signia Contrast S+ User manual

Information about your
hearing aid
East Kent NHS Audiology Services
East Kent Hospitals University
NHS Foundation Trust

2
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................ 4
Types of hearing loss .............................................................. 6
Hearing aids ............................................................................ 8
Frequently asked questions ................................................ 10
Getting started with your hearing aids .............................. 14
Ear mould hearing aids ........................................................ 20
LifeTip hearing aids .............................................................. 26
Communication tactics ........................................................ 30
The patient journey .............................................................. 32
General notes on safety ...................................................... 34

3
What to do if the aid stops working .................................. 36
Repair service ........................................................................ 38
Battery replacement service ................................................ 40
Sources of further information ............................................ 41
Please note:
For further and more
comprehensive safety
information please refer
to your product user
guide and safety guide.

4
Introduction
Congratulations on getting your hearing aid(s)
the first step towards better hearing. There is
no doubt that with practice it will make a real
difference towards your quality of life.
Please take the time to read this guide as it will help you to get
the best out of your new digital hearing aid. It will remind you
of what your Audiologist explained at your fitting appointment,
and also contains extra information about how to use and look
after your aid.
You will also find tips that you can use to make it easier to
understand what other people are saying. There is also contact
information for useful organisations and support services.
If you have any difficulties that are not solved by this guide,
your local audiology service is there to help you.

5
All hearing aids supplied by the NHS are highly advanced, digital
aids. Your hearing aid has been programmed electronically to
take into account your individual requirements. This begins with
your Audiologist performing a hearing assessment.
Your new hearing aid

6
Types of hearing loss
250 500 1000125
0
2000 4000 8000
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
FREQUENCY IN CYCLES PER SECOND (Hz)
HEARING LEVELS IN DECIBELS (Db)
Mild
Moderate
Moderately-severe
Severe
Profound
Audiogram of familiar sounds
Please note:
People often have hearing
thresholds spanning two or
more of these classes of
hearing loss in different
pitches / ears.

7
May have difficulty following speech, especially in noisy
situations. This type of loss is often noticed by family first
rather than the patient.
Often has difficulty following speech and misses other quiet noises.
Amplification is very successful for this loss, but the patient also
needs to use good hearing tactics.
Unable to hear speech even in quiet surroundings and may not
hear general noises such as traffic unless they are loud.
Amplificatio n is very successful for this loss, but the patient also
needs to use good hearing tactics. Lip-reading classes could
benefit people with this hearing level.
Unable to hear most sounds unless they are very loud.
Amplification is often useful, but the patient will also need to rely
on good hearing tactics. Lip-reading classes would also be useful
for people with this hearing loss. Patients in this category may also
use sign language and watch sign assisted programmes.
Will need to wear appropriate amplification technology (e.g.
hearing aids, cochlear implant, FM) in order to hear conversational
speech.

Either an Ear Mould,LifeTip or Click Dome has been
prescribed for you, depending on your hearing loss.
8
Hearing aids
If your hearing is suitable, you will be offered digital hearing
aids. This means that they are programmed with a computer
to a prescription suitable for your loss.
Contrast™S+ Contrast™R+ Contrast™SP+Contrast™ HP+
Your hearing aid(s) may look like one of these:
Ear Mould LifeTip™Click Dome

9
A hearing aid cannot give you perfect hearing but they should
help you to hear everyday sounds like clocks ticking, birds
singing, etc.
The aid(s) should also make speech a bit clearer for you, so you
don’t have to listen as hard. It should help you hear when
people are speaking to you and give you more confidence.
In noisy places the background noise will still be there as it is for
someone who has normal hearing. You will probably find that it
is helpful to watch people’s faces in noisy places like high streets
and restaurants.
You may still find it difficult to follow what people are saying
and, if both ears are impaired, wearing two aids may help you
to focus better on what you want to listen to.

10
Frequently asked questions
Will I have normal hearing with hearing aids in?
No, the hearing aids can only work with the hearing that you have
left. It will sound strange to start off with, but with perseverance it
will sound more natural. It should take the strain out of listening
though.
Will my own voice change by wearing hearing aids?
It is very common that your own voice may sound slightly different
to what you are used to hearing, this is because you have been used
to hearing your own voice with a hearing loss. When the aid(s) are
initially fitted the sound of your own voice can sound a little strange
as it is now being amplified. Your own voice may appear a little
quieter to others.
What if I don’t like the sound of my own voice?
To start with, your voice may sound unfamiliar to you but after 2-6
weeks this should subside with regular use of the hearing aids. For
some patients this may take longer than 2-6 weeks.
Is there anything else that could help as well as
a hearing aid?
Yes, social care can give out extra equipment for the TV, the doorbell
and the phone. Please see the contact details and information
supplied in this booklet.

11
Are there any listening situations that I will still have
difficulty hearing even with my hearing aids?
Your hearing aids are programmed to automatically adjust to suit
the environment that you are in, however there are limitations to
the technology. Sometimes manual programs can be added to help
specifically with environments that you find especially hard to hear
in. These options can be discussed with your Audiologist.
How do I get used to wearing a hearing aid?
By wearing the hearing aids you are teaching yourself to listen
again. When your hearing deteriorates it takes time to get used to
all the new background noises and hearing speech can be strange
to start with. Just like glasses, it takes time to get used to the
physical fit. The more you wear the hearing aids, the more natural
they will feel.

12
I’ve had one hearing aid for a long time and now I
have been given two one for each ear. What will
this feel like?
The newly aided ear may take a while to get used to wearing a
hearing aid, compared to the ear which has had a hearing aid
previously. Similarly to when you received your first hearing aid, your
brain needs time to adjust to hearing from this side again as it is
learning to use both ears together. To start with it may sound less
natural but please persevere with it until your hearing aid review
appointment to allow for this adjustment.
I’ve been given two hearing aids – should I wear
them both together?
Wearing two hearing aids gives a much more balanced, more natural
sound. It will also be easier to locate where sounds are coming from
when both hearing aids are worn. The hearing aids have been
programmed as a pair and if you only wear one aid the settings may
be incorrect for your hearing loss.
How often should I be wearing the hearing aids?
Ideally all day every day – the more they are in the ears, the better.
Sometimes it may not be obvious how much you can hear with it but
persevere as much as you can. Remember, you never know when you
might need to hear something, for example, the doorbell or
telephone, etc.

13
Please note:
The hearing aids should not get wet. During showering,
heavy rain, at the hairdressers etc., they should be removed
to prevent damage. If the aid is damaged through negligence
a charge may be incurred.

14
Getting started with
your hearing aids
Turning ON/OFF
Turning the
hearing aid ON
•close the battery
compartment
Turning the
hearing aid OFF
•open the battery
compartment
You may have an alternative
ON/OFF on your hearing aid.
Ask your Audiologist for
further details
Rocker
Switch
Push
Button
Remote
Control
Changing the battery
Open the battery
compartment.
Remove coloured sticker
from new battery, place
battery in drawer with +
symbol on battery + side up.
(You should only remove the
protective sticker when you
actually use the battery).
Close battery door
Your battery size is:
312 13 675
1
2
3

15
You may have a volume control
on your hearing aid. Your
hearing aid has an automatic
volume control which adjusts
depending on the listening
situation you are in.
You can use the
rocker switch to
make additional
volume adjustments
to make the sound
more comfortable.
Press up to increase
volume and press
down to decrease
volume.
Please refer to the 'controls' section
of our User Guide for our specific
controls configuration.
With the controls you can, for example, adjust the volume or
switch hearing programs. Your hearing instruments may have a
push button or rocker switch. Your audiologist has assigned your
desired functions to the controls. With two hearing aids these can
be set to adjust the volume on one side and switch hearing
programs on the other.
Volu e control
• When the volume control is at
maximum or minimum levels, the
hearing aid will indicate this with
beeps. If you continue to press the
volume button, the volume will
not increase or decrease further.
• To reset to your prescription volume,
turn the aid off and on again.
• Batteries last for up to 2 weeks.
Beeping will sound 0 minutes
before they run out. Do not wait
for the battery to completely run
out, change at this time – or both
batteries if there are 2 hearing aids.
• Battery replacement
service is available -
see page [ 0]
Please note:

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Progra s
To change
program press
the push button
briefly.
If using a rocker
switch, changing the
program may be a
brief press of the up
or down rocker
switch or long press if
the rocker switch is
configured to change
both volume and
program change.
Please refer to the 'controls' section
of our User Guide for our specific
controls configuration.
Everyday Listening
Upon switching the hearing aid
on, program one is active. This
program automatically and
continually adjusts the digital
features of the hearing aid for
you, to ensure that speech is
comfortable and audible from
all directions.
Noisy Environment
This program reduces noise
from behind the listener and
focuses more on speech from
the front.
Loop System/Telecoil
This program allows the
listener to hear sound directly
from a microphone e.g. banks,
theatres, supermarkets, churches
or anywhere you see
this symbol

17
Leave your hearing aid in
your ear and working
normally.
Put the telephone receiver
to the hearing aid towards
the top of your ear as shown
in the picture bottom right.
This will make the voice of
the person calling louder
for you.
Telephone program
You may prefer a certain volume
when using the telephone. Ask
your Audiologist to configure
a telephone program.
•Switch to the telephone
program whenever you
are on the phone.
1
2
Using the telephone



18
Your progra s
Depending on how your
audiologist has programmed
your hearing aid(s) will
determine what program you
select. When the program
button is pressed once, you
will hear two beeps indicating
a move onto program two. If
the program button is pressed
again, you will hear three
beeps and so on.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Everyday Listening
Please note:
• To reset your hearing aid to the original program (1),
press the program button until only one beep is heard or
alternatively to reset all settings, turn the aid off and on
again.
• Do not use the loop setting (3) unless you are in the vicinity
of a loop system. If the loop setting is active at any other
time, the amplified sound will be reduced.

19
If you think an easyPocket, miniPocket
or easyTek would assist you please ask
your Audiologist for further details.
Please note these devices would have
to be funded by the patient.
Please refer to the
'controls' section of
your User Guide for
your specific controls
configuration.
Re ote controls
A remote control may also be
used to change the volume and
hearing programs. The
easyPocket™remote control is
available as an optional
accessory for all Contrast models.
The miniPocket™is an ultra
small size remote control which
is small enough to carry on a
key ring yet powerful enough
to control all essential features.
The easyTek™audio streamer is
available for all Contrast+
hearing aids. easyTek provides
audio streaming for devices
such as smartphones, tablets
and televisions direct to the
Teneo+ hearing aids. The
easyTek App™ provides an ultra
discreet , easy way for you to
control your Contrast+ hearing
aid.
All Contrast+ hearing aids
also are compatible with the
touchControl App™which
provides simple volume and
program adjustments and is
available to download for free
from the Google Play and
Apple App stores.
miniPocket
(Contrast models)
easyPocket
(Contrast models)
easyTek
(Contrast models)

20
Ear ould hearing aids
Putting your hearing aid in
Raise the aid to your ear as
shown. Tuck the top point
of the mould into the fold
of your ear.
Put the bottom half of the
mould down into your ear.
Press the mould piece firmly
into your ear.
You may need to use your
other hand to stretch your
ear to ease fitting.
Hook the aid over the top of
your ear. Turn the hearing
aid on.
1
2
3
4
5
Elbow
Mould
Top point
of mould
Hearing aid