Widex AIKIA Series 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
Right/leftidentification..................................13
Placing AIKIA (AK-9) on/in the ear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Possible settings when turning on your hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
RemovingAIKIA.......................................18
Automatic adjustment of loudness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Finetuningloudness ...................................20
Listeningprograms.....................................21
Switching between the listening programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
KeepingAIKIA(AK-9)clean...............................26
Cleaningaccessories.................................26
Thehearingaid.....................................27
Theearmould ......................................27
Keeping AIKIA élan (AK-9é) clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Cleaningaccessories.................................29
Cleaningthehearingaid..............................30
Cleaningtheélanear-set..............................30
Changing the AIKIA élan (AK-9é) ear-set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Caringforyourhearingaid...............................38
Special care tips for AIKIA élan (AK-9é) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Goodadvice..........................................42
Accessories ..........................................44
In case of malfunction of AIKIA (AK-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
In case of malfunction of AIKIA élan (AK-9é) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
These user’s instructions describe two hearing aid
models: AK-9 and AK-9é.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information applies to
both models. Where it is specific to either the AK-9
or the AK-9é model, please make sure that you read
the information that pertains to your model.
The hearing aid, earmould, é-tip and accessories
shown 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. Earmould.
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-
piry date and the recommendations regarding dis-
posal of used batteries on the battery pack. To en-
sure proper battery function, do not use batteries
past the expiry date. Because they are Zinc Air type
batteries, they need air to work. Therefore, do not
remove the adhesive tab until just before inserting
the battery in the hearing aid. Once the tab has
been removed, the battery will start functioning af-
ter a few seconds. The battery life will depend on a
number of factors, such as the setting of your hear-
ing 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 downwards 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 battery.

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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 downwards.
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.
Right/left identification
If you wear hearing aids on
both ears, your hearing care
professional can put coloured
marks on your hearing aids so
you can easily see which is for
the right ear and which is for
the left 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
earmould 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 earmould 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 élan (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 secure the position
of the é-tip as well as the entire élan ear-set.
Remember to check at regular intervals that the
hearing aid and the ear-set are positioned correctly.
Possible settings when turning
on your hearing aid
Your hearing aid can be set to start up in two diffe-
rent ways: In the standard start-up setting your
hearing aid may whistle slightly while you insert the
earmould/é-tip in the ear. An alternative is a setting
where the hearing aid actively suppresses whistling
while the earmould/é-tip 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
Turn off your hearing aid before removing it. First
remove the hearing aid from its position behind the
ear. Then, carefully pull the earmould/é-tip out of
the ear canal, while holding the lower part of the
tubing. If it is difficult, it may help to try to move the
earmould/e-tip carefully from side to side while pull-
ing it out. It may also help to pull the outer ear back-
wards and upwards with the opposite hand.
Automatic adjustment of
loudness
AIKIA adjusts loudness automatically in accordance
with your sound environment. Several thousand
times per second, AIKIA analyses the surroundings
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 information,
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 up-
wards to raise the auto-
matically set volume. Push
the lever downwards to
lower the volume. Use
short touches for minor
corrections of the volume. Faster adjustments 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 optimised 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 25). You can choose
from the following programs:
AIKIA Master: This listening program is AIKIA’s
standard program. In the Master program all the au-
tomatic functions of the hearing aid work to opti-
mise audibility, speech intelligibility and comfort in
all listening situations.
Acclimatisation 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 get used to all the new sounds gradu-
ally.

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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 telecoil
(T) and not via the microphone (M) in the hearing
aid. The telecoil can only be used where a loop sys-
tem is installed. Activating this program allows you
to listen to a specific sound source and shut out sur-
rounding sounds.
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 button, you
can consult your hearing care professional to have it
disabled.
Each time you switch to another program, you will
hear beep-tones. The beeps tell you which program
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
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Listening program form
Program Chosen
programs:
Application:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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 (AK-9) 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 earmould sound bore.
3. Soft cloth for drying and cleaning the hearing
aid.
Contact your hearing care professional if you need
additional supplies of accessories.
1.
2.
3.
The hearing aid
Never wash your hearing
aid with water, cleaning so-
lutions or other liquids.
Instead, clean your hearing
aid with a dry soft cloth af-
ter 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.
The earmould
Make sure that your ear-
mould is clean and free
of earwax and moisture.
If it is plugged, clear the
openings with a wax re-
moving tool.

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Disconnect the earmould from
the tubing at least once a week
and wash the earmould in luke-
warm water. Rinse the earmould
thoroughly and allow it to dry
overnight.
If there is still moisture in
the earmould 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 solutions
to clean your earmould.
If your earmould tubing becomes slack, stiff, yellow
or cracked, replace the tubing. For further supplies
of tubing consult your hearing care professional.
Keeping AIKIA élan (AK-9é) 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 élan ear-
set.
3. Soft cloth for drying and cleaning the hearing
aid.
Contact your hearing care professional if you need
additional supplies of accessories.




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Cleaning the hearing aid
Never wash your hearing
aid with water, cleaning so-
lutions or other liquids.
Instead, clean your hearing
aid with a dry soft cloth af-
ter 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.
Cleaning the élan ear-set
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 further
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 AIKIA élan (AK-9é)
ear-set
The élan ear-set should be changed on a regular ba-
sis. The life of an élan ear-set is individual and de-
pends 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 firm-
ly 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 expe-
rience or the correct tool. Therefore, we recom-
mend that you and your hearing care professional
go through the following instructions together and
arrange future delivery of new ear-sets.
Individualising 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 the first time. In these us-
er’s instructions, your hearing care professional can
circle the sizes selected for you (see page 37).
Choice of tubing: The tubing is available in five dif-
ferent lengths for the right and left ear, respectively.
It is important to choose the correct one 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.
It is important to choose the correct é-tip in order to
ensure a good and comfortable fit. The é-tip must
be positioned comfortably in the ear canal. The é-
tip is 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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Adjusting the anchor: The
anchor should form an appro-
priately sized loop to ensure
the comfortable retention of
the é-tip in your ear canal. It is
formed by pulling the tip of the
anchor through the small hole
on the side of the élan ear-set.
When the loop is the correct
size, any excess should be cut
off, leaving only the loop. Take
great care to cut off all the ex-
cess so that the end of anchor
loop is flush with the small
hole and there are no sharp
edges. Use the tip of your fin-
ger to check for sharp edges.
If part of the anchor sticks out
through the hole, creating an uneven surface, this
may cause ear irritation.
The correct size is obtained when the anchor loop
comfortably supports the position of the é-tip in the
ear canal, so that the élan ear-set sits securely in and
on the ear.
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

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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, a Widex
drying kit may be used daily to reduce the
amount of moisture inside the hearing aid. See
the instructions enclosed with the Widex 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.
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 simi-
lar 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 cel-
lular telephones is weaker and will not damage
your hearing aid.
Widex hearing aids are not certified for use in
mines or other areas with explosive gases.
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