Unitron Vista Rm 312 User manual

Vista Rm 312
behind-the-ear (BTE)
hearing aid guide

Your hearing aids
Hearing healthcare professional: _______________
___________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________
Model:_____________________________________
Serial number: ______________________________
Replacement batteries: Size 312
Warranty: __________________________________
Program 1 is for: ____________________________
Program 2 is for: ____________________________
Program 3 is for: ____________________________
Program 4 is for: ____________________________
Date of purchase:____________________________

Quick reference
Changing batteries Low battery warning
2 beeps every
30 minutes
312
On/Off
Your hearing aids at a glance ...........................................................2
Warnings ...........................................................................................4
Putting your hearing aids on your ears............................................9
Turning your hearing aids on and off .............................................11
Battery information ........................................................................ 12
Tips for wearing hearing aids for the first time ............................. 15
Tinnitus masker .............................................................................. 17
Operating instructions ...................................................................20
Using the telephone .......................................................................23
Protecting your hearing aids ..........................................................26
Cleaning your hearing aids .............................................................27
Signature features of your hearing aids ........................................29
Troubleshooting guide .................................................................... 31
Warning to hearing aid dispensers (to comply with
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations) .......35
Information and explanation of symbols ......................................37
Compliance information .................................................................39
Patient feedback ............................................................................. 41
Additional notes ..............................................................................42
On O Open
Plus
(+) signs
Battery size
Table of contents

2 3
Your hearing aids at a glance
1 W i r e - connects the speaker unit to your
hearingaids
2 Microphone - sound enters your hearing aids
through the microphones
3 Battery door (on & off ) - close the door to turn on
your hearing aids, partly open the door to turn o
your hearing aids. Opening the door all the way
gives you access to change the battery
4 Dome - holds the wire in place in your ear canal
5 Retention piece - helps prevent the dome and
wire from moving out of the ear canal
6 Speaker unit - amplies the sound and sends it
directly into the ear canal
7 Custom mold - holds the hearing aids in place
and contains the speaker unit
2
2
3
3
4
1
1
5
7
6
6

4 5
Warnings
The intended use of hearing aids is to
amplify and transmit sound to the ears and
hereby compensate for impaired hearing.
The hearing aids (specially programmed for
each hearing loss) must only be used by the
intended person. They should not be used
by any other person as they could damage
hearing.
Hearing aids should only be used as directed
by your physician or hearing healthcare
professional.
Hearing aids will not restore normal
hearing and will not prevent or improve a
hearing impairment resulting from organic
conditions.
Do not use your hearing aids in explosion
hazard areas.
Allergic reactions to hearing aids are unlikely.
However, if you experience itching, redness,
soreness, inflammation or a burning
sensation in or around your ears, inform your
hearing healthcare professional and contact
your physician.
In the unlikely case that any parts remain
in the ear canal aer the removal of the
hearing aid, contact a physician immediately.
Remove your hearing aids for CT and
MRI scans or for other electromagnetic
procedures.
Special care should be exercised in wearing
hearing aids when maximum sound
pressure levels exceed 132 decibels. There
may be a risk of impairing your remaining
hearing. Speak with your hearing healthcare
professional to ensure the maximum output
of your hearing aids is suitable for your
particular hearing loss.
Magnet warnings
Be sure the magnet is securely axed to the
telephone.
Keep loose magnets out of reach of children
and pets.

6 7
If the magnet falls into your ear, contact your
hearing healthcare professional.
If the magnet is swallowed, contact your
physician immediately.
The magnet may aect some medical
devices or electronic systems. Always keep
the magnet (or the telephone equipped with
the magnet) at least 30 cm (12”) away from
pacemakers, credit cards, floppy disks or
other magnetically sensitive devices.
Too high distortion during dialing or
phoning may mean that the phone handset
is stressed by the magnet. To avoid any
damage, please move the magnet to another
place on the telephone receiver.
Battery warnings
Never leave hearing aids or batteries where
small children and pets can reach them.
Never put hearing aids or batteries in
your mouth. If a hearing aid or battery is
swallowed, call a physician immediately.
Precautions
The use of hearing aids is only part of
hearing rehabilitation; auditory training and
lip reading instruction may be required as
well.
In most cases, infrequent use of hearing
aids does not provide full benet. Once you
have become accustomed to your hearing
aids, wear your hearing aids everyday all
day.
Your hearing aids use the most modern
components to provide the best possible
sound quality in every listening situation.
However, communication devices such as
digital cell phones can create interference
(a buzzing sound) in hearing aids. If you
experience interference from a cell phone
being used close by, you can minimize this
interference in a number of ways. Switch
your hearing aids to another program, turn
your head in a dierent direction or locate
the cell phone and move away from it.

9
Putting your hearing aids on your ears
Your hearing aids may be color-coded with an
indicator that is visible when the battery door is
open: red = right ear; blue = le ear.
Hearing aids with domes
1. Hold the wire where it
attaches to the dome and
gently push the dome into
your ear canal. The wire
should lie flush against your
head and not stick out.
2. Place the hearing aid over
the top of your ear.
3. Place the retention piece
in your ear so it rests at the
bottom of the opening of
your ear canal.
1.
2.
3.
Note to hearing healthcare professional
Domes should never be tted on patients
with perforated eardrums, exposed middle
ear cavities, or surgically altered ear
canals. In the case of such a condition, we
recommend to use a customized ear mold.
Labeling
The serial number and year of manufacture are
located inside the battery door.

10 11
Hearing aids with custom shells
1. Hold the custom shell
between your thumb and
index nger. The opening
should be pointing in
towards your ear canal
with the hearing aid
resting upwards above
your ear.
2. Carefully insert the
custom shell into your
ear. The shell should t
into your ear snugly and
comfortably.
3. Place the hearing aid over
the top of your ear.
1.
2.
3.
Turning your hearing aids on and off
Your hearing aids have a three-position battery
door that acts as an on/o switch and that
allows access to the battery compartment.
1. On: Close the battery door
fully.
Note: It may take five seconds
before the hearing aid turns
on. Your hearing healthcare
professional can increase the
start up delay if required.
2. O f f : Partially open the battery
door.
3. Open: Fully open the battery
door to access and change
the battery.
Note: When turning your hearing
aid on and off while it is on the
ear, grasp the top and bottom of
the hearing aid with your index
finger and thumb. Use the index
finger of your opposite hand to
open and close the battery door.
1.
1.
2.
3.

12 13
Battery information
To replace the battery, fully open the battery
door for access to the battery compartment.
Low battery warning
Two long beeps indicate the hearing aid battery
is low. Aer the low battery warning, sounds
may not be as clear. This is normal and can be
xed by changing the batteries in the hearing
aids.
If you are not able to hear the low battery
warning, your hearing healthcare professional
can change its pitch or loudness. If you prefer, it
can be turned o entirely.
Your hearing aids are designed to generate a
low battery warning every 30 minutes until you
change the batteries, but depending on the
condition of the batteries, they may die before
another low battery warning occurs. Therefore, it
is recommended that the batteries are replaced
as soon as possible once you hear the low
battery warning.
Replacing the battery
1. Gently swing out the battery
door with your ngernail.
2. Push the battery with your
thumb and index nger
towards the open side, 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 hearing aid will
not turn on.
4. Close the battery door.
1.
2.
3.
4.

14 15
Caring for batteries
Always discard batteries in a safe and
environmentally friendly way.
To prolong battery life, remember to turn your
hearing aids o when not in use, especially
when asleep.
Remove the batteries and keep the battery door
open while hearing aids are not being worn,
especially when asleep. This will allow internal
moisture to evaporate.
Tips for wearing hearing aids for the
first time
• Start in a quiet room at home rst to get
used to the new sound quality. Sounds like
the ticking of a clock, the humming of the
computer, the beep of the microwave or the
rustling of clothes or paper may seem loud
to you at rst, because you have not been
hearing them properly for a long time.
• Read aloud to yourself and learn to adjust
the volume of your own voice when you are
wearing the hearing aids.
• Talk to dierent people and learn how
to distinguish between dierent sound
patterns again.
• It will take some time before you are
completely used to your hearing aids and
can fully enjoy the benets.
• Wear your hearing aids for as many hours a
day as you can, and for a little longer each
day.

16 17
• Make notes at the back of this booklet,
write down dicult situations and describe
what any unpleasant noises were like. This
information will help your hearing healthcare
professional to ne-tune the hearing aids
better for your needs.
• Involve your family and friends in this
familiarization period. For example,
ask someone to set the television to a
comfortable volume.
• When you are beginning to get used to
wearing the hearing aids, wear them in more
dicult listening environments such as the
oce, at parties or in restaurants. This can
be dicult even for people who can hear
normally. Give yourself time to regain your
ability to hear in these dicult situations.
• Make your hearing aids part of your
everyday life and be patient with yourself
while you are learning to hear sounds
correctly.
Tinnitus masker
The tinnitus masker is a broadband sound
generator available on Vista N hearing aids. It
provides a means of sound enrichment therapy
that can be used as part of a personalized
tinnitus management program to provide
temporary relief from tinnitus.
The underlying principle of sound enrichment
is to provide supplementary noise stimulation
which can help defocus your attention from
your tinnitus and avoid negative reactions.
Sound enrichment, coupled with instructional
counseling, is an established approach to
managing tinnitus.
Tinnitus masker warnings
Air conduction hearing aids with the
tinnitus masker are to be tted by a hearing
healthcare professional familiar with the
diagnosis and management of tinnitus.

18 19
Should you develop any side eects while
using the tinnitus masker, you should
discontinue use of the device and seek a
medical evaluation. Side eects include
headaches, nausea, dizziness, heart
palpitations or decrease in auditory function
(such as decreased tolerance to loudness,
speech not as clear or worsening of tinnitus).
The volume of the tinnitus masker can be
set to a level which could lead to permanent
hearing damage when used for a prolonged
period of time. Should the tinnitus masker
be set to such a level in your hearing aid,
your hearing healthcare professional will
advise you of the maximum amount of time
per day you should use the tinnitus masker.
The tinnitus masker should never be used at
uncomfortable levels.
Important information
The tinnitus masker generates sounds that
are used as part of your personalized tinnitus
management program to provide temporary
relief from tinnitus. It should always be used as
prescribed by a hearing healthcare professional
who is familiar with the diagnosis and treatment
of tinnitus.
Good health practice requires that a person
reporting tinnitus have a medical evaluation by
a licensed ear physician before using a sound
generator. The purpose of such an evaluation
is to ensure that medically treatable conditions,
which may be causing tinnitus, are identified
and treated prior to using a sound generator.
The tinnitus masker is intended for adults
18 years of age or older who have both hearing
loss and tinnitus.

20 21
Operating instructions
Your hearing aids can be adjusted with the use
of an optional remote control.
Remote control
The optional remote control allows you to
switch between dierent listening programs
and change your volume settings.
Program control
Each time you push the button, you will move to
a new program.
Program 1
(e.g. automatic program)
1 beep
Program 2
(e.g. speech in noise)
2 beeps
Program 3
(e.g. easy-t/telephone)
3 beeps
Program 4 (e.g. music) 4 beeps
Easy-t/telephone (see pg 24) short melody
Your hearing aids beep to indicate which
program you are in.
Please see the front of this booklet for a listing
of your personalized programs.
Volume control
If your remote control has been congured to
adjust volume, you can adjust the volume level
by pushing the + or – button.
As you change the volume, your hearing aids
will beep.
Volume setting Beeps
Recommended volume level 1 beep
Turning volume up short beep
Turning volume down short beep
Maximum volume level 2 beeps
Minimum volume level 2 beeps

22 23
Tinnitus masker
If your remote control has been congured to
adjust the tinnitus masker, you can adjust the
level of the noise when your hearing aids are
in the tinnitus masker program. To adjust the
noise level:
• Push the + button on your remote control to
increase the tinnitus masker in both hearing
aids
• Push the – button on your remote control
to decrease the tinnitus masker in both
hearing aids
As you change the level, your hearing aids will
beep.
For more information or details, please see
page17.
Using the telephone
As telephones do not all work the same, you
may experience dierent results from dierent
phones. You can use many phones by simply
holding the receiver to your ear, without the
need to change to a dedicated telephone
program on your hearing aid. You may need to
move the handset slightly up or back to nd the
position that sounds best to you.
Depending on the phone type you use, your
hearing healthcare professional might have
selected a dedicated phone program on your
hearing aids. Your hearing aids may have an
automatic telephone program (easy telephone
feature), which automatically switches to
a dedicated telephone program when a
telephone receiver is brought close to one of
your hearing aids. You will hear a short melody
to indicate you are in the telephone (easy
telephone) program.
When the receiver is moved away from the
hearing aid, it will automatically return to the
previous listening program. If the hearing aid

24 25
does not switch to the telephone program
automatically when the telephone receiver is
held to the ear, the magnet for easy telephone
hearing aids should be attached to the
telephone receiver. The magnet is designed to
strengthen the magnetic eld at the ear piece of
hearing aid compatible telephones.
To affix the optional magnet:
1. Clean the telephone receiver.
Hold the magnet near
the “listening end” of your
telephone receiver and release
it. The magnet will flip to the
appropriate side and seek
the optimal position on the
telephone receiver.
2. Place the double-sided tape
in this optimal position on the
telephone receiver.
3. Attach the magnet to the tape.
1.
2.
3.
Your hearing healthcare professional may also
have set up a phone program that you can
access through the push button on your hearing
aids, or through your optional remote control.
If your hearing aids are congured to work with
the wireless uDirect™ or uStream streamers,
you might benet from a Bluetooth®hands free
option. Refer to the uDirect or uStream user
guide for more information.
The Binaural Phone feature enables you to hold
a phone to one ear and hear the sound clearly
in both. No accessories are required.

26 27
Protecting your hearing aids
• Open the battery door when not in use.
• Always remove your hearing aids when using
hair care products. The hearing aids can
become clogged and cease to function properly.
• Do not wear your hearing aids in the bath or
shower or immerse them in water.
• If your hearing aids do become wet, do not
attempt to dry them in an oven or microwave.
Do not adjust any controls. Open the battery
doors immediately, and allow your hearing
aids to dry naturally for 24 hours.
• Protect your hearing aids from excessive heat
(hair dryer, vehicle glove box or dashboard).
• Ensure you do not twist or squeeze the wire
when your hearing aids are placed in their
case.
• Regular use of a dehumidier, such as a
Dri-Aid kit, can help prevent corrosion and
prolong the life of your hearing aids.
• Do not drop your hearing aids or knock them
against hard surfaces.
Cleaning your hearing aids
Use a so cloth to clean your hearing aid at the
end of each day, and place it in its case with
the battery door open to allow moisture to
evaporate.
Regular cleaning of the microphone ports with
the supplied cleaning brush will ensure that
your hearing instrument will maintain its sound
quality. Your hearing healthcare professional
can demonstrate this for you.
Ear wax is natural and common. Ensuring your
hearing aids are free of ear wax is an important
step in your daily cleaning and maintenance
routine.
Never use alcohol to clean your hearing aids,
custom molds or domes.
Do not use sharp tools to dislodge ear wax.
Sticking household items into your hearing aids
or custom molds can seriously damage them.

28 29
Cleaning your custom shells and domes
Clean the domes and shells on
the outside daily with a damp
cloth. Avoid getting any water
in and around the speaker units
(microphone shields) and custom shells.
Note: The wires, speakers, domes or custom
shells should never be rinsed or submerged
in water as water drops may block sound
or damage the electrical components of the
hearing aids.
Domes should be replaced by your hearing
healthcare professional every 3-6 months or
when they become sti, brittle, or discolored.
If your shells require further cleaning, the
speaker waxguard may be plugged and
require replacing. See your hearing healthcare
professional.
Signature features of your hearing aids
Binaural Phone
The Binaural Phone feature enables you to hold
a phone to one ear and hear the sound clearly
in both ears. No accessories are required.
uDirect 3, uStream and uTV 3
The uDirect, uStream and uTV™are optional
accessories for your hearing aids.
• uDirect and uStream are streamers
that provide easy, hands-free access to
Bluetooth enabled devices, such as mobile
phones. They can provide remote control
functions to adjust your hearing aids for
increased listening comfort. uDirect also
has a wired audio jack to plug in devices like
MP3 players.
• uTV is used with a streamer to send sound
from your TV directly to your hearing aids.
The uTV can also transmit sound from
stereo systems, computers and other audio
sources.

30 31
For more information on using the uDirect ,
uStream or uTV, please see the user guide for
that accessory. For information on how to get a
streamer or uTV accessory, please contact your
hearing healthcare professional.
Cause Possible remedy
No sound
Not turned on Turn on
Low/dead battery Replace battery
Poor battery contact Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Battery upside down Insert battery plus (+) side
up
Custom shells/domes
blocked with ear wax
Clean custom shells/ domes.
See “Cleaning your hearing
aids.” Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Plugged microphone
opening
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Troubleshooting guide

32 33
Cause Possible remedy
Not loud enough
Low volume Turn up volume; see hearing
healthcare professional for
models without a volume
control or if problem persists
Low battery Replace battery
Custom shells/domes not
inserted properly
See “Putting your hearing
aids on your ears.” Remove
and reinsert carefully
Change in hearing Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Custom shells/domes
blocked with ear wax
Clean custom shells/domes.
See “Cleaning your hearing
aids.” Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Plugged microphone
opening
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Intermittent
Low battery Replace battery
Dirty battery contact Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Cause Possible remedy
Two long beeps
Low battery Replace battery
Whistling
Custom shells/domes not
inserted properly
See “Putting your hearing
aids on your ears.” Remove
and reinsert carefully
Hand/clothing near ear Move hand/clothing away
from your ear
Poorly fitting custom
shells/domes
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Not clear, distorted
Poorly fitting custom
shells/domes
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Custom shells/domes
blocked with ear wax
Clean custom shells/domes.
See “Cleaning your hearing
aids.” Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Low battery Replace battery
Plugged microphone
opening
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

34 35
Cause Possible remedy
Custom shells/domes falling out of ear
Poorly fitting custom
shells/domes
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
Custom shells/domes not
inserted properly
See “Putting your hearing
aids on your ears.” Remove
and reinsert carefully
Weak on the telephone
Telephone not positioned
properly
Move telephone receiver
around ear for clearer signal.
See “Using the telephone”
Hearing aid requires
adjustment
Consult your hearing
healthcare professional
For any problems not listed in the guide, contact your
hearing healthcare professional.
Warning to hearing aid dispensers (to comply with
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulations)
A hearing aid dispenser should advise a prospective hearing aid
user to consult promptly with a licensed physician (preferably an
ear specialist) before dispensing a hearing aid if the hearing aid
dispenser determines through inquiry, actual observation, or review
of any other available information concerning the prospective user,
that the prospective user has any of the following conditions: (i)
Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear. (ii) History of
active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days. (iii) History
of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous
90 days. (iv) Acute or chronic dizziness. (v) Unilateral hearing loss of
sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days. (vi) Audiometric
air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15 decibels at 500 hertz (Hz),
1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz. (vii) Visible evidence of significant cerumen
accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal. (viii) Pain or
discomfort in the ear. Special care should be exercised in selecting
and fitting a hearing aid whose maximum sound pressure level
exceeds 132 decibels because there may be risk of impairing the
remaining hearing of the hearing aid user. [This provision is required
only for those hearing aids with a maximum sound pressure
capability greater than 132 decibels (dB).]
Important notice for prospective hearing aid users
Good health practice requires that a person with a hearing loss have
a medical evaluation by a licensed physician (preferably a physician
who specializes in diseases of the ear) before purchasing a hearing
aid.
Licensed physicians who specialize in diseases of the ear are often
referred to as otolaryngologists, otologists or otorhinolaryngologists.
The purpose of medical evaluation is to assure that all medically