Widex AIKIA AK-9 User manual

User’s instructions
The AIKIA Series
AK-9 / AK-9é
Behind-the-ear

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Contents
YournewAIKIAhearingaid..............................4
AIKIA(AK-9)..........................................5
AIKIAélan(AK-9é).....................................6
Theélanear-set........................................7
Thebattery............................................8
Batterytype.........................................8
Insertingthebattery..................................9
Changingthebattery................................11
Turning the hearing aid on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Left/rightidentification.................................13
Placing AIKIA AK-9 on/in the ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Placing AIKIA AK-9é on/in the ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Possible settings when turning on your hearing aid . . . . . . . . 17
Automatic adjustment of loudness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Finetuningloudness...................................20
Listeningprograms....................................21
Switching between the listening programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
KeepingAIKIAclean...................................26
Cleaningaccessories................................26
Cleaningthehearingaid.............................27
TheearmoldAIKIAAK-9.............................28
Cleaning the élan ear-set AIKIA AK-9é. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Changingtheélanear-set ..............................33
Individualizing the élan ear-set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Caringforyourhearingaid .............................38
Special care for the AIKIA élan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Good advice AIKIA AK-9 and AK-9é. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Accessories AIKIA AK-9 and AK-9é . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
In case of malfunction AIKIA AK-9 and AK-9é . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
The hearing aid, parts and accessories shown in
these user’s instructions may not look the same as
the ones you have. We furthermore reserve the
right to make any changes considered necessary.
Hearing aids and their accessories
should not be disposed of with normal
household waste. Please consult your
national Widex distributor for advice
on how to dispose of your hearing aid.

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Your new AIKIA hearing aid
Thank you for choosing a Widex hearing aid. AIKIA
is a hearing aid that allows you to be part of the
process of tailoring the sound to your individual
hearing loss and lifestyle requirements.
We recommend that you read the entire booklet to
get full satisfaction from your new AIKIA hearing
aid.
We hope you will be pleased with your new
Widex hearing aid.
AIKIA (AK-9)
1. Microphone openings, where the sound
enters the hearing aid.
2. Volume control is available in some AIKIA
models. It makes it possible to fine tune the
automatically adjusted loudness.
3. Program button, which allows you to choose
between different listening programs.
4. On/off switch.
5. Battery drawer with a nail grip for easy
opening.
6. Earhook.
7. Plastic tubing.
8. Earmold.
9. Sound outlet.
10. Relief vent for
aeration of the
ear canal.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1.
9.
10.

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AIKIA élan (AK-9é)
1. Microphone openings, where the sound
enters the hearing aid.
2. Volume control is available in some AIKIA
models. It makes it possible to fine tune the
automatically adjusted loudness.
3. Program button, which allows you to choose
between different listening programs.
4. On/off switch.
5. Battery drawer with a nail grip for easy
opening.
6. élan ear-set.
The élan ear-set
1. Earhook
2. Tubing
3. Anchor
4. é-tip

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Inserting the battery
Before inserting a new battery in
your hearing aid, remember to re-
move the adhesive tab. Do not use
batteries on which there is a sticky
residue from the tab or other un-
wanted substance.
The battery
Battery type
The recommended battery type for your AIKIA
hearing aid is:
Zinc Air battery type 13
To obtain replacement batteries, please consult
your hearing care professional. Please note the ex-
piration date and the recommendations regarding
disposal of used batteries on the battery pack. To
ensure proper battery function, do not use batter-
ies past the expiration date. Because they are Zinc
Air type batteries, they need air to work. There-
fore, do not remove the adhesive tab until just be-
fore inserting the battery in the hearing aid. Once
the tab has been removed, the battery will start
functioning after a few seconds. The battery life
will depend on a number of factors, such as the
setting of your hearing aid, how many hours you
use it daily and the listening environments in which
you use it.

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Push the nail grip upwards to
swing open the battery drawer.
The nail grip is located on the op-
posite side of the on/off switch at
the bottom of the hearing aid.
The plus (+) sign of the battery must face upwards.
If the battery drawer does not close easily, the bat-
tery is incorrectly inserted.
Changing the battery
If you hear four rapid beep-tones while wearing
your hearing aid, it is an indication that the battery
is nearly exhausted. Once the battery is totally ex-
hausted, the hearing aid will be completely silent.
Exactly how long the hearing aid will function after
the beep-tones varies from one case to another.
We recommend that you always have a spare bat-
tery with you.
For adjustment of the beep-tone level or disabling
of the function, please consult your hearing care
professional.
Never leave an exhausted battery in the hearing
aid. Exhausted batteries may leak, which could
damage the hearing aid. When changing batteries,
it is a good idea to hold the hearing aid over a table
or a carpet, in case you drop the hearing aid or bat-
tery.

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Turning the hearing aid on and off
The battery drawer is placed
at the bottom of the hearing
aid. The battery drawer also
functions as the on/off
switch.
The hearing aid is turned on
when the switch is pushed
upwards, and off when the
switch is pushed down-
wards.
The word “OFF” is clearly vis-
ible on the switch when the
hearing aid is turned off.
Please remember to switch the hearing aid off
when it is not in use. Remove the battery if the
hearing aid will not be used for several days.
Left/right identification
If you wear hearing aids on
both ears, your hearing care
professional can put color
marks on your hearing aids so
you can easily see which is
for the left ear and which is
for the right ear (red mark =
right and blue mark = left).

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Placing AIKIA AK-9
on/in the ear
Insert a battery in your hearing aid. First insert the
earmold in the ear canal while holding the lower
part of the tubing. It may also help to pull the outer
ear backwards and upwards with the opposite
hand.
Once the earmold has been inserted, you place the
hearing aid behind the ear, so that the hook rests
comfortably on the ear, close to your head.

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Placing AIKIA AK-9é
on/in the ear
Insert a battery in your hearing aid. First place the
hearing aid behind the ear, so that the earhook and
tubing rest comfortably on the ear, close to your
head. Then insert the é-tip in the ear canal while
holding the lower part of the tubing. Lastly, make
sure that the anchor is positioned correctly. It
should rest at the opening of the ear canal and se-
cure the position of the é-tip as well as the entire
élan ear-set. Remember to check at regular inter-
vals that the hearing aid and the ear-set are posi-
tioned correctly.
Possible settings when turning
on your hearing aid
Your hearing aid can be set to start up in two dif-
ferent ways. In the standard start-up setting your
hearing aid may whistle slightly while you insert
the earmold in the ear. An alternative is a setting
where the hearing aid actively suppresses whis-
tling while the earmold is being inserted in the ear.
Together with your hearing care professional you
can choose the start-up setting that suits your
needs best.

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Removing AIKIA AK-9 and AK-9é
Turn off your hearing aid before removing it. First
remove the hearing aid from its position behind
the ear. Carefully pull the earmold/é-tip out of the
ear canal, while holding the lower part of the tub-
ing. If it is difficult, it may help to try to move the
earmold/é-tip carefully from side to side while
pulling it out. It may also help to pull the outer ear
backwards and upwards with the opposite hand.
Automatic adjustment of
loudness
AIKIA adjusts loudness automatically in accord-
ance with your sound environment. Several thou-
sand times per second, AIKIA analyzes the sur-
roundings and tailors its sound accordingly. With
AIKIA you do not have to think about adjusting the
volume – it happens quite automatically.
Important: If the volume in your hearing aid is too
loud or too weak, or if the reproduced sounds are
distorted, or you would like any further informa-
tion, consult your hearing care professional.

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Fine tuning loudness
Your hearing aid may be
provided with a volume
control, shaped like a
small lever. Push the lever
upwards to raise the au-
tomatically set volume.
Push the lever down-
wards to lower the vol-
ume. Use short touches
for minor corrections of the volume. Faster adjust-
ments are obtained by keeping the lever pressed
for some seconds.
Each time you operate the volume control, you will
hear a beep-tone. For modification of the beep-
tones or disabling of the beep-tone function or vol-
ume control, please consult your hearing care pro-
fessional.
Any adjustment of the volume setting will be can-
celled when your hearing aid is turned off.
Listening programs
Your AIKIA hearing aid may be provided with up to
four listening programs optimized for different lis-
tening situations. Your hearing care professional
can help you select the programs that are of use to
you. If your needs change over time, the combina-
tion of listening programs can be changed. In these
user’s instructions, the hearing care professional
can list the listening programs that are available in
your hearing aid (see page 23). You can choose
from the following programs:
AIKIA Master: This listening program is AIKIA’s
standard program. In the Master program all the
automatic functions of the hearing aid work to en-
sure audibility, speech intelligibility and comfort in
all listening situations.
Acclimatization program: This listening program
has the same features as the Master program, but
provides slightly less amplification. The listening
program is ideal if this is your first hearing aid and
you want to become used to all the new sounds
gradually.

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Music: This listening program is ideal for listening
to music.
TV: This listening program is ideal for listening to
the TV.
M+T: In this listening program you listen via the
hearing aid microphone (M) and the telecoil (T).
This listening program allows you to listen to a
specific sound source and still hear surrounding
sounds.
T: In this listening program you listen via the tele-
coil (T) and not via the microphone (M) in the
hearing aid. The telecoil is used where a loop sys-
tem or specially adapted telephone system is in-
stalled. Activating this program allows you to lis-
ten to a specific sound source and shut out sur-
rounding sounds.
Listening program form
Program
Chosen
programs: Application:
1.
2.
3.
4.

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Switching between the
listening programs
You can switch between the
programs by using the pro-
gram button on the back of
the hearing aid. If you do not
want to use the program but-
ton, you can consult your hearing care profession-
al to have it disabled.
Each time you switch to another program, you will
hear beep-tones. The beeps tell you which pro-
gram you have chosen:
Program 1: One brief beep
Program 2: Two brief beeps
Program 3: Three brief beeps
Program 4: One long and one brief beep
The number of different beeps depends on how
many programs you - together with your hearing
care professional - have chosen to have in your
hearing aid. The selected listening programs are
numbered 1-4.
If you – in consultation with your hearing care pro-
fessional – decide on other combinations of pro-
grams later, these can be written on the blank
forms found at the back of these instructions.

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Keeping AIKIA clean
Cleaning accessories
The following accessories are available for your
hearing aid:
1. Battery magnet to facilitate insertion of the
battery into the battery drawer.
2. Wax removing tool for cleaning the relief vent
opening and the earmold sound bore.
3. Wax removing tool for cleaning the élan ear-set.
4. Soft cloth for drying and cleaning the hearing aid.
Contact your hearing care professional if you need
additional supplies of accessories.
Cleaning the hearing aid
Never wash your hearing
aid with water, cleaning
solutions or other liquids.
Instead, clean your hear-
ing aid with a dry soft cloth
after use.
When the hearing aid is not in use, it is a good idea
to leave the battery drawer open, so as to ventilate
the hearing aid and allow it to dry.
1.

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The earmold
AIKIA AK-9
Make sure that your ear-
mold is clean and free of
earwax and moisture. If
it is plugged, clear the
openings with a wax re-
moving tool.
Disconnect the earmold and
tubing from the hearing aid at
least once a week and wash the
earmold in lukewarm water.
Rinse the earmold thoroughly
and allow it to dry overnight.
If there is still moisture
in the earmold the next
time you want to use the
hearing aid, use a small
blower or the like to blow
it dry. Never use alcohol or other cleaning solu-
tions to clean your earmold.
Make sure that the earmold is clean and dry
before you use it again with the hearing aid.
If your earmold tubing becomes slack, stiff, yellow
or cracked, replace the tubing. For further supplies
of tubing consult your hearing care professional.

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Cleaning the élan
ear-set AIKIA AK-9é
Make sure that your élan
ear-set is clean and free of
earwax and moisture.
Never use alcohol or other
cleaning solutions to clean
the élan ear-set. If one of
the élan ear-set elements becomes slack, stiff, yel-
low or cracked, replace the élan ear-set. For fur-
ther supplies of new élan ear-sets, consult your
hearing care professional.
If the élan ear-set tubing is plugged, it must be
cleaned. Hold the earhook with two fingers while
holding the hearing aid with the opposite hand. Lift
the élan ear-set off in a slanting, backward move-
ment. Then clear the opening with the wax remov-
ing tool.

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If necessary, the é-tip can be washed in lukewarm
water. Disconnect the é-tip from the élan ear-set
and rinse the é-tip thoroughly. Allow it to dry over-
night.
Make sure that the é-tip and the ear-set are
clean and dry before you use them the next
time.
Changing the élan ear-set
The élan ear-set should be changed on a regular
basis. The life of an élan ear-set is individual and
depends on a number of factors, such as how much
the hearing aid is used and the type of earwax pro-
duced in the ear. The élan ear-set can be removed
by holding the earhook with two fingers and the
hearing aid with the opposite hand. Then lift the
élan ear-set off in a slanting, backward movement.
It is important to do it in a backward movement as
described. A new élan ear-set can then be snapped
into place by gently pressing it onto the hearing
aid. It is very important to ensure that the ear-set is
firmly secured.

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Before you can use the élan ear-set, it must be ad-
justed to fit your ear exactly. This adjustment can
be complicated if you do not have the necessary
experience or the correct tools. Therefore, we rec-
ommend that you and your hearing care profes-
sional go through the following instructions to-
gether and arrange future delivery of new ear-
sets.
Individualizing the élan ear-set
The élan ear-set can be adjusted to fit your ear ex-
actly. Your hearing care professional will choose
the correct size for you, adjust it for you, and pro-
vide instructions regarding future replacements. In
these user’s instructions, your hearing care pro-
fessional can circle the sizes selected for you (see
page 37).
Choice of tubing: The tubing is available in five
different lengths for the right and left ear, respec-
tively. Your hearing healthcare professional has
chosen the correct one for you in order to ensure a
good and comfortable fit. The tubing must not be
uncomfortably short or so long that it is too loose.
Choice of é-tip: The é-tip is available in four sizes.
Your hearing healthcare professional has chosen
the correct size é-tip for you in order to ensure a
good and comfortable fit. The é-tip must be posi-
tioned comfortably in the ear canal. The é-tip can
be replaced by pulling the é-tip off the rest of the
élan ear-set. A new é-tip is then placed on the élan
ear-set. It is very important to ensure that the é-tip
is firmly secured.

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Circle the sizes selected for the élan ear-set.
Left ear Right ear
é-tip Tubing é-tip Tubing
1S 1L 1L 1S 1L 1R
2S 2L 2L 2S 2L 2R
3L 3R
4L 4R
5L 5R
Adjusting the anchor: Your
hearing healthcare profes-
sional has formed the anchor
to an appropriately sized loop
to ensure the comfortable re-
tention of the é-tip in your ear
canal. Future replacements
of the earset will require re-
forming the anchor properly
to avoid ear irritation. Your
provider will complete or in-
struct you regarding future
replacements.

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Caring for your hearing aid
With proper care, your hearing aid will give you
years of reliable service. Here are some things
you can do to prolong the life of your hearing
aid:
Switch your hearing aid off when it is not in
use. Should you not use it for several days, take
out the battery to avoid battery leakage.
Treat your hearing aid as the valuable object it
is: with care. When your hearing aid is not in
use, keep it in its case in a cool, dry location
where it cannot be reached by children or
pets.
When not in use, do not expose your hearing
aid to extreme temperatures or high humidity.
In environments with high humidity (including
that created by heavy perspiration), a drying kit
may be used daily to reduce the amount of
moisture inside the hearing aid. See the in-
structions enclosed with the drying kit.
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Do not wear your hearing aid in the shower or
swimming, or when using a hair dryer, hair
spray, or other sprays and creams (e.g. suntan-
ing oils).
Never try to open or repair the hearing aid your-
self.
Do not wear your hearing aid during x-ray, MR
scans, CT scans, short-wave diathermy, or sim-
ilar radiation treatments and never place your
hearing aid in a microwave oven. These are
some of the types of radiation that can damage
your hearing aid. Radiation from, for example,
room surveillance equipment, burglar alarms
and cellular telephones, is weaker and will not
damage your hearing aid; however, you may
hear interference noise.
Widex hearing aids are not certified for use in
mines or other areas with explosive gases.
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