Sonic VELOCITY miniBTE User manual

User Guide
VELOCITY™ miniBTE
www.sonici.com
User Guide

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 miniBTE Hearing Aid - Ear Hook.........................7
Your miniBTE Hearing Aid - Sound Tube.....................8
Turning Your Hearing Aid On and Off...........................10
Putting On Your miniBTE - Ear Hook...........................11
Removing Your miniBTE - Ear Hook............................12
Putting On Your miniBTE - Sound Tube ......................13
Removing Your miniBTE - Sound Tube........................14
The Ear Hook or Sound Tube .......................................15
The Sound Dome ..........................................................16
Removing Feedback/Squeal.........................................17
SmartTones™...............................................................17
Volume Control.............................................................18
Using The Program Button..........................................19
Changing The Battery...................................................20
Direct Audio Input ........................................................23
Safety Lock ...................................................................25
Using the Telephone.....................................................26
Warranty .......................................................................27
Repair............................................................................27
Maintenance and Care .................................................28
Troubleshooting............................................................29
Warning to Hearing Aid Users .....................................31
Get the Most from your Hearing Aid............................32

SONIC
4
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.

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5
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.

SONIC
6
Your Hearing Aid
Thank you for purchasing a Sonic hearing aid. Sonic
incorporates an advanced digital processor for more life
like 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.

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7
Ear Hook
Earmold Tubing
Earmold
Program Button
Battery
Door
Volume
Control
Front
Microphone
Rear
Microphone

SONIC
8
Your miniBTE Hearing Aid - Sound Tube
Sound
Tube
Dome
Battery
Compartment
Front
Microphone
Rear
Microphone
Sound
Port
Program
Button
Retention Lock
Volume
Control

miniBTE USER GUIDE
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Battery
Compartment
Serial Number
Right/Left Indicator
Blue = Left
Red = Right

SONIC
10
Turning Your Hearing Aid On and Off
Before turning your hearing aid off, wipe away any
moisture with a soft cloth. To turn your hearing aid off,
open the battery door slightly. 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.

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11
Putting On Your miniBTE - Ear Hook
Start with the miniBTE hearing aid and earmold for
your left ear. 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.

SONIC
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Removing Your miniBTE - Ear Hook
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 7.

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Place your hearing aid over the
top of your ear.
Grasp the sound tube where it
bends and push the dome into
your ear canal. The dome should
be placed far enough into the ear
that the sound tube lies flush
with your head. When the dome
is placed appropriately, you will
not be able to see the sound
tube sticking out when you look
directly into a mirror.
Use your finger to position the
retention lock comfortably in the
bowl of your ear.

SONIC
14
Removing Your miniBTE - Sound Tube
To remove your hearing aid, hold the sound tube and
gently pull the dome out of your ear canal. Lift the
hearing aid case from behind your ear. Open the battery
compartment to turn off the device.
Important
Should the dome become separated from the sound
tube and remain lodged in your ear canal after removal
of the hearing aid, DO NOT attempt to remove the
dome yourself. Seek immediate care from your hearing
healthcare provider or physician.

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15
The Ear Hook or Sound Tube
The ear hook, sound tube, and dome should be cleaned
regularly:
1. Remove the ear hook or
sound tube from the hearing
aid by unscrewing it.
2. Use a damp cloth to clean
the outside of the ear hook
or sound tube and dome.
3. Use the black cleaning rod to push
any debris out of the ear hook or
sound tube.
4. Clean the end of the cleaning rod
before withdrawing it from the tube.
5. To attach the ear hook or
sound tube screw it back
onto the hearing aid.
Note: Be careful not to
over-rotate the ear hook or
sound tube.

SONIC
16
You should never attempt to modify the shape of the
sound tube yourself.
Never submerge or rinse the ear hook, sound tube, or
dome in water. Water may become lodged in the ear
hook or sound tube. If this should occur, it will prevent
sound from coming through the ear hook or sound
tube, and may be harmful to the electronics of the
hearing aid.
The sound tube conducts the amplified sound from the
hearing aid to your ear. It is important that the sound
tube and the dome fit correctly into your ear. If the
sound tube or the dome irritates your ear in any way
and prevents you from wearing your hearing aid, please
contact your hearing healthcare provider.
The sound tube and dome should be changed every
third month, or sooner if the sound tube becomes stiff
or brittle.
The Sound Dome
We recommend that your hearing healthcare provider
change the domes for you. If your hearing healthcare
provider instructs you to change the domes yourself,
make sure that they are securely fastened to the
sound tube before you insert them in your ear. Failure
to change the domes in accordance with these
instructions could result in personal injury.

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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 your hearing aid will
return to your first listening program.
SmartTones™
Event Tone Description
Start Up Delay A slow sequence of double beeps.
Power On A fast sequence of beeps rising in pitch.
Program Change A sequence of beeps rising in pitch. Number of
beeps matches listening program position.
Low Battery A slow, double beep from a high to low pitch.
Dying Battery A fast sequence of beeps descending in pitch.

SONIC
18
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 has 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, talk
to your hearing healthcare provider. They may need to
make changes to your fitting program.

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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...
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

SONIC
20
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
Stainless steel zinc-air batteries are recommended.
Your hearing aid uses a #13 battery.
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.
Hearing Aid Model Battery Type Change Battery Every*
miniBTE #13 201-251 hours
*Approximate number of hours.