SportEar custom edge Guide

IN-EAR Sound Enhancement & Hearing
Protection Manual & Warranty

1
!!! Important Performance & Safety Tips
for Your New Custom Edge
Congratulations on the purchase of your new Custom Edge personal
sound amplification devices. Whether you are using this for general sound
enhancement, hearing protection or both, Custom Edge offers you the
best product for fit, performance and reliability.
In order to ensure you recieve the best performance from your new
Custom Edge devices, please thoroughly read the enclosed manual.
Hearing loss can happen gradually or quickly, depending on the levels
of noise(s) exposed to your ears. Once hearing loss occurs, it does not
reverse its course, THE DAMAGE IS DONE. Many who suffer hearing loss
wish they had a better understanding of this process sooner rather than
later in life. Take action now and protect your ears from further damage.
ALWAYS make sure you use the product as intended for best results.
ALWAYS use your new Custom Edge devices when in damaging loud
environments.
Make sure your product is working properly before use in extreme
environments, so you get the performance and protection your ears need.
See the following charts on “How the Ear Works” and The Decibel (dB)
Rating Chart

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How the Ear Works
1. Acoustic design of the outer ear captures the oncoming sound
waves.
2. Sound waves enter the ear canal and penetrate the eardrum
(tympanic membrane).
3. The eardrum taps the malleus causing a chain reaction with the
stapes and the incus.
4. The incus taps the cochlea, causing a hydraulic effect on
35,000-40,000 hair-like nerves (cilia) in the cochlea.
5. As the cilia are pushed, they send a signal through the auditory
nerve to the brain.
6. The brain registers the incoming signal as a specific sound.

3
Ear Canal Eardrum
Eustachian Tube
Auditory Nerve
Semi-circular Canals
Ossicles
Cochlea
Brain
123 4 5 6

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How the Ear Gets Damaged
1. As the nerves continually bend over from oncoming sound, they
eventually begin to wear out or even break off (especially from
damaging loud sounds).
2. Therefore, they do not respond as sensitively as they used
to and your ability to hear continues to diminish over time.
Extreme loud noises can damage your hearing instantly and
permanently.

5
Damaged
Worn Out
Healthy

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How to Help the Ear Hear Better
A traditional piano has 88 strings that allow you to create many
beautiful sounds for your enjoyment. A traditional guitar only has
six strings. Your ear has 35,000-40,000 “strings on a piano”. This is
the most advanced sound system on the planet. But just as
strings on a piano, they can be easily damaged if you are not
careful. Once damaged, they cannot be restored to normal. If
your ears have been damaged and you need to hear better, then
modern technology offers digital hearing enhancement. This
allows you to have personal hearing device(s) tuned to match the
deficiency in your hearing. If you are missing more high tones in
your hearing, then you can have your devices programmed to
enhance those sounds only. Therefore, your hearing device(s) will
give the added stimulation to those damaged nerves (cilia)
without affecting the other sounds. This will help you hear things
again more clearly. Please see the entire SportEAR product
line and call one of our SportEAR product specialists to help
determine any additional needs.

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Longer, thicker
nerves produce
low sounds,
very durable
Medium length
and thickness
produce mid
sounds, moderately
durable
Shorter, finer
nerves produce
high sounds,
very delicate,
most easily
damaged
PIANO

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OSHA Hearing Chart shows hearing damage and loss occur when
exposed to sounds at 85 dB or louder for an 8 hour or greater
period of time.
Threshold of pain occurs for most people around 125 dB.
Whisper
General Household
Electronics
Industrial Environments
Music Concerts
Power Tools
Firearm(s) Shooting
The Decibal Rating Chart
SOUND NOISE LEVEL (dB)
30
70-90
85-140
110-140
110-140
110-185
EFFECT
Very Quiet
Moderate to Loud
& Invasive
For any noise over 85 db
see OSHA note below
See OSHA & Threshold of
pain notes below
Extreme Hearing Damage

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General hearing enhancement & protection has become a
widely discussed topic in recent years. More than ever, people
and businesses realize the dangers of loud noise exposure on
the human ear. Anyone suffering from hearing loss would
reverse it immediately, if possible. Now with the Custom Edge,
you can protect your hearing while maintaining your ability to
hear well, even enhance your hearing above its normal capacity.
Once permanent hearing loss sets in, speech and communication
become very difficult. Even with hearing aids, your hearing will
never be the same. Whether you use your Custom Edge for work
or recreation, please remember to use them anytime you are
exposing your ears to damaging loud sounds. Custom Edge
offers an incredible solution to help you work and play safely, by
hearing important noises around you and protecting your
hearing at the same time.
Always Protect Your Hearing
in Every Noisy Environment, Maintain
Your Hearing Throughout Your Life!

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YOUR SportEAR® KIT INCLUDES:
- Your state-of-the-art SportEAR Custom Edge
- Cleaning brush
- SportEAR carrying case
- Instructions / Warranty / Service Information
- Batteries

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Custom Edge Face Plate
Volume Control
Wheel
Vent
Pull
Cord
Push
Button
Battery
Compartment

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Battery Door
Battery

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Battery Installation (Size 10)
1. Remove protective tab from battery.
2. Open the battery compartment by placing your fingernail
under the edge of the battery door and gently pulling outward.
3. Insert the battery into the battery door so the + side of the
battery is up, then close the door.
CAUTION: Never force the door shut. To remove the battery,
gently lift it out using your thumb and forefinger.
Most hearing aid batteries last 140 hours (7-10 days) when the
unit is used from morning to night on a daily basis. If you are
not actively using your SportEAR, you should remove the bat-
tery and place the yellow tab on the back side of the battery
to preserve battery life.
WARNING:
HEARING AID BATTERIES ARE DANGEROUS IF SWALLOWED
IF HEARING AID BATTERIES ARE SWALLOWED, SEEK
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CALL THE NATIONAL
BUTTON BATTERY HOTLINE COLLECT AT [phone].
KEEP BATTERIES, SOFT TIPS, AND SPORTEAR DEVICES OUT
OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. ANIMALS ARE
PARTICULARLY ATTRACTED TO HEARING DEVICES AND
MAY CHEW OR DESTROY YOUR INSTRUMENTS.

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Testing Your SportEAR
Before wearing the SportEAR, test it by doing the following:
1. Adjust the volume control wheel clockwise to the loudest setting.
Right = clockwise, left = counter clockwise.
2. Place the SportEAR in the cup of your hand and close your
hand around it. Figure 1
3. If you hear a whistling feedback sound, your SportEAR is
working correctly. If you do not hear a whistling sound, check
that the SportEAR volume is set to maximum, that the battery is
fresh, or that the battery is installed properly.

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16
Wearing Your Custom Edge
1. Make sure you insert the correct product in each ear (Left and
Right specific).
Red Shell for Right Ear
Blue Shell for Left Ear
2. Hold your forefinger and thumb with the small, tapered end
pointed toward your ear. Gently insert the Custom Edge into
your ear canal and push it into place with your forefinger.
Insertion may be made easier if you use your other hand to
gently pull the back of your ear (toward the back of your head)
while inserting the Custom Edge.
3. Once the Custom Edge is inserted snug into the ear canal, turn
volume control wheel forward to increase volume, backwards to
decrease volume. Push the push-button (On 90 and 360 Models
Only) to move through the preset programs. One beep means
you are on program 1, two beeps for program 2, three beeps
for program 3, and four beeps for program 4.
4. To remove the Custom Edge from your ear, place your
forefinger under your ear and gently push upward.
This action will loosen your Custom Edge so that you can grasp
the pull cord with your thumb and forefinger, and remove it.

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NOTE: If you cannot eliminate feedback (squealing noise) from the
unit, this is usually an indication that the unit is not sealing to the
ear canal properly. Please call 866-422-5502.

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Cleaning Your SportEAR
To keep your SportEAR operating correctly, you should clean it
after each use.
1. Using the cleaning brush, use the brush to remove any
accumulated wax from the exposed sound outlet. If wax is located
inside the sound outlet, use the brush to dislodge it. Be careful
not to push any wax into the opening of the sound outlet.
2.Using a clean soft cloth or tissue paper, gently wipe the shell
until clean. Use the brush to remove any wax from the faceplate.
DO NOT SUBMERGE INTO WATER!
You may use a tissue or clothe with rubbing alcohol on it to clean
off any visible ear wax from the shell. Let wax dry overnight for
easier clean up.