
in place.
When the battery door is closed the instrument will start up by playing a jingle.
This indicates that the battery is working and the instrument is operating.
Turn OFF your hearing instrument by opening the battery door with your nger nail.
To preserve the battery, make sure your hearing instrument is switched o when you are
not wearing it.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Open the battery door fully to allow air
to circulate whenever you are not using
your hearing instrument, particularly
overnight or for longer periods of time.
OFF
ON
Left/Right ear marking
Hearing instruments are tted to the uniqueness of each ear, which means if you have
two instruments then your left hearing instrument is shaped and programmed dierently
from your right. That is why it is important to distinguish between the left hearing
instrument and the right.
In order to easily identify whether it is the left ear or right ear instrument, colour
markings may be applied.
A BLUE shell, text or dot identies the LEFT instrument.
A RED shell, text or dot identies the RIGHT instrument.

20 21
Inserting your hearing instrument
Hold the instrument so that the coloured dot faces
upwards.
Place the tip of the hearing instrument in your ear canal.
Gently pull your ear and push the hearing instrument into
the ear canal, twisting slightly if necessary, following the
natural contor of the ear canal.
DO NOT use the battery door as a handle to insert or
remove your instrument. It is not designed for this
purpose.
Individual right/left program control
The listening programs available in your hearing instruments are congured by your
Hearing Care Professional. When the hearing instruments are turned on, they start up in
program 1.
Press the push-button briey to change program. Your hearing instrument will beep.
The number of beeps indicates which program you are using (1 beep = program 1).
Change program
in right instrument
Change program
in left instrument
Push-button

22 23
The listening programs available in your hearing instruments are congured by your
Hearing Care Professional. When the hearing instruments are turned on, they start up in
program 1.
Press the push-button briey to change program. Both instruments will change program
and beep. The number of beeps indicates which program you are using (1 beep = program
1).
Coordinated right/left program control Coordinated right/left volume control
Next program
in sequence
Previous program
in sequence
Push-button
When the hearing instruments are turned on, they start up at a preferred volume level.
Press the push-button briey to adjust the listening volume. Both instruments will
change volume and make a ‘click’ sound to give you an impression of volume level.
A double-beep indicates that you have reached the preferred volume level.
Note: Volume indications in your instruments may dier. See last page.
Volume upVolume down
Push-button

24 25
Coordinated right/left program
and volume control
When the hearing instruments are turned on, they start up in program 1 and at a
preferred volume level.
Brief press: Volume (+)
2 sec. press: Program (+)
Brief press: Volume (–)
2 sec. press: Program (–)
Push-button
Press the push-button briey to adjust the listening volume. Both instruments will
change volume and make a ‘click’ sound to give you an impression of volume level.
A double-beep indicates that you have reached the preferred volume level.
Note: Volume indications in your instruments may dier. See last page.
Press and hold the push-button for about 2 seconds to change program. Both instruments
will change program and beep. The number of beeps indicates which program you are
using (1 beep = program 1).

26 27
Volume control by wheel
The volume of the right and left instrument are controlled independently.
When the hearing instrument is turned on, it starts up at a preferred volume level.
The volume control wheel can be operated with the tip of a nger and can be rotated
innitely both ways.
When adjusting the volume level, the instrument will make a ‘click’ sound to give you an
impression of volume level.
A double-beep indicates that you have reached the preferred volume level.
Note: Volume indications in your instruments may dier. See last page.
Volume
Volume Control Wheel
(–)
(+)

28
Telecoil (optional)
Your hearing instrument may have a telecoil.
The telecoil is a receiver for audio signals transmitted from an inductive loop installation.
The telecoil is meant for telephone* conversations and for loop systems in places such as
theaters, churches or lecture rooms.
The telecoil is activated by the push-button. When activated, you will hear a certain
number of beeps corresponding to the telecoil program.
See the “Hearing programs description” on last page for where the telecoil program is
placed.
This logo incorporates the universal symbol for hearing assistance, the “T”
signies an available telecoil compatible system.
* Requires a telephone with built in tele loop. Tele loop is a common standard for assisted
listening and transmits the audio to the telecoil in the hearing instrument.

30 31
Autophone (optional)
The hearing instrument may have a built-in autophone functionality. When the hearing
instrument is close to a telephone receiver, the autophone will activate a phone program.
When the phone program is activiated you will hear a number of beeps.
When you end your telephone conversation, the hearing instrument will automatically
return to the previous program.
Not all telephones can activate the autophone. The
telephone receiver must have a special magnet tted. Please
follow the separate instructions for mounting the magnet,
which is available from your Hearing Care Professional.
WARNING
If you use an autophone magnet:
• Keep magnets out of reach of children and pets. If a magnet is swallowed, see a
doctor immediately.
• Do not wear the magnet in a breast pocket and always keep it 30 cm away from
active implanatable devices such as pacemakers, debrillators etc. Preferably, use
the telephone with magnet on the opposite side than a pacemaker or other active
implantants.
• Keep the magnet 30cm away from credit cards and other magnetically sensitive
devices.

32 33
Caring for your hearing instrument
Your ear canal produces ear wax (cerumen) which may clog up the sound outlet or the
ventilation opening of your hearing instrument. Therefore your hearing instrument may
contain a lter or another device to prevent wax accumulation. Consult your Hearing Care
Professional for instructions about the specic wax protection system in your hearing
instrument.
When handling a hearing instrument, keep it over a soft surface to avoid damage if you
drop it.
Before retiring at night:
• Make sure that there is no ear wax in any of the instrument openings since it may
reduce the hearing instrument’s eciency.
• Open the battery door to allow air to circulate.
Cleaning the instrument
A range of dedicated cleaning tools is prepared for the special purpose of cleaning the
instrument. These should be used to ensure the best care and performance of your
hearing instrument.
The MultiTool contains a brush and a wire loop for the special purpose of cleaning wax
from the hearing instrument.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The hearing instrument itself must never be washed or immersed in water or other
liquids.
Cover Handle
MagnetWire loop MultiTool
Brush

34 35
Here is how . . .
• Clean away any traces of wax from around the ventilation openings, microphone inlets
and sound outlet with the brush. Hardened sediments can be removed by the wire loop
in the MultiTool. If the microphone inlets or the sound outlet are clogged by dust or dirt,
this will aect the performance of the instrument.
• Clean the ventilation opening by pressing the brush through the hole while twisting it
slightly.
• If the ventilation opening is very tiny a special tool may be required for cleansing.
Your Hearing Care Professional can advise.
• Use the cloth to wipe clean the surface of the instrument.
• If the white wax protection system (called ProWax) placed in the sound outlet seems
lled up and blocked by ear wax, it must be replaced.
• If the microphone wax protection system (O-Cap or T-Cap; see page 7a, 7b or 7c seems
lled up and blocked by ear wax, it must be replaced.
Replace the MultiTool brush when necessary. Just pull it out of the handle and insert a
new fresh brush. Press the new one rmly into the handle.
Ventilation Cleaning
Tool for tiny openings