Sonic VELOCITY BTE User manual

User Guide
VELOCITY™ BTE
www.sonici.com

Owner Information
Hearing Aid Serial Number(s):
Left: _______________ Right ______________
Hearing Aid Model(s):
Left: _______________ Right ______________
Battery Size(s):
Left: _______________ Right ______________
Memory Number Listening Situation
1
2
3
4

Table of Contents
Owner Information .......................................................2
Hearing Expectations ...................................................4
Your Hearing Aid...........................................................6
Your BTE Hearing Aid ...................................................7
Turning Your Hearing Aid On and Off...........................9
Putting On Your BTE ....................................................10
Removing Your BTE .....................................................11
Removing Feedback/Squeal.........................................12
Using the Volume Control ............................................13
Using the Program Button...........................................14
Changing The Battery...................................................15
Direct Audio Input.........................................................18
Using the Telephone.....................................................20
Safety Lock ...................................................................21
SmartTones™.............................................................................. 21
Warranty .......................................................................22
Repair............................................................................22
Maintenance and Care .................................................23
Troubleshooting............................................................24
Warning to Hearing Aid Users .....................................26
Get the Most from your Hearing Aid............................27

4
SONIC
Hearing Expectations
Set Appropriate Expectations
It is important that you have the right expectations
regarding your hearing aids. Hearing aids will give you
better hearing, but they are not a cure for hearing loss.
People whose expectations are too high ("I thought
they would make my hearing normal") are likely to be
disappointed and may give up.
Hearing Aids Can:
• Help you hear and understand better in most
situations.
• Allow you to participate more in group situations
and meetings.
Hearing Aids Cannot:
• Give you normal hearing.
Hearing Aids May Not:
• Let you hear very soft sounds.
• Block ALL background noises–especially in
noisy groups. Even people without hearing loss
may have difficulty hearing in the presence of
background noise.

5
BTE USER GUIDE
Be Patient
Unlike eyeglasses, which correct your vision as soon
as you first put them on, hearing aids need some time
for proper adjustment. It may take several weeks or
months to completely adjust to your hearing aids, so try
to be patient. During the first week or so, try different
listening situations, such as one-on-one conversations
with family and friends and conversations with two
or three people at home or in quiet settings. Also, try
having conversations in noisier places like parties,
restaurants, meetings, and outdoors. Do not forget
that some situations are simply too noisy in general—
even for people without hearing loss. So, do not get
discouraged.
Consistent use of your hearing aid is strongly
recommended. In most cases, infrequent use does not
allow you to obtain the full benefit from your aid.
The use of a hearing aid is only a part of total hearing
rehabilitation, and may need to be supplemented by
auditory training and instruction in lip reading.

6
SONIC
Your Hearing Aid
Thank you for purchasing a Sonic hearing aid. Sonic
incorporates an advanced digital processor for
more lifelike sound. With your hearing aid, you’ll be
able to enjoy more natural everyday sound quality.
Your hearing aid has been programmed to fit your
hearing and communication needs. If you feel your
program needs to change, your hearing healthcare
provider can make changes to improve the sound.
Please review this instruction guide carefully. It contains
information on the use and care of your hearing aid.
With proper use and care, your hearing aid will improve
your connection with the world around you.

7
BTE USER GUIDE
Ear Hook
Volume Control
(optional)
Earmold
Tubing
Earmold
Program Button
Battery
Compartment

8
SONIC
Label
Sonic
Year of Manufacture
Serial Number
Brand Name
Configuration:
M = Microphone
T = Telephone
D = Directional
BLUE tile indicates a LEFT hearing aid. RED tile
indicates a RIGHT hearing aid.

9
BTE USER GUIDE
Turning Your Hearing Aid On and Off
If your hearing aid has a volume control, slowly rotate it
upward to turn it on. You will feel a click as the hearing
aid turns on. Continue to rotate the wheel up until
the volume is at a comfortable level. To turn off your
hearing aid, rotate the volume control wheel down until
it clicks off.
If your hearing aid does not have a volume control,
open the battery door slightly to turn it off. Fully close
the door to turn the device back on.
Your hearing aid may be programmed to alert you with
SmartTones™ when it turns on or off. Your hearing
healthcare provider will tell you if this feature is
enabled. Your hearing aid may also have a "power on"
delay. This allows you to insert the aid before it is fully
active.

10
SONIC
Putting On Your BTE
Start with the BTE hearing aid and earmold for your
left ear. If you have a volume control, rotate the volume
control wheel down until it clicks off.
Connect the earmold to the hearing aid by pushing the
hearing aid's ear hook into the tube on the earmold.
Once the two are
connected, hold the
earmold with your
thumb and first
finger. Gently guide it
into your ear canal.
Gently pulling down
on your ear lobe with
your other hand may help. A
slight twist may be needed to fit the
earmold in your ear.
When the earmold is in your ear, place the hearing aid
behind the top part of your ear. Do the same thing with
the right hearing aid and earmold.
Turn your hearing aid on.

11
BTE USER GUIDE
Removing Your BTE
To take your hearing
aid off, hold the
earmold with your
thumb and first
finger. Gently pull it
out of your ear canal.
A slight twist may be
needed to remove it. Do
not pull on the tube, as
it may come out of the
earmold.
Once the earmold is out
of your ear, remove the
hearing aid from behind
your ear.
Reminder
Even though they look the same, hearing aids are
programmed to fit a specific ear (right or left). Make sure
the correct hearing aid is used with the correct earmold.
Refer to the right/left color indicator on page 8.

12
SONIC
Removing Feedback/Squeal
Your hearing aid may have the ability to address
feedback (whistle/squeal).
To remove feedback:
1. Make sure you are in a quiet environment.
2. Press and hold the program button on your hearing
aid for four seconds until you hear tones.
Note: If you do not hear the tones, this feature is
not enabled for your hearing aid.
3. Remove your finger from the program button and
from the vicinity of the hearing aid. You will hear
several bursts of noise.
After your hearing aid is trained it will return to your
first listening program.

13
BTE USER GUIDE
Using the Volume Control
Your hearing aid is designed to adjust to the sound
level of the environment around you. You should only
need to make small volume changes to get natural and
comfortable sound.
In order to make these small changes, your hearing aid
may have a volume control that allows you to turn up or
turn down the volume when needed. Rotate the volume
control wheel up to turn up the volume as needed. If
you need to lower the volume, slowly turn the volume
control wheel down. Your hearing aid may play a series
of SmartTones™ to let you know when you have reached
your best listening setting for volume.
Important
If the volume of your hearing aid is too loud or soft
when the volume control is all the way up, talk to your
hearing healthcare provider . They may need to make
changes to your fitting program.

14
SONIC
Using the Program Button
Your hearing aid has a program button. This button
gives you the ability to choose different listening
programs. When you turn the hearing aid off and then
on, it automatically returns to program 1.
Each time you press the button, you move to the next
program. The sequence is 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2 ...
Your hearing aid may use SmartTones™ to help you
identify which program you are using. When you select
program 1 you will hear one beep, program 2 will emit
two beeps, and so on.
Your hearing aid may also have Voice Alerts to help you
identify which program you are using. When you push
the program button, the name of the program you are
switching to will be announced.
Note
Your hearing healthcare provider may not activate all
programs.
Program SmartTone™
1
2
3
4
1 Beep
2 Beeps
3 Beeps
4 Beeps

15
BTE USER GUIDE
Changing The Battery
The life of your hearing aid battery will vary depending
on your hearing program, the listening situation, and
the length of daily use. A tone sequence or Voice Alert
will tell you when the battery in your hearing aid is low.
When you hear the warning, change the battery in your
hearing aid. If the battery gets so low that it cannot
supply enough power to your hearing aid, a SmartTone™
power off sequence will play and the aid will shut off.
Place a new battery in the aid to turn it back on. If your
hearing aid is not in use, open the battery door to slow
the battery use.
Always remove the battery if your aid is not in use for
long periods.
Battery Type
Rechargeable batteries are not recommended.
A zinc-air battery is recommended. Your hearing aid
uses a #13 battery.
Note
Batteries are small and can be harmful if swallowed.
Keep batteries out of the reach of pets and small
children. In case of ingestion, contact your physician.

16
SONIC
Install a new battery
1. Remove the colored tab from the zinc-air battery
before putting it in the hearing aid.
2. Insert the battery so the "+" sign on the battery
matches the "+" sign on the battery door.
3. Close the battery door.
If you have a volume control, turn the wheel upward to
turn the hearing aid on.
Cup your hand around the hearing aid. A whistling or
squealing sound means the battery is working.
Battery Compartment
Battery
"+" Indicator

17
BTE USER GUIDE
Hearing Aid Model Battery Type Change Battery Every*
BTE #13 201 - 244 hours
*Approximate number of hours assuming a directional product. Omni-only
products may provide additional wear hours.
Change Batteries Regularly
Below is a table designed to help you determine when
you should change the batteries. The exact battery life
you experience may vary.
If your hearing aid is not in use, open the battery
compartment door to turn the aid off. This will
prevent battery drain. Also, your hearing aid may be
programmed with SmartTones™ or Voice Alerts to tell
you when to change the battery.

18
SONIC
DAI Boot Cable
Direct Audio Input
Using the Direct Audio Input (DAI) with assistive
listening devices may improve the understanding
of speech in one-on-one conversations. It may also
reduce stress in noisy environments. Attach the DAI
boot to your BTE. Insert the Euro plug of the assistive
listening device cable into the DAI boot. Talk to your
hearing healthcare provider for details on assistive
listening devices.
Note
When the DAI is connected to AC-powered equipment,
this equipment must comply with IEC-60601 or equivalent
safety standards.

19
BTE USER GUIDE
Direct Audio Input Programs
Your hearing healthcare provider may have programmed
your hearing aid with special listening programs
designed to work when the DAI boot is attached. You
access these programs with your program button just
as you would any other listening program. Refer to the
chart on the inside cover of this User Guide to determine
the programs that use the DAI feature.
Your hearing healthcare provider may have configured
your hearing aid to automatically switch to your first
DAI program when the DAI boot is attached. If you
attach the DAI boot and the hearing aid does not
automatically switch, use the program button to
navigate to your DAI program.

20
SONIC
Using the Telephone
Your hearing aid has a telecoil option that has the
ability to pick up only the sounds coming from a hearing
aid-compatible telephone. Your hearing healthcare
provider can program your
hearing aid to take advantage of
this option. Refer to the chart on
the inside cover of this User Guide
to determine the program that uses
the telecoil feature. When you have
moved to the telecoil/telephone
program, place the telephone handset
lightly against your ear. Adjust the
handset slightly up and/or back to
find the position that gives the best
sound.
Your hearing aid may have an Auto Telephone feature,
which automatically switches to the Telephone program
when a phone is placed next to your hearing aid. If the
Auto Telephone feature does not automatically engage,
the magnetic field in your phone may not be strong
enough. A small magnet was included with your hearing
aid. Place the magnet on your phone, as shown in the
included instructions, to improve the Auto Telephone
switching.
If your hearing aid has been configured without a
telecoil option, select the program that is best for
you when using the telephone. Then position the
phone lightly against your ear as described above.