Widex FL-9 User manual

User’s instructions
The Flash Series
FL-9 / FL-9é
Behind-the-ear

2
These user’s instructions describe two hearing aid
models: FL-9 and FL-9é
Unless otherwise indicated, all information applies to
both models. Where it is specific to either the FL-9 or
the FL-9é model, please make sure that you read the in-
formation 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 fur-
thermore reserve the right to make any changes con-
sidered necessary.
Hearing aids and their accessories should
not be disposed of with normal house-
hold waste. Please consult your national
Widex distributor for advice on how to
dispose of your hearing aid.

3
Contents
Your new Flash hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Flash (FL-9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Flash élan (FL-9é) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The élan ear-set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Battery type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Inserting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Turning the hearing aid on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Right/left identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Placing Flash (FL-9) on/in the ear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Placing Flash élan (FL-9é) on/in the ear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Possible settings when turning on your hearing aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Removing Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Automatic adjustment of loudness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Fine tuning loudness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Listening programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Switching between the listening programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Keeping Flash (FL-9) clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Cleaning accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
The hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The earmould. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Keeping Flash élan (FL-9é) clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Cleaning accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Cleaning the hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Cleaning the élan ear-set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Changing the Flash élan (FL-9é) ear-set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Individualising the élan ear-set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Caring for your hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Special care tips for Flash élan (FL-9é) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Good advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Audio input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
FM systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
In case of malfunction of Flash (FL-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
In case of malfunction of Flash élan (FL-9é) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

4
Your new Flash hearing aid
Thank you for choosing a Widex hearing aid. Flash 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 Flash hearing aid.
We hope you will be pleased with your new Widex
hearing aid.

5
Flash (FL-9)
1. Microphone openings, where the sound enters
the hearing aid.
2. Volume control is available in some Flash 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

6
Flash élan (FL-9é)
1. Microphone openings, where the sound enters
the hearing aid.
2. Volume control is available in some Flash 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.

7
The élan ear-set
1. Earhook
2. Tubing
3. Anchor
4. é-tip

8
The battery
Battery type
The recommended battery type for your Flash hearing
aid is:
Zinc Air battery type 13
To obtain replacement batteries, please consult your
hearing care professional. Please note the expiry date
and the recommendations regarding disposal of used
batteries on the battery pack. To ensure proper battery
function, do not use batteries past the expiry date. Be-
cause 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 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.

9
Inserting the battery
Before inserting a new battery in your
hearing aid, remember to remove the
adhesive tab. Do not use batteries on
which there is a sticky residue from
the tab or other unwanted substance.
Push the nail grip downwards to
swing open the battery drawer. The
nail grip is located on the opposite
side of the on/off switch at the bot-
tom of the hearing aid.
The plus (+) sign of the battery must face upwards. If
the battery drawer does not close easily, the battery is
incorrectly inserted.

10
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 exhausted, the
hearing aid will be completely silent. Exactly how long
the hearing aid will function after the beep-tones var-
ies from one case to another. We recommend that you
always have a spare battery with you.
For adjustment of the beep-tone level or disabling of
the function, please consult your hearing care profes-
sional.
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.

11
Turning the hearing aid on and off
The battery drawer is placed at
the bottom of the hearing aid.
The battery drawer also func-
tions as the on/off switch.
The hearing aid is turned on
when the switch is pushed up-
wards, and off when the switch
is pushed downwards.
The word “OFF” is clearly visible
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.

12
Right/left identification
If you wear hearing aids on both
ears, your hearing care profes-
sional 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).

13
Placing Flash (FL-9) on/in the ear
Insert a battery in your hearing aid. First insert the ear-
mould in the ear canal while holding the lower part of
the tubing. It may also help to pull the outer ear back-
wards and upwards with the opposite hand.

14
Once the earmould has been inserted, you place the
hearing aid behind the ear, so that the hook rests com-
fortably on the ear, close to your head.

15
Placing Flash élan (FL-9é)
on/in the ear
Insert a battery in your hearing aid. First place the hear-
ing 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 regu-
lar intervals that the hearing aid and the ear-set are po-
sitioned correctly.

16
Possible settings when turning on
your hearing aid
Your hearing aid can be set to start up in two different
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.

17
Removing Flash
Turn off your hearing aid before removing it. First re-
move 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 pulling it out. It may
also help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards
with the opposite hand.

18
Automatic adjustment of loudness
Flash adjusts loudness automatically in accordance
with your sound environment. Several thousand times
per second, Flash analyses the surroundings and tailors
its sound accordingly. With Flash 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.

19
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 automati-
cally set volume. Push the
lever downwards to lower
the volume. Use short
touches for minor correc-
tions 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 volume con-
trol, please consult your hearing care professional.
Any adjustment of the volume setting will be cancelled
when your hearing aid is turned off.

20
Listening programs
Your Flash hearing aid may be provided with up to four
listening programs optimised for different listening sit-
uations. Your hearing care professional can help you
select the programs that are of use to you. If your needs
change over time, the combination of listening pro-
grams can be changed. In these user’s instructions, the
hearing care professional can list the listening pro-
grams that are available in your hearing aid (see page
24). You can choose from the following programs:
Flash Master: This listening program is Flash’s standard
program. In the Master program all the automatic func-
tions of the hearing aid work to optimise audibility,
speech intelligibility and comfort in all listening situa-
tions.
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 be-
come used to all the new sounds gradually.