Siemens CENTRA User manual

CENTRATM
User Guide
Custom hearing system
s

2
Congratulations !
As the owner of a new hearing system, you may once again
enjoy the sounds of your environment and conversation
with your family and friends.
These instructions as well as support from your hearing
instrument specialist will help you understand how your new
hearing system works. In this guide, you’ll find instructions
on insertion, removal, and use of your CENTRATM hearing sys-
tem. There are also tips and information on proper handling,
cleaning, care, and changing of the batteries. In addition,
a troubleshooting section is offered for your reference.
Your hearing improvement with a hearing system depends
on the fit of the hearing instruments, the type and degree
of hearing loss, and proper diagnostic testing. Of course, a
hearing system cannot restore normal hearing, and not
everyone will benefit equally.
More than 80 percent of individuals with a hearing loss have
a hearing loss in both ears. Studies show that even when a
hearing loss is worse in one ear, most people with a hearing
loss in both ears will benefit from wearing two hearing
instruments.
Remember, a hearing system consists of finely-tuned devices
that have been specially designed and expertly adjusted for
your individual needs. Proper care and handling will ensure
the best possible performance of your CENTRA hearing
system.

3
Contents
Page
Description of your CENTRA custom hearing system 4
Battery insertion and removal 5
Inserting and removing your custom hearing system 8
Turning your hearing system on and off 10
e2e wirelessTM 11
Using the program button 13
Using the volume control 15
Using the telephone 16
Maintenance and care 18
Important notes 20
Troubleshooting tips 21

4
Description of your CENTRA
custom hearing system
Your hearing system is individually
manufactured according to the
shape of your ears or ear canals.
1. First Microphone
2. Second microphone TwinMicTM
(optional)
3. Battery compartment
4. Program button (optional)
5. Volume control (optional)
6. Vent
7. Removal cord (optional)
Each hearing instrument can be
identified by the serial number
located on the outside of the
instrument. If the number is
written in red, the hearing ins-
trument is for the right ear.
If the number is written in blue,
the hearing instrument is for
the left ear.
IT
CT
CS
CIC
3
6
1
4
1
3
5
6
4

5
Inserting the battery:
Open the battery compartment with
your fingernail pull the tab on the
battery compartment door outward
until the door swings open all the
way as shown in the illustration.
Battery insertion and removal
Handling the battery
Remove the tab on your battery
only when you are ready to use it.
Three useful tips:
• The positive (+) side of the battery is always the
smooth side. You can recognize the negative (-) side
by the colored ring.
• Always keep spare batteries with you.
• If you think you cannot change the battery by yourself,
ask someone to help you: a family member, friend or
your hearing instrument specialist.

Insert a proper sized battery so
that the "+” symbol on the battery
matches the "+” marked on the
battery compartment.
6
Close the battery compartment by gently pressing the bot-
tom of the door upward with your finger tip. Do not force the
door shut. If it does not close easily, check if the battery was
inserted properly. When the battery door is completely closed,
your hearing instrument is ready for use.
Low battery indicator
Your hearing system may be programmed to inform
you when the battery should be replaced for best system
performance. You may hear an intermittent series of beeps
and/or experience low amplification power or volume.
Change the battery when either of these occurs.
When using a remote control
If you have an ePocketTM remote control, you can check the
battery status using the "data read out” function. (See the
ePocket user guide for more information).

7
Caution:
Keep batteries and instruments away from the reach of
small children.
Batteries can be harmful if swallowed.
If swallowed consult a physician or a hospital
immediately.
Change the batteries when any of the following occur:
- volume becomes softer or weak
- you hear a battery signal beep
- You see empty battery status on the display of
your ePocket.
Do NOT throw used batteries into household trash.
Return them to your hearing instrument specialist
for environmentally correct disposal.

8
Inserting and removing your
custom hearing system
Hold the hearing instrument with
your thumb and index finger,
carefully push the instrument in
the ear canal. Gently work it into
its proper position by slightly
twisting until it is firmly seated.
Lightly press inward for a secure
and comfortable fit.
You may find it helpful to pull
your ear slightly upward or to the
back. Once inserted, you should
be able to feel if the hearing ins-
trument is correctly positioned.
Tip:
Practice inserting and removing
your hearing instrument correctly.
An easy way to practice is to sit
down at a table. Place a mirror in
front of you and prop your elbows
on the table so you can guide
your hands easily and safely. This
will help you stay relaxed and
comfortable while you practice.

9
To remove the hearing instrument,
push lightly on the back of your
ear to help loosen it or pull gently
on your ear. Then using your index
finger, slowly pull the hearing
instrument from your ear.
The completely-in-the-canal hea-
ring instruments can be removed
by pulling the small removal cord
toward the back of your head.
Caution:
Never pull on the battery com-
partment door or volume control
wheel to remove the hearing
instrument, as this could cause
damage to your hearing
instrument.

10
Turning your hearing
system on and off
Via the battery compartment
Your CENTRA hearing system turns on automatically when a
battery is inserted and the compartment door is completely
closed.
To turn the hearing system off, open the compartment
completely.
Via the push button
Your hearing instrument specialist can also program your
hearing system to be turned ON and OFF using the program
button.
To turn your hearing instrument OFF, press and hold the
program button for approximately 2 seconds.
To turn your hearing instrument ON again, press and hold
the program button for approximately 2 seconds.
Please note that when you turn your hearing instrument OFF
using the program button, you must wait approximately 10
seconds for the instrument to reset before you can turn it
back ON again using the program button.
Check with your hearing instrument specialist which ON/OFF
function your hearing system is equipped with
Power-on Delay
Your hearing instrument is equipped with an advanced
"power-on delay" feature. This feature delays sound from
entering your hearing instrument when it is first turned on,
so that you may insert the hearing instrument in to your ear
without experiencing unpleasant feedback (whistling). The
“power-on delay” can be activated by your hearing
instrument specialist.

11
e2e wirelessTM
Unique to your CENTRA hearing system is the e2e (ear-to-ear)
wireless technology. This wireless functionality …
… automatically adjusts both of your hearing instruments
simultaneously to different listening situations.
… allows use of accessories including the ePocket
(bi-directional remote control) function.
… provides synchronization of the settings in the system.
If you change the volume or program on one hearing
instrument, the other is automatically adapted.
Your hearing instrument specialist can activate or deactivate
the e2e wireless functionality of your hearing system. The
ePocket function can be activated or deactivated separately.
Note:
The performance of the e2e wireless could be affected by
electro-magnetic interferences, such as a computer monitor or
halogen lamp systems controlled by a switching power supply.
Move away from the source of interference if you experience
difficulty.

12
ePocketTM accessory
Wireless remote control -
ePocket
(accessory)
The e2e wireless function of your
CENTRA hearing system supports
ePocket, the bi-directional remote
control from Siemens. With ePocket,
you can change the program and
volume of your hearing system and
read out the system settings. For
further information on ePocket,
contact your hearing instrument
specialist or refer to the ePocket
user guide.
Note:
In case the hearing aid is controlled by another person’s re-
mote control unit (RCU), please return RCU and hearing aid
to the service department for change of the transmission key.
During the use of the wireless link while instrument is opera-
ted in telephone coil mode, pulsing noise may be heard due
to pick-up
of the transmission signal by the hearing aid
telephone coil . Please use remote control in telephone coil
mode only with a distance greater than 10 cm.

13
Using the program button
How to select the programs
Your CENTRA hearing system of-
fers up to four hearing programs
for specific listening environments.
They change the characteristics of
the sound coming through the
hearing system. Select a program
using the program button of your
hearing aid.
Each time you press the program button, your hearing system
switches to the next program, confirming each change with a
beep. The number of beeps you hear coincides with the selec-
ted program: one beep for the first program, two beeps for the
second program etc.
The program button can be programmed for special functions
Telephone coil: When you hold a telephone receiver to your
CENTRA hearing instrument, the telephone program Auto-
Phone is automatically activated by the magnetic field of the
receiver. If you use a microphone headset instead of a tele-
phone receiver, you can manually toggle to the program for
microphone mode using the program button.
Ask your hearing instrument specialist about these functio-
nalities and he will program your CENTRA hearing system to
your individual needs.
Note:
For e2e wireless function:
If you are wearing two hearing instruments, the program will
be changed on both instruments at the same time.

14
Using the directional microphone system
For example:
A typical situation for the directional mode is a face-to-face
conversation in a noisy environment. A typical situation for
the omni-directional mode is when you are in more quiet
environments and want to hear the sounds around you.
Your hearing instrument specialist will program the operation
of the directional microphone system to function either auto-
matically or in conjunction with the program button based on
your individual hearing requirements and preferences. If the
directional microphone system is not programmed to function
automatically, your hearing instrument specialist can instruct
you on its use.
1
2
3
4
Description of the hearing situation
Hearing program
Your CENTRA IT and CT hearing sys-
tem can have a directional micro-
phone system, which can be pro-
grammed to your individual needs.
It can be set to an automatic mode
so the CENTRA hearing system auto-
matically adjusts the microphone sys-
tem from omni-directional to direc-
tional mode and back, depending
on the hearing situation.

All CENTRA ITE hearing systemts
can have a manual volume control
expect your CIC system.
In general, volume control of
CENTRA hearing systems is fully
automatic and there is no need
to manually adjust the volume.
Should you prefer manual volume control, however, CENTRA
hearing systems can be programmed for manual adjustment.
For manual adjustment, rotate the wheel-shaped volume
control with your index finger to select the desired listening
volume (clockwise = louder, counter-clockwise = softer).
If your hearing system is equipped with a warning tone for
volume control limits, once it is heard, adjusting the volume
control further in that direction will have no effect.
Learning function
CENTRA hearing instruments memorize changes made in
volume control settings. They are evaluated, averaged, and
automatically applied. This means that over time your hearing
instrument automatically adapts to your preferences regarding
t he volume setting for each program.
If your hearing system has not been programmed for manual
control adjustment, the volume will automatically adjust and
rotating the volume control wheel will have no effect.
15
Using the volume control
Note:
With the ePocket remote control, volume settings can be
adjusted and memorized on all systems.

16
Using the telephone
Automatic telephone program
With the AutoPhone function, your
CENTRA hearing system will auto-
matically switch to the telephone
program when you hold a hearing-
instrument-compatible telephone
receiver to your hearing instrument.
When you have finished speaking
on the phone and you move the
telephone receiver away from the hearing instrument, it will
automatically return to the previously used hearing program.
You can also select the telephone program manually by using
the program button.
The telephone program can be set to
microphone mode or telephone coil mode. Your hearing ins-
trument specialist will program your hearing system to your
individual requirements.
AutoPhone magnet accessory
Some telephones produce a magnetic field strong enough to
automatically activate the AutoPhone function. Most types of
telephones, however, require a small magnet, which is avail-
able as an accessory and can be attached to telephone recei-
vers to activate the AutoPhone function. Ask your hearing
instrument specialist about this accessory and if it is right for
your hearing care needs.

17
Note:
Magnets can pose risks to electronics and magnetic storage
mediums when placed in close proximity. Take care not to
set magnets near computers, color monitors, television sets,
floppy discs, credit cards, video/audio tapes, and other elec-
tronic equip-ment. Keep magnets away from the reach of
children.
If swallowed, consult your physician. Magnets may interfere
with the operation of life supporting systems (i.e. pace-
makers, magnetic valves etc). Use a magnet only if not in
doubt about the safe distance. The safe distance between
pacemaker and magnet should be at least 10 cm (4 inch).

18
Maintenance and care
Your new Centra hearing system is a highly sensitive system.
Proper care and handling will ensure best possible
performance.
If soreness or skin irritation develops in the ear, discontinue
wearing your hearing system, and bring it to your hearing
instrument specialist. Minor fit adjustments and polishing
can often correct this condition. If soreness persists, discon-
tinue wearing the hearing system and see your physician.
If excessive earwax accumulates when wearing your hearing
system, consult your hearing instrument specialist.
1. Caution: Water will damage
your hearing system. Never put
your hearing system in water!

19
3. Occasionally bring your hearing
system to your hearing instrument
specialist to change the wax guard,
clean the venting channel, the
microphone and sound outlets, and
for general system maintenance.
Your hearing instrument specialist
will make sure that the hearing
system functions correctly and fits
properly in your ear.
Care tips:
• You should place your hearing system in a "dry aid kit"
with a special moisture-attracting capsule overnight.
The drying capsule draws damaging moisture out of
the system.
• Your hearing instrument specialist can provide you with
special care sets and drying capsules to keep your hearing
system in good condition.
2. Your hearing system may be
equipped with a sieve, recess or
guard on the sound outlet to
prevent earwax from entering the
hearing system. Your hearing care
specialist will provide you with the
wax protection appropriate for your
system and can advise you how to
clean or replace it.
Always store your
hearing system in
the case provided.

20
Important notes
• Never expose your hearing system to extreme
temperatures or high humidity. Do not store it in direct
sunlight. Do not wear it when taking a shower or when
applying hairspray.
• As with all electrical, non gas-encapsulated systems,
the hearing system must not be operated in explosion-
endangered rooms.
• Do not wear your hearing system , during short-wave
therapy, or if you work with medical treatments with
that use strong magnetic or high-frequency fields,
such as magnetic resonance tomography, X-rays or
microwave oven.
• Make sure to turn off the system when not in use.
This helps preserve the batteries.
• When not wearing your system for long periods of time,
remove the batteries. This prevents leakage, which can
sometimes occur in batteries. Replace batteries that have
a leakage immediately.
• This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
• Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user´s
authority to operate the equipment.
IC: 267AB-WL001