Unitron Conversa.NT User manual

Conversa.NT
™
Digital BTE
Guide

Table of Contents
Your Conversa.NT™Digital Hearing Instruments.............1
Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems ......................2
Getting the Most Out of Your Conversa.NT™
Hearing Instruments ....................................................3
Using the Conversa.NT™Digital BTE Guide ....................4
Turning Your Conversa.NT™Hearing Instruments On and
Off ................................................................................5
Putting Your Conversa.NT™Hearing Instruments
on Your Ears .................................................................6
Feedback-Free Listening .................................................6
Operating Instructions....................................................7
Assistive Listening Devices............................................11
Replacing the Battery....................................................13
Caring for Your Hearing Instruments.............................14
Cleaning Your Conversa.NT™Hearing Instruments .......15
Warnings .......................................................................18
Troubleshooting Guide .................................................20
Warning to Hearing Instrument Dispensers ................23

1
Your Conversa.NT™Digital Hearing
Instruments
Hearing Healthcare Professional:__________________________
_____________________________________________________
Telephone: ____________________________________________
Model: _______________________________________________
Serial Number:_________________________________________
Replacement Batteries: Size 10 Size 13
Warranty: _____________________________________________
Use Program 1 for: _____________________________________
Use Program 2 for: _____________________________________
Use Program 3 for: _____________________________________
Date of Purchase: ______________________________________

2
Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems
Congratulations on choosing your new BTE (Behind-the-
Ear) digital hearing instruments. For 40 years, Unitron
Hearing has been committed to making life better for
people with hearing loss. This means a commitment to
developing high-quality hearing solutions that
incorporate special features to solve the everyday
problems and concerns you have with hearing loss and
hearing instruments.
Conversa.NT™includes high-value, advanced features
that make conversations a priority. With Conversa.NT
you can enjoy listening to conversations in quiet and
noisy situations. Conversa.NT also dramatically reduces
whistling so you can enjoy chewing your food or
conversing with friends on the telephone without being
interrupted by annoying whistling.

3
Getting the Most Out of Your
Conversa.NT™Hearing Instruments
Adjusting to your new hearing instruments will take
some time. In the beginning it is important that you do
not use the hearing devices for longer than is
comfortable. Depending on your previous experience
with hearing instruments, a few hours a day may be
enough and then you can increase wearing time
gradually. Once you have become accustomed to your
hearing devices, you should wear them all day every day
since infrequent use will not permit you to adapt to your
hearing devices and enjoy their full benefits. The quicker
you get used to the everyday sounds around you, the
less you will notice that you are wearing hearing
instruments.

4
Using the Conversa.NT™Digital BTE Guide
Refer to the table of contents for a complete listing of
the topics covered in this guide.
There are several different styles of BTEs available. The
diagrams below identify some of the components on
your hearing instruments. Have your hearing healthcare
professional place a check beside the diagram that best
describes your BTE style.
Legend
1 Earhook
2 Slim Tube
3 Microphone and
Microphone Shield
4 Program Button
5 Volume Control
6 Battery Door/On &
Off Switch
7 Dome
8 Retention Piece
BTE with
Volume Control
BTE with
Slim Tube
BTE without
Volume Control
1
3
4
5
6
1
3
4
6
2
3
4
6
7
8

5
Turning Your Conversa.NT™Hearing
Instruments On and Off
Your hearing devices have a three-position battery door
that acts as an off/on switch and that allows access to
the battery compartment.
To turn the hearing instrument on, close the battery door
fully. Note: If the start up mute is activated, your hearing
instruments will not turn on until the program button is
pushed.
To turn the hearing device off, partially open the battery
door. This position allows excess moisture to vent away
from the battery compartment.
To replace the hearing instrument battery, fully open the
battery door for access to the battery compartment.
on off open
Note: When turning your
hearing device on and off, grasp
the top and bottom of the
device with your index finger
and thumb. Use your thumb to
open and close the battery door.

6
Putting Your Conversa.NT™Hearing
Instruments on Your Ears
BTEs with Slim Tubes
1. Place the hearing instrument over the top of your ear.
2. Hold the slim tube where it attaches to the dome and
gently push the dome into your ear canal. The slim
tube should lie flush against your head and not stick
out.
3. Place the retention piece in your ear so it rests at the
bottom of the opening of your ear canal.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for your other ear if you wear two
hearing devices.
BTEs with Earhooks
1. Place the hearing instrument over the top of your ear.
2. Carefully insert the earmold in your ear. The earmold
should fit into your ear snugly and comfortably.
3. Repeat steps 1-2 for your other ear if you wear two
hearing devices.
Feedback-Free Listening
Your Conversa.NT hearing instruments have an optional
start up mute that can be activated by your hearing
healthcare professional. If the start up mute is activated,
your hearing instruments will not turn on until the

7
program button is pushed, even if the battery door is in
the ON position. The hearing devices return to the start
up mute position each time you turn your hearing
devices on. This allows you to insert your hearing
devices without experiencing whistling.
If you wear hearing devices now, you may have
experienced whistling from your hearing devices when
you talk, chew, use the telephone or hug someone.
Conversa.NT’s feedback technology dramatically reduces
this uncomfortable whistling before you or anyone else
can perceive it.
Operating Instructions
Changing Programs on Your Conversa.NT™Digital
Hearing Instruments
Your Conversa.NT digital hearing instruments may have
up to three programs. Each program has been
individually tailored by your hearing healthcare
professional to meet your particular listening needs.
Your hearing devices are equipped with a push-button
for switching between programs. Each time you push the
program button, you will move to a new program. Your
hearing devices beep to indicate which program you are
in (i.e. one beep for program 1, two beeps for program 2,
etc.) If you prefer, your hearing healthcare professional
can adjust the pitch and loudness of the program beep
or turn it off entirely.

8
Adjusting the Volume
The volume on your hearing devices adjusts
automatically in response to the loud or quiet sounds
around you. If you have a manual volume control, you
can further adjust the volume on your hearing devices.
The manual volume control is numbered one to four. One
indicates that the volume is at the minimum level and
four indicates that the volume is at the maximum level.
Rotate the volume control upward to increase the
volume or downward to decrease the volume. Note that
your volume control may be disabled by your hearing
healthcare professional and, therefore, could be inactive.
Before changing the volume on your hearing devices,
secure the device on your ear with your index finger and
thumb. Using your thumb, rotate the volume control up
or down.
Setting Your Ideal Volume
Conversa.NT digital hearing instruments with manual
volume control have an ideal volume indicator. A single
beep indicates when the volume control has reached its
ideal level for your particular hearing loss, as pre-set by
your hearing healthcare professional.
Listening in Windy Environments
Conversa.NT’s wind noise manager will engage
automatically based on whether wind conditions are
moderate or high. When the wind noise manager is

9
engaged, sounds such as speech, may become quieter
because the wind noise manager is working to reduce
the loud noise produced by wind. When you are no
longer in a windy environment, the wind noise manager
will not be active and desirable sounds, such as speech,
will once again become louder.
Listening in Quiet and Noisy Environments
Your Conversa.NT digital hearing instruments have a
directional microphone system to meet your listening
needs in different environments. The directional system
focuses on sounds in front of you (i.e., speech) while
reducing sounds from the sides or behind you (i.e.,
noise) and is activated by the push of the program
button. The directional microphone system may be
preset to adjust automatically to changing noise levels
or to adapt to moving noise sources. Even if sounds are
continually moving, the adaptive directional microphone
system intuitively adapts to reduce background noise.
Your hearing healthcare professional will tell which type
of directional microphone system you have and which
program(s) contain the directional microphones.
Replacing the Microphone Protectors
Your Conversa.NT digital hearing instruments have a
shield to protect the microphones from dirt and debris.
Debris on the microphone protector reduces the sound
quality of the instrument. You should have the

10
microphone protectors replaced by your hearing
healthcare professional approximately every three
months to ensure optimal sound quality.
Using Conversa.NT™with the Telephone
Conversa.NT has the ability, depending on hearing loss,
vent size and style of hearing instrument to provide
feedback-free phone use without program changes. For
many wearers this means, when the phone rings, all you
have to do is pick up the telephone and hold it to your
ear normally. In some situations when using a cell
phone, you may experience digital interference that
sounds like static, buzzing or beeping. If you experience
interference, increase the distance between your hearing
instrument and the phone receiver.
Conversa.NT hearing instruments also come equipped
with an optional telecoil that can help you listen on the
telephone. The telecoil program is selected with the
program button. When using the telecoil, center the
telephone receiver on the hearing device and move the
receiver along the hearing device to locate the clearest,
strongest signal. You may have to increase the volume of
your hearing device slightly. To return to normal
listening, push the program button. Your hearing device
will beep to indicate which program you are in.

11
Assistive Listening Devices
Listening in Public Places
Conversa.NT’s optional telecoil can also help you listen in
public places equipped with telecoil compatible assistive
listening devices such as a loop system. If your hearing
instruments do not operate when the telecoil is on, the
loop system may not be operating or you may be in a
“dead” spot. Try positioning yourself in a different part of
the looped area or return your hearing instruments to the
microphone position and sit as close to the speaker as
possible.
Connecting to External Audio Sources
Your Conversa.NT hearing instruments
may feature optional direct audio input
(DAI) to connect to other audio sources
such as a stereo or television. You will
need to purchase the direct audio input
system and a connector cord from your
hearing healthcare professional before you can connect
to external audio sources.
DAI can also be used to fit your hearing instruments with
an assistive listening device, such as a FM system, which
you may purchase to improve listening in difficult
situations.
Note: If your hearing instruments are the small BTE style
that requires size 10 batteries (Moda), your digital

12
hearing instruments are not compatible with direct
audio input, MicroLink MLx or an FM system. However,
hearing instruments that use size 13 batteries are
compatible. Refer to your battery package for the size of
your hearing instrument batteries or consult with your
hearing healthcare professional for more information.
Listening Over Distance
Your Conversa.NT hearing instruments may be
compatible with Phonak’s MicroLink™Receiver Module, a
wireless FM system that improves listening over
distance. The MLx FM receiver module connects to the
direct audio input system and is powered by the hearing
instrument battery.
See also “Direct Audio Input”
Using FM and Infrared Systems
Some FM systems consist of a teleloop worn around the
neck, which is connected to the FM receiver worn on a
belt or in a shirt pocket. To listen through the FM system,
select the telecoil program and turn on the FM receiver.
To keep the signal clear, you may need to adjust the
volume control on your hearing instruments, as well as
on the FM receiver.
With some infrared systems you may need to remove
your hearing instruments and wear the system’s headset
receiver. If the volume on the infrared receiver is not loud
enough, use your hearing instruments instead.

13
Replacing the Battery
1. Gently swing out the battery compartment door with
your fingernail.
2. Grasp the battery with your thumb and index finger
and remove.
3. Insert the new battery into the battery compartment
with the plus (+) sign on the battery facing the same
way as the plus (+) sign on the edge of the battery
door. This will ensure that the battery door closes
properly.
Note: If the battery is inserted incorrectly, the door will
not close.
4. Close the battery compartment door.
Low Battery Warning
When you hear one long beep, your digital hearing
devices are warning you that their batteries are low. You
will hear the warning approximately every 30 minutes
until you change the batteries or the batteries die. After
the first warning, you may experience some reduction in
sound quality. This is normal and can be remedied by
inserting fresh batteries in the hearing devices. If you
prefer, your hearing healthcare professional can change
the pitch and loudness of the low battery beep or turn it
off entirely.

14
Caring for Batteries
• Always discard batteries carefully.
• To prolong battery life, remember to turn your hearing
devices off when not in use.
• Remove the batteries and keep the battery door open
while hearing devices are not in use. This will allow
internal moisture to evaporate.
Battery Warnings
• Never leave hearing devices or batteries where small
children and pets can reach them.
• Never put hearing devices or batteries in your mouth.
If a hearing device or battery is swallowed, call a
physician immediately.
Caring for Your Hearing Instruments
• Always remove your hearing devices when using hair
care products. The hearing devices can become
clogged and cease to function properly.
• Protect your hearing devices from excessive heat (hair
dryer, vehicle glove box or dashboard) and moisture
(bath or shower). Do not immerse the hearing devices
in water.
• If your hearing devices do become wet, do not
attempt to dry them in an oven or microwave. Do not
adjust any controls. Open the battery doors

15
immediately, and allow your hearing devices to dry
naturally for 24 hours.
• Regular use of a dehumidifier, such as a Dri-Aid kit,
can help prevent corrosion. See your hearing
healthcare professional for more information.
• Do not drop your hearing devices or knock them
against hard surfaces.
Cleaning Your Conversa.NT™Hearing
Instruments
• Ear wax is natural and common. Ensuring your
hearing devices and earmolds are free of ear wax is
an important step in your daily cleaning and
maintenance routine.
• Never use alcohol to clean your hearing devices or
earmolds.
• Do not use sharp tools to dislodge ear wax. Sticking
household items into your hearing devices or
earmolds can seriously damage them.
Cleaning the Earmolds
If your Conversa.NT hearing devices have earhooks (see
“Using the Digital BTE Guide”), your hearing healthcare
professional fit you with customized earmolds.
Earmolds send amplified sound from the hearing devices
into the ears. They must fit into your ears snugly and

16
comfortably. If amplified sound leaks out of your ear, you
may hear whistling.
Always ensure earmolds are clean and free of ear wax
and moisture. Do not use alcohol to clean your earmolds.
If the earmolds become plugged, clear the opening with a
wax loop or pipe cleaner. If your physician prescribes
eardrops, clean any moisture that may get into the
earmolds or tubing to prevent plugging.
If the earmolds require further cleaning, disconnect the
plastic tube from the hook of the hearing devices. Wash
only the earmolds in warm water with a mild soap. Rinse
them with cool water and allow them to dry overnight.
Make sure the earmold tubes are dry before reconnecting
them to each hook on your hearing devices.
Cleaning the Slim Tubes and Domes
If your hearing instruments have slim tubes (see “Using
the Digital BTE Guide”), you need to ensure that the tubes
and domes are free of ear wax and moisture. You should
have the slim tubes and domes replaced by your hearing
healthcare professional approximately every three months
or when they become stiff or brittle. Clean the domes daily
with a damp cloth. You should also clean the slim tubes
periodically, with the cleaning pin provided, when you
begin to notice debris in and around the tubes.