Hearing Instrument User Manual
Contents
1. FREEDOM LS Hearing Instrument User Manual 6 America Hears Inc QUALITY CONVENIENCE VALUE Table of Contents FreedomAD Models FreedomAD LS Custom Earmold and Tubing Battery Insertion Inserting Hearing Aids On Off and Volume Adjustment Cleaning Hearing Aids Telephone Use Memory Selection Adaptive Directional Microphone Option Wax and Moisture Storing Hearing Aids and Use of Drying Kit Special Precautions Common Problems and Solutions What To Expect Additional Information Virtual Office Software Uninstall Outdated Software Install New Software Get Connected Contact America Hears 2 O O N I Bb QQ py DD A DL ak ek Ok ek oon fk Q N N N NO N gt N N oo Ol FreedomAD Models nc LEADING ONLINE HEARING SOLUTIONS Virtual Office Hearing Aid Adjustment Software Thank you for choosing America Hears FreedomAD hearing aids FreedomAD hearing aids are available exclusively from America Hears and offer you the latest in digital hearing aid technology and unparalleled convenience With America Hears FreedomAD hearing aids you will enjoy the world s first wide dynamic range optimizer Featuring ADROe technology our instruments with the power of DSP carry out sophisticated analysis and implement fuzzy logic rules to continuously optimize output This will provide you listening comfort as well as improved speech perception in all listening environments Operating in 322. The InstallShield R Wizard will install America Hears Virtual Office 2 an your computer To continue click Next WARNING Do not plug in your USB Hearing Aid Programmer untill the installation process is complete If you have Windows 98 or older you must restart your computer after the installation process is complete and before you plug in your lt AmericaHears Inc ing Ai a ds E Hearing Aid Programmer Virtual Office Hearing Aid Adjustment Software It is important that you do not connect the America Hears programmer to your computer until after you have installed the software e Place the America Hears Virtual Office installation CD into your CD drive and follow the on screen instructions This process may take a few minutes to complete Follow the on screen directions as follows e Click the Next button e Click the Next button iy America Hears Virtual Office InstallShield Wizard wN rix s Click the Next button Installing America Hears irtual Office The program Features you selected are being installed fF Installshield e Click the Finish button InstallShield Wizard Completed The InstallShield Wizard has successfully installed America Hears Virtual Office 2 Click Finish to exit the wizard Y Install AHPro3 driver Ganicel e Click the Install button Note This process could take a few minutes to complete e Click the OK button to complete the installa
3. The jar contains beads that are specially designed to remove moisture from your hearing instruments We recommend that you store your hearing FREEDOM instruments in the drying kit overnight while gt you are sleeping Doing so can help extend the life of your hearing instruments W y To use Open the battery door of your hearing instruments place them on top of the circular foam piece and firmly secure lid on the jar Removing the batteries completely will extend battery life Keeping the lid firmly in place at all times will extend the time between reactivation There is a small amount of blue beads in the jar that are designed to fade and blend in with the other beads when it is time to reactivate After reactivation these beads will return to their original blue color To reactivate in a microwave oven Pour beads into a microwave safe container Heat on a medium level for about 2 5 minutes or until the blue beads regain their color To reactivate in a conventional oven Pour beads into an oven safe container and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the blue beads regain their color Allow the beads to cool to room temperature before placing them back into the Jar PLEASE NEVER PUT YOUR HEARING INSTRUMENTS BATTERIES GLASS JAR LID OR FOAM IN OVEN OR MICROWAVE DO NOT PLACE OVER AN OPEN FLAME WARNING Beads are non toxic but should not be ingested Keep out of reach of children and pets If ingeste
4. or Whistling Dead or No Sound Intermittent Beeping Fades or Intermittent Possible Cause Ear Wax accumulation in ear canal and or sound port Aid improperly inserted Microphone opening and or sound port clogged with wax moisture or debris Dead battery Aid improperly inserted Weak battery Moisture clogged microphone opening and or accumulated in tubing if applicable Possible Solution Clean sound port and or have ears checked and cleaned by physician Insert aid properly Clean microphone opening and or sound port Replace battery Insert aid properly Replace battery Purchase and use a hearing aid drying kit and or tube blower to remove moisture lf you experience any problems with your instruments that you are unable to resolve contact America Hears for assistance Please do not attempt to make repairs yourself Doing so could cause additional damage and will void any warranties still in effect All repairs must be handled through America Hears What To Expect Welcome To The America Hears Family Congratulations on the purchase of America Hears hearing instruments You ve taken the first step toward improving your hearing and improving your lifestyle Please know that we are only an email or toll free phone call away to answer any questions you may have Common Hearing Loss Hearing aids are particularly useful for improving the hearing and speech comprehension of those with senso
5. cards Information could be lost destroyed as a result Adaptive Directional Microphone Option America Hear s Adaptive Directional Microphone ADM Module is a superior directional microphone system With sophisticated monitoring of multiple microphones the module is able to adapt in and out of an omni directional mode all the while optimising the polar pattern for the listener Extremely power efficient the ADM has a flat frequency response meaning that the same fitting can be as for an omni directional fitting Wax and Moisture Ears normally produce wax and moisture which can damage your instrument Proper cleaning and storage of your instruments will help prolong periods between professional cleaning and repairs but eventually your instruments will need to be professionally serviced to compensate for wax and moisture contamination Some individuals are prone to wax and moisture problems and need to have their instrument serviced on a regular basis Wax and moisture collect in the narrow openings of the hearing instrument microphone ports and sound openings eventually clogging them The hearing instrument will appear to be dead or will have a hiss sound This problem can be intermittent when the moisture dries the instrument will function normally but as it builds up the instrument will again appear dead or hiss Storing Hearing Aids and Use of Drying Kit A special drying kit is included with your gt _ hearing instruments
6. channels your FreedomAD hearing aids provide natural amplified sound by using statistical analysis to compare and adjust the output of each channel of the hearing aid to comfortable and audible levels chosen by the user There are no compression thresholds ratios or attack and release times to adjust and gain levels change only when appropriate Your hearing aids are programmed at the factory to your specific hearing loss You also have the option of adjusting your hearing aids anytime you like quickly and simply from your home or office with our optional remote programming package Please carefully read the enclosed instructions to begin enjoying your new hearing aids Should you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you America Hears hearing professionals stand ready to provide you with any and all assistance you may need Thank you again for your confidence in America Hears and our exclusive FreedomAD hearing aids At America Hears service to our customers is the hallmark upon which we have built our company and we look forward to working with you for many years to come We re always here to help 800 492 4515 ADRO is a registered Trade mark of Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd FreedomAD LS The FreedomAD LS is a small light easy to wear mini behind the ear hearing instrument that utilizes a size 13 battery Using our custom earmolds these digital hearing aids will comfortably fit almost eve
7. d drink 2 glasses of water induce vomiting and contact your local poison control center Special Precautions Your instruments are delicate precision electronic devices and as such require the special care and handling that would be afforded to any fine piece of equipment Please read and follow the listed precautions to insure quality performance and long instrument life e Remove your batteries when your hearing instruments will not be in use for prolonged periods of time e Store your instruments in the drying kit provided when not in use e Do not throw or drop your instruments e Do not immerse hearing instruments in liquid or water e Do not wear during bathing showering or swimming e Do not expose instruments to excessive heat such as a stove top microwave dash board of a hot car or a hair dryer e Do not expose the instruments to chemicals such as hair spray insect repellent perfume or cosmetics Special Note Your hearing instruments are built with the finest quality materials However in rare instances an individual may experience sensitivity to the materials used Please consult with your physician if you exhibit any signs of skin irritation allergic reaction or accelerated accumulation of cerumen wax Should you have a sensitivity problem please call or send us an email to inquire about special hypoallergenic coatings available to assist with these situations Common Problems and Solutions Feedback
8. g loss has been medically evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for hearing instruments Federal law restricts the sale of hearing instruments to those individuals who have obtained a medical evaluation from a licensed physician Federal law permits a fully informed adult to sign a waiver statement declining the medical evaluation for religious or personal beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician The exercise of this waiver is not in your best health interest and is strongly discouraged Once a medical evaluation is completed your physician will refer you to a hearing care professional for a full hearing evaluation This evaluation will assess your ability to hear with and without hearing instruments This assessment will enable America Hears to select and fit hearing instruments designed to meet your specific hearing needs Children with hearing loss in addition to seeing a physician for a medical evaluation should be directed to an audiologist for evaluation and habilitation since hearing loss may cause problems for the child in language development and educational and social growth An audiologist is qualified by training to assist in the evaluation and habilitation of a child with a hearing loss Before you are fit with your hearing instruments your hearing care professional should advise you to promptly seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following Visible congenital or traumatic def
9. i Virus Personal r lan Games gt e IncrediMail gt E IncrediMail lan Oberon Media fm America Hears Set Program Access and Defaults T windows Catalog W Windows Update Programs Uninstall Yrtual Office 4 Documents om A a gt Settings i o oi J e gt Search gt Re Help and Support wi 3 a Run po A Windows Installer Are you sure you want to uninstall this product e To uninstall click the Start button on your desktop e Highlight to select Programs e Highlight to select America Hears Virtual Office or America Hears for previous versions e Highlight to select Uninstall A message box will pop up asking you if you are sure you want to uninstall the software e Click the Yes button Once the software uninstall process is complete you must reboot your computer by using the shutdown restart process Install New Software InstallShield Wizard Preparing to Install EN America Hears Virtual Office Setup is preparing the InstallShield Wizard which will guide you through the program setup process Please wait Configuring Windows Installer a Cancel 5 America Hears Yirtual Office InstallShield Wizard l lt bAmericaHears Inc LEADING ONLINE HEARING SOLUTIONS I Virtual Office Hearing Aid Adjustment Software Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for America Hears Virtual Office 2
10. ily e Memory 2 Telecoil Telephone use without feedback whistling e Memory 3 Noisier situations like restaurants shopping malls and crowded places e Memory 4 Music Clients who require settings for specific listening situations can customize their memory settings by utilizing our exclusive Virtual Office software that allows for on line or do it yourself programming America Hears would be glad to do this adjustment for you Just contact a customer service representative for details When the hearing aid is first turned on it automatically defaults to Memory 1 You can change between memories using the Memory Selector Wand or push button You will hear a series of beeps which will represent which memory you are changing to e Memory 1 One Beep e Memory 2 Two Beeps e Memory 3 Three Beeps e Memory 4 Four Beeps Memory Selector Wand positioning 7 y AJ r gt bs 7 ty s FF J S 4 AY a Pas 4 y To use the memory selector wand touch the front of your ear with the tip of the wand To change to the next memory move the wand away from your ear and then return it back to the front of your ear To use the push button place your finger over the push button and press gently Continue pressing and releasing until you have selected the memory you want Warning Please do not place the Memory Selector Wand on or near computer equipment software discs or credit
11. instruments may only be a part of your hearing rehabilitation You may also need auditory training and instruction in lip reading For further information contact America Hears Hearing loss falls into two basic categories conductive and sensorineural When the structures in the outer and middle ear do not work properly their ability to conduct sound vibrations to the inner ear is affected Ear canal obstructions such as wax occlusion eardrum abnormalities or conditions where the ossicles tiny bones of the middle ear become immobilized are causes of conductive hearing loss sensorineural hearing loss or nerve deafness is when the inner ear does not properly process sound vibrations thereby disrupting the message being passed on to the brain Excessive noise exposure ototoxic medications aging or genetics are known to be some of the reasons leading to or causing sensorineural hearing loss and typically cause a frustrating inability to hear speech clearly Good health practice requires that persons with hearing loss have a medical evaluation by a licensed physician preferably one who specializes in diseases of the ear before purchasing hearing instruments The purpose of this medical evaluation is to assure that all medically treatable conditions are identified and properly cared for prior to the purchase of a hearing instrument Following this medical evaluation your physician will provide you with a written statement that your hearin
12. justed and fine tuned to the user s individual and unique hearing loss Adjustments are also needed to take into account the users lifestyle and personal preferences The adjustment process is dependent on the skills of the local hearing care provider and often requires multiple appointments and visits to the hearing professional s office This is often inconvenient and many people never reach the level of satisfaction they are seeking America Hears exclusive Virtual Office Software can change that You will have control over your hearing and the freedom to make adjustments at your convenience Minimum computer requirements e Processor Pentium III or higher e RAM 128 Mb minimum 256 recommended e 100 MB free hard disk space e One USB port e Windows 98 Windows 2000 Windows XP recommended e Screen resolution setting 1280x1024 pixels Uninstall Outdated Software lf you have previously installed a version of America Hears software you must first uninstall before installing a new version lan Accessories F Dell Dell Accessories Intel Network Adapters F Java Web Start Lavasoft Ad Aware SE Professional E Microsoft Office faa Mozilla Firefox l n Nova Development lan QuickTime Spybot Search amp Destroy lan Startup YA Adobe Reader 7 0 E Internet Explorer S Outlook Express T F Y V Y Y VY VY YV VY Y V y Remote Assistance SO Trillian 5 windows Media Player lan Kaspersky Ant
13. o wearing hearing aids you may experience a sensation known as the occlusion effect This is a feeling that your hearing aid is actually blocking certain sounds This is very common America Hears has taken steps to combat this sensation in our new FreedomAD models by building in a vent which allows air to flow in and out of your ear as if you were not using a hearing aid at all Your vent can be adjusted to allow for more or less air If you experience the occlusion effect please follow instructions for adjusting the vent Our self programming features will also help eliminate this effect If you have any difficulty please contact us via email or using our toll free number for assistance Hearing Your Own Voice Hearing aids can open up new avenues of hearing for you One sound that at first may take some getting used to will be the sound of your own voice lf your hearing loss occurred over a period of time your brain gradually adjusted to recognizing your own voice through bone conduction only rather than a combination of bone conduction and air conduction Bone conduction is the process of your body using the vibrations felt by your jaw and skull to process sound rather through your outer and middle ear You will gradually get used to the new sound of both your own voice and other voices However if you still find the sound distracting after a week or so please call our hearing aid professionals or e mail us so we can best assist you Us
14. on of the phone as shown Option 2 Before putting the phone to your ear adjust your hearing aid to the memory for the telephone situation The telephone situation is adjusted for optimum telephone usage Option 3 Your hearing aid is equipped with a telecoil Activate the telecoil See Memory Selection for additional information Once the telecoil is activated your hearing aid will be adjusted for optimum phone use When the telecoil is active the microphone is inactive eliminating any chance of feedback squeal The telephone is inductively coupled directly to your hearing aid enabling clear feedback free telephone usage Note Instruments with the telecoil option can pick up a buzzing sound from fluorescent lights Not all telephones are compatible with a telecoil Check with the manufacturer of your telephone if you have any questions It is a good idea to practice using the telephone a few times before you receive an actual call Memory Selection Your FreedomAD LS hearing instruments are equipped with a multi memory option that has four independently programmable memories response settings The memories are computer programmed to your specific hearing requirements and are factory adjusted for the listening environments you encounter most often Your hearing aids are programmed from the factory as follows e Memory 1 General use normal to quiet environments like home small meetings and communicating with friends and fam
15. ormity of the ear History of active drainage from the ear within the last 90 days History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous 90 days Acute or chronic dizziness Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days Audiometric air bone gap equal to or greater than 15 decibels at 500Hz 1000Hz or 2000Hz 7 Visible evidence of significant cerumen ear wax accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal 8 Pain or discomfort in the ear ORDES ao Note The hearing care professional should exercise special care in selecting and fitting hearing instruments where maximum sound pressure level exceeds 132 decibels because there is a risk of impairing the remaining hearing of the instrument user Virtual Office Software If you have purchased the optional programming kit you will receive a programming kit that enables you to adjust your own instruments or make remote adjustments via the internet If you have not you may do so by contacting our Customer Service Group aoe A de lt AmericaHears Inc LEADING ONLINE HEARING SOLUTIONS Virtual Office Hearing Aid Adjustment Software Welcome to the America Hears Virtual Office The purpose of The America Hears Virtual Office is to give you the ability to have greater control and freedom over your hearing specifically adjusting your new digital hearing aids All modern high end digital hearing aids need to be ad
16. ors have a limited warranty of 60 days from date of invoice If you need additional flex connectors they may be purchased as an accessory Please call America Hears customer service representative for more information e Align the red dots on the flex connector and the programming cable e Connect the programming cable to the flex connector e Open the battery door slightly to create a space on the hinged side of the battery door e Insert flex connector into the space created on the hinged side of the battery door of the hearing instrument Insert the red plug flex connector into the right hearing aid and the blue plug flex connector into the left hearing aid Do not try to force this connection Note The gold shiny side of the ribbon must be facing away from the battery compartment e Close the battery door Attach programming cords to programmer e Attach your America Hears programmer to the programming cords matching the blue and red colors on the cords to the programmer e Connect to your computer using the USB cable e Launch America Hears Virtual Office by double clicking on the Virtual Office icon on your desktop Connect to Virtual Office Contact America Hears y E a 1 ar y A X il lt SAmericaHear Inc LEADING ONLINE HEARING SOLUTIONS Virtual Office Hearing Aid Adjustment Software To contact America Hears Call 1 800 492 4515 E mail contact americahears com
17. r attempt to recharge non rechargeable batteries Inserting Hearing Aids Inserting your hearing instruments for the first time can be challenging Until your hearing aid is fully inserted there can be feedback whistle We suggest that you practice without the battery until you have perfected this procedure With practice inserting your hearing aids will become as easy as putting on your glasses To insert your BTE hearing instrument with a custom earmold While the instrument is in the off position hold the plastic tube and insert the custom earmold into the ear canal following the natural contours of the ear Gently pull down on the ear lobe and slightly twist the custom earmold during insertion to help insure proper placement After the custom earmold is comfortably in place position the instrument behind the ear as illustrated On Off and Volume Adjustment On and Off Your FreedomAD LS is turned on and off by opening and closing the battery compartment or by turning the volume control to the lowest possible setting Note Whenever you turn your hearing aid on it is automatically set to Memory One Hearing Instrument Off Hearing Instrument On Volume Control Hint Turning your instrument off every time you remove it will prolong the life of your hearing aid batteries Volume Adjustment Adjust the volume level of your BTE hearing instruments by rotating the volume control up for louder sound and down for softer so
18. rineural hearing loss This is a loss of hearing that takes place when there is damage to the inner ear also known as the cochlea or damage to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain the retocochlear This type of hearing loss can be attributed to any number of factors including viruses or disease drugs or medications that affect the auditory system noise exposure head trauma aging or tumors Using Your New Hearing Aids America Hears 100 digital hearing aids are sophisticated hearing instruments Our software and technologies are state of the art Nevertheless there are human factors involved in using any brand of hearing aids most notably Time amp Patience No hearing aid can completely restore perfect normal hearing While we use cutting edge technology to eliminate noise noise cannot be completely eliminated in all hearing environments In using your new hearing aids you will learn how to listen in a variety of noise and noise free environments You will gradually learn to effectively process all of the sounds around you including sounds you may not have heard for years If you are a first time hearing aid user we suggest using your instruments under non stressful circumstances for a few hours at a time Getting used to wearing your new hearing aid gradually and at a comfortable pace will make the transition period much easier and more rewarding for you We Help You Avoid The Occlusion Effect If you are new t
19. ryone Parts of Your FreedomAD LS hearing aid Ear Hook Microphone Openings Volume Control On Off Push Button Model Name Serial Number Year of Manufacture Flex Connector Slot Battery Door Inside Battery Door Inside Battery Door Blue Left Side Red Right Side Custom Earmold and Tubing To trim and install your Custom Earmold tubing Select your right BTE hearing aid and the right custom earmold Insert the custom earmold and tube in the right ear with the tube vertical and pointing up in front of the ear Lay the hearing aid over the ear and position it where it is most comfortable and snug to the ear Note or mark with marker the proper place to cut the tube Remove the tube and custom earmold from the ear and cut it Connect the cut tube to the hearing aid by pressing the tube tip over the hearing aid tip Insert the entire assembly to the ear and try fit for comfort You may need to trim the tube and repeat process as necessary to achieve a comfortable fit Repeat this process for the left ear NOTE Perform these steps without batteries in your hearing aids When you are satisfied with the fit insert the batteries Battery Insertion Your hearing aids are designed to use size 13 batteries A zinc air type battery is recommended but any type or brand may be used e To insert remove the adhesive label and wait sixty seconds for air to activate the battery Any moisture on the battery
20. surface should be wiped off prior to insertion Insert the battery into the battery door It may take several minutes for the battery to work to its full effect e To remove the battery open the battery door and lift the battery out of the battery door y Y The Memory Selector Wand can also be used as a battery insertion and removal tool To use for this application simply touch the battery with the tip of the Memory Selector Wand and insert or remove the battery as shown Low battery indicator When your battery voltage is low and in need of replacement you will hear the low battery indicator You will hear five beeps indicating that it is time to change your battery The warning beeps will be repeated Helpful hint It is recommended that you leave your battery door open when not using your instruments This will prolong the life of your batteries Battery disposal Please discard batteries in a safe place Never dispose of batteries by burning them There is risk that they may explode potentially causing serious injury Never put batteries with household waste as they cause environmental pollution Radio Shack accepts dead hearing aid batteries Other precautions Keep batteries out of reach of children or anyone who may accidentally swallow them Never put batteries in your mouth for any reason Do not store batteries in medication containers or where they may possibly be mistaken for medication and accidentally swallowed Neve
21. tion process e Plug the USB cord into your computer e Plug the programmer into the USB port of your computer A windows message will pop up in the lower right corner of your screen The drivers are CP2102 US to UART Bridge Controler automatically installed for you When the messages dissapear the process is complete The green power light on the programmer will be on confirming that the installation process is successful e Launch America Hears Virtual Office by double clicking on the Virtual Office icon on your desktop The detailed Help program in Virtual Office will step you through the software Get Connected If you have purchased the optional programming kit you will receive a programming kit that enables you to adjust your own instruments or make remote adjustments via the internet If you have not you may do so by contacting our Customer Service Group Note Before launching America Hears software you have to connect your hearing instruments to your programmer and the programmer to your computer If you need any assistance in this process please do not hesitate to call one of our customer service representatives Black finger grip Shiny side of the ribbon FreedomAD LS hearing aids use a flex connector to connect the programming cord to the hearing instruments Please note Flex connectors are extremely fragile When handled properly they can last the life of your instrument Flex connect
22. ually adjustments in the programming of your hearing aids will help We Are Always Here To Help Please remember time and patience in wearing any new hearing aid will usually result in an improvement in your hearing Your new America Hears hearing aids while technologically superior to most other hearing aids could also require time and patience Hearing aids work with the hearing you do have to improve it a return to perfect or normal hearing is rare with any hearing aid While you are getting accustomed your new America Hears hearing aids follow the instructions and consult with your America Hears professional You will soon experience a new level of hearing Always remember our pledge to customer service Before During and After the sale insures we will be with you every step of the way We look forward to serving your hearing needs for many years to come Additional Information If you have difficulty hearing you are not alone Millions of people in this country share your problem Many people who experience hearing problems can be treated medically surgically or most commonly through amplification Your hearing is vital for your physical and psychological well being Without it everyday communication may become a frustrating and sometimes exhausting task Hearing instruments will not restore your hearing to normal however when fitted properly and used regularly they will improve your communication ability Your hearing
23. unds The lower the number the softer the sound The higher the number the louder the sound a sal ES NS ar Ps S4 ES e 1 Lowest Volume 4 Highest Volume Cleaning Hearing Aids It is very important to keep your hearing instruments as clean as possible Wax buildup is the number one cause of instrument failure To avoid potential repairs please clean your instrument daily Wipe your instrument clean with a soft dry cloth carefully removing any traces of wax and debris A brush and vent cleaning tool is provided to further assist you in cleaning the sound port of the instrument Custom earmolds Disconnect the custom earmolds see Custom Earmold and Tubing from your hearing aids where the tubing connects to the sound tip Wash thoroughly in warm soapy water Carefully dry making sure tubing and earmolds are free from moisture Reconnect earmolds to your hearing aids Telephone Use There are three options to optimize your hearing aids when using the telephone Option 1 The most convenient way to use the telephone is to simply put the phone to you ear without changing memories and use the phone in the conventional manner Try this first It is important that you hold the phone still and in one place as you talk Depending on the style of your hearing aid and severity of your hearing loss you could experience feedback squealing when using the phone If you do experience feedback then adjust the positi
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