PH`lNAK PH5>NAK - The Hearing Aid Museum
Contents
1. PHONAK hearing systems PHONAK hearing systems Better Hearing Is For You Brought to you by your hearing CONS 12 US 4 00 healthcare professional and Phonak b in sy Hearing Instruments How to Wear Your Hearing Instruments Getting Acquainted With Your Hearing Instruments Getting the Most Out of Your Hearing Instruments Safety Issues Serial Numbers Batteries Protect Your Hearing Instruments Troubleshooting FM Communication Systems Using the Telephone Two Ears Are Better Than One Please Note Hearing Instruments Hearing instruments are masterpieces of miniaturized electronics complete with computerized microchips multi purpose switches and powerful amplifiers Within the hearing instrument a microphone acts as an artificial ear to hear sounds which the human ear may no longer be able to hear After careful filtering and electronic processing the sound is amplified routed through a receiver speaker and directed into the ear canal See the instruction manual for your own hearing Instruments for an explanation of Its parts and how they work How to Wear Your Hearing Instruments In The Ear ITE Models Grasp the hearing instrument between your thumb and forefinger as shown Keeping it in this position bring your hand up to your ear Carefully insert the canal portion into the ear Then gently twist the top of the instrument into place along the inside curve of the ea2. service from a local hearing healthcare professional If you do not have a hearing heathcare professional Phonak can refer you to a professional in your area For a referral please contact Phonak Inc 4520 Weaver Parkway Warrenville IL 60555 1 800 679 4871 21
3. the new ones will undoubtedly sound different Some people prefer to jump in to hearing aid use by wearing them all the time right from the beginning Others prefer a more gradual approach increasing wearing time by an hour each day If you have worn hearing aids before it is best to change to the new set all at once Please discuss these methods with your hearing healthcare professional to see which is best for you Getting the Most Out of Your Hearing Instruments Concentrate on the people or sounds you want to hear It takes work to focus your attention but it makes a big difference Structure the listening situation to your advantage gt Make sure that people have your attention before they speak gt Sit or stand closer to the source of what you want to hear especially in a group situation where there is background noise Ifyou join in a discussion make sure you know the topic of conversation It will help you to follow things better Practice speech reading Always watch the person speaking and take your cues from facial expressions and gestures as well as from lip and mouth movements Getting the Most Out of Your Hearing Instruments Safety Issues gt Try to position yourself with the light source behind you That way the person you Hearing instrument batteries can be dangerous if swallowed are listening to will be easier to see rather than in a shadow If hearing instrument batteries are swallowe
4. aid evaluation will enable the audiologist or dispenser to select and fit a hearing aid for your individual needs If you have reservations about your ability to adapt to amplification you should inquire about the availability of a trial rental or purchase option program Many hearing aid dispensers now offer programs for a nominal fee that permit you to wear hearing aids for a period of time after which you may decide if you want to purchase the aid Federal law restricts the sale of hearing aids 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 If religious or personal beliefs preclude consultation with a physician The exercise of such a waiver is not in your best health interest and its use is strongly discouraged 20 Children With Hearing Loss In addition to seeing a physician for a medical evaluation a child with a hearing loss should be directed to an audiologist for evaluation and rehabilitation because hearing loss may cause problems with language development and the educationa and social growth of the child An audiologist is qualified by training and experience to assist in the evaluation and rehabilitation of a child with a hearing loss Repair Service Repair service on your hearing aids can be obtained through your hearing healthcare professional It is in your best interest to obtain
5. ck the function switch On a BTE instrument the setting should read M or MT or O if using a remote control Check the battery If your hearing instruments stop or work only intermittently replace the batteries See page on Batteries Make sure you have the correct battery Sometimes even new batteries may be defective so try one from a different package Check that the battery is clean rub both sides with a pencil eraser Troubleshooting Short Battery Life Leaving the battery in the hearing instruments overnight while they are in the ON position may shorten battery life gt Batteries can short out if they touch other batteries or meta objects Always use fresh batteries Discuss expected battery life with your hearing healthcare professional Moisture and Ear Wax The vast majority of hearing aid malfunctions are caused by moisture and or earwax damaging the components Take care to keep your hearing aids clean and dry Your hearing healthcare professional can advise you about proper care maintenance and use of hearing aid drying systems Troubleshooting Feedback Whistling or Ringing Feedback occurs when sound leaks out of your ear and is directed back into the hearing instrument s microphone Make sure the earmold or ITE instrument is correctly seated in your ear If you still experience feedback the fit of the earmold or ITE may be too loose Consult your hearing healthca
6. d seek immediate medical attention and gt In restaurants request a booth instead of a table If you do not have a directional call the National Button Battery Hotline collect at 202 625 3333 or AudioZoom system try to sit with your back to a wall so there is less noise behind you Keep hearing instruments and batteries out of the reach of children and pets Dogs are particularly attracted to the smell and may be tempted to chew on or destroy hearing gt When possible let people know what they can do to make it easier for vo hear teks p peop y yout Xo Rear instruments If a pet swallows a battery contact your veterinarian immediately If specific situations are particularly bothersome contact your hearing healthcare professional for advice on communication strategies or special assistive listening ee eh Never change the battery or adjust the controls of your hearing instrument in front of infants small children or developmentally delayed persons Discard batteries where they cannot be reached Note Many Phonak hearing instruments can be equipped with tamper resistant battery compartments upon request Consult your hearing healthcare professional for more information Never allow others to wear your hearing instruments Hearing instruments are medical devices and are required by law to be fitted by a licensed hearing healthcare professional 6 7 Serial Numbers Location of Phonak BTE and ITE Instrument Seria
7. dry If necessary have your ears cleaned regularly by a qualified healthcare professional Dirt and Debris Avoid adjustments to your volume control when your hands are dirty or wet Perspiration and Oils Store your instruments in a dehumidifier available from your hearing healthcare professional when not in use Moisture Ensure that your ears are dry before inserting your hearing instruments Store your hearing instruments outside of the bathroom during bathing or showering Protect Your Hearing Instruments Hair Spray Face Creams Do not wear your instruments during application of hair spray face creams or make up Dropped Physically Jarred Insert or remove them over a soft surface towel pillow etc Excessive Direct Heat Never dry your instruments with a blow dryer Store away from direct sunlight or heating vents Do not leave them in a hot car Electromagnetic Procedures Such as CAT or MRI Scans Remove your hearing instruments during the procedure Battery Leakage Remove battery if you store your hearing instrument for any length of time Care and Cleaning Do not attempt to repair your hearing instrument yourself Never stick anything other than the provided cleaning tool into the small openings on your hearing instruments See your hearing instrument manual for specific information regarding care and cleaning Troubleshooting No Sound gt P Be sure the on off switch is ON Turn up the volume Che
8. e previous 90 days Audiometric air bone gap equal to or greater than 15dB at 500 1000 and 2000 Hz Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal Pain or discomfort in the ear Special care should be exercised when selecting and fitting a hearing aid whose maximum SPL exceeds 132dB because there may be a risk of impairing the remaining hearing of the user 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 preferable one who specializes in diseases of the ear before purchasing hearing aids Licensed physicians who specialize in diseases of the ear are often referred to as otolaryngologists otologists or otorhinolaryngologists The purpose of the medical evaluation is to assure that all medically treatable conditions that may affect hearing are identified and treated before the hearing aids are purchased Following the medical evaluation the physician will give you a written statement indicating that your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for hearing aids The physician will refer you to an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser as appropriate for a hearing aid evaluation 19 The audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will conduct a hearing aid evaluation to assess your ability to hear with and without a hearing aid The hearing
9. l Numbers When your hearing instruments begin to perform intermittently or stop working usually it is time to change the batteries Serial numbers indicating var of manufacture are To replace a battery open the battery compartment remove the battery and discard it clearly printed in the areas immediately see the warnings listed under Safety Issues Insert a new battery shown here with the so the sign on the battery faces in the same direction as the sign on the following formats battery compartment Your hearing D3 00 healthcare professional will tell you the 12345 specific battery size you need Year manufactured Battery life is dependent upon the type of hearing instrument its settings and how it I is used Consult your hearing healthcare OF PHONAK professional for information on how long 12 1234 batteries can be expected to last in your Pour manufactured instruments Inserting batteries in an ITE left and in a BTE right Week manufactured Protect Your Hearing Instruments Your hearing instrument is a sophisticated electronic device designed to help you hear better To ensure that you obtain the most from your instrument you need to become a partner in protecting it from effects that might damage or degrade its performance The following describes the things that you can do to ensure maximized performance Protect your instruments from Far Wax Keep your ears clean and
10. ng ears will immediately tell you from which direction the car is coming Understand More in Difficult Listening Situations Hearing with two ears improves your ability to discern wanted from unwanted sounds Hear Better with Less Binaural hearing typically means you can set the volume control lower than if you used only one instrument Hearing aids will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve a hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions Infrequent use of hearing aids usually does not allow the user to obtain full benefit from them Remember hearing aids are only one part of hearing rehabilitation and may need to be supplemented by auditory training and instruction in lip speech reading Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers A hearing aid dispenser should advise a prospective hearing aid user to consult promptly with a licensed physician preferably an ear specialist before dispensing hearing aids 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 Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear History of active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days History of sudden or rapidly progressing hearing loss within the previous 90 days Acute or chronic dizziness YYY Y Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within th
11. r if applicable Once in place gently push on the instrument to be sure it is seated in your ear When properly seated your hearing instrument should feel comfortable and secure Inserting your ITE hearing instrument To remove the instrument grasp with thumb and forefinger and gently pull out and up so the canal portion comes out first Never pull the instrument out using the battery door or volume control this could damage these components How to Wear Your Hearing Instruments Behind The Ear BTE Models Properly seated BTE To insert and remove the earmold on a BTE hearing instrument follow the instructions for ITE units You must also ensure that the BIE fits comfortably over and behind the ear as shown Because putting in hearing instruments can be tricky at first you should practice with your hearing healthcare professional Properly inserted ITE It takes time to get used to using hearing instruments Be patient and give yourself a few days to learn how to handle them comfortably Getting Acquainted with Your Hearing Instruments When you first put on your hearing instruments the world may suddenly seem noisy and alive with more sounds than you remember This is because your hearing has not been functioning normally for some time and as a result everyday sounds which are now amplified by your hearing instruments may seem unnatural to you If you have worn hearing instruments before
12. re professional Sometimes earwax buildup in the ear canal can cause feedback For this condition consult your hearing healthcare professional Remember feedback will happen naturally whenever you cup your hand over your hearing instruments or remove the hearing instruments while they are still switched on Other Problems Check the earmold tubing or ITE receiver tube to be sure they are not plugged with wax or moisture Always keep your ear canal clean and free of moisture and wax If you are troubled with excessive ear wax see your hearing healthcare professional FM Communication Systems Hearing aid wearers sometimes have communication needs that go beyond what con ventional programmable or even digital devices can offer Factors such as background noise reverberation and distance from the person you are trying to hear can degrade the signal making it difficult to understand That s why Phonak developed an innovative wireless personal FM Communication System Now you have an option for better hearing in a variety of situations The Phonak MicroLink FM system consists of two parts a transmitter that picks up the speaker s voice and a receiver which delivers the speaker s voice directly to the listener s ear FM Transmitter Simply attach MicroLink to your Phonak BTE hearing aid Place the E FM transmitter close to voice s or sound source you want to g i chal hear and you will be able to hear even when you re at EM S
13. ystem a distance MicroLink is a discreet easy to use and completely wireless solution for your hearing needs Contact your hearing healthcare professional for more details about FM systems Using the Telephone Most BIEs and many ITEs are equipped with a built in telecoil that eliminates feedback by turning off the microphone allowing you to listen on the telephone To use the telecoil switch to the T position For BIEs Hold the earpiece of the phone over the heoring instrument not against the earmold The strength of the signol will vary depending upon the position of the phone Most ITE models can be used with a phone by holding the receiver two or three inches from your ear It also may help to tilt the receiver slightly If feedbock occurs move the phone o little further awoy from your ear Note While most phones designed for home and business use are hearing aid opati cellular phones may be incompatible with hearing instrumen ts If you have a problem using your telephone while wearing your hearing instrument check with your hearing healthcare professional Two Ears Are Better Than One Usually hearing loss is present in both ears In this situation two hearing aids are recommended one in each ear This is called binaural hearing Binaural hearing instruments may help you Localize Sound Better You can hear an approaching car with just one hearing instrument But two equally functioni
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