Hearing Direct.com Operating instructions Before use, please read these instructions to help you get the best out of your HearingDirect.com hearing aid Model HD 350
Introduction Hearing Direct.com Welcome to a world of better hearing! We understand that hearing loss affects one s quality of life. That is why we are dedicated to building the highest quality hearing aids. Your new hearing aids will soon be indispensable to you and will bring new pleasure and enjoyment to your life. A period of adjustment may be needed to become accustomed to your new hearing aids and the renewed world of sounds you will experience. The adjustment time varies for each individual and may be from as little as a couple of weeks to as long as several months. Allow yourself time to become familiar with those sounds you have not heard for a long time. Before operating your hearing aids, please read these operating instructions thoroughly. 2
Owner Information Complete the following for your own records. Left: Model Serial Number Right: Model Serial Number Battery Size 3
Table of contents Your HD 350 hearing aid 6 Proper placement on ear 7 Left and right hearing aids 8 On / Off function 8 Battery information 9 Replacing the battery 11 Cleaning your hearing aids 12 Caring for your hearing aids 16 4
Telephone use 18 Push Button Multi-memory 19 DO s and DON Ts 20 Troubleshooting 22 Warranty information 25 Service and repair information 27 Serial numbers 27 5
Your HD 350 hearing aid Front Microphone Microphone Grill/ Sound Inlet Rear Microphone Push Button Memory Switch Sound Tube Battery Compartment Model/Serial Number Dome Retention Guard Left/Right Identifying Marks 6
Proper placement on ear Your HD 350 hearing aids should fit comfortably and easily over the top of your ears. l Step 1: Place the hearing aid over the top of your ear. l Step 2: With your index finger, hold the sound tube where it attaches to the ear dome and gently push the dome into your ear canal until it is just inside your ear canal. l Step 3: Place the retention guard of the sound tube into the bowl of your concha. Be sure to open the battery door after removing the aids from your ears, as this will turn the aids off and conserve battery power. 7
Left and Right hearing aids If you are wearing hearing aids on both ears, it is important to use the correct device in each ear. The sound tubes are marked with «red» lettering for the Right ear and «blue» lettering for the Left ear. Turning the hearing aid on and off To turn your hearing aid «on», you simply need to close the battery door after inserting a battery. There are two ways to turn your hearing aid «off»: 1. Grasp the notch on the battery door and pull it until one click is felt. Your aid is now «off». 2. You may choose to open the battery door completely, which will also turn off the hearing aid. 8
In fact, when the hearing aid is not in use, it is recommended that you open the battery door and remove the battery. This helps to prevent excessive battery drain and allows for proper ventilation of the hearing aid. Battery information The HD 350 is equipped with a low battery detection system, which continuously monitors battery life. When the battery becomes low, the low battery warning sequence consisting of 3 double beeps is initiated. After the warning beeps are complete, normal operation resumes. The low battery warning sequence will repeat every 10 minutes until the battery becomes critically low. At that time, the end of the battery life warning sequence consisting of 6 double beeps is triggered. The device is then muted and put into low power sleep mode. 9
Battery replacement will then be required. The life of your hearing aids batteries will vary depending on length of daily use and listening environments. When the hearing aid batteries go dead, remove them immediately and replace them with new batteries. Batteries may be purchased from the HearingDirect.com website. Important: Always discard used batteries in accordance with your local disposal regulations. Small batteries can be harmful if swallowed. Keep batteries out of the reach of pets and small children. In case of ingestion, contact your doctor immediately. 10
Replacing your hearing aid battery Follow these steps. l Step 1: Lift the notch at the edge of the compartment and swing open the door. Do not force it. Remove the battery. l Step 2: Remove the tab on the 10A battery, slide in the battery with the «+» side up, matching it to the «+» on the battery compartment door. l Step 3: Swing the door into the closed position. The compartment should close easily. Do not force it. If resistance is noted, check that the battery is inserted correctly. 11
Cleaning your hearing aid The following instructions will assist in extending the life of your hearing aids. Cleaning the exterior of the aid You should inspect your hearing aids daily and clean them periodically to control wax build-up. To clean, very gently wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth or moist cleaning wipes made especially for hearing aids. Do not allow water or liquid to enter any openings on the aids. The sound tube delivers the amplified sound from the hearing aid into the ear. It is important that these components fit properly in your ear. The materials used in your hearing aids are of the highest quality available, and the likelihood of an allergic reaction is low. Please don t attempt to modify the shape or length of the sound tube yourself. The tube and dome should be cleaned regularly according to the instructions on the following pages. 12
The wearing of a hearing aid may accelerate the accumulation of ear wax. This can easily be removed by your doctor. You should not use cotton swabs to clean your ears, due to the risk of pushing the wax deeper into the ear canal. To clean the sound tube and ear dome Remove the sound tube from the hearing aid by gently twisting the tube 90 and pulling it straight off, away from the main aid. 13
Use a damp cloth to clean the exterior of the sound tube and dome. Use the cleaning rod (provided in storage case) to clean the sound tube and dome. Lightly push the cleaning rod through the sound tube, inserting it in the opening where the tube attaches to the body of the aid and push out through the dome. 14
Do not rinse or submerge these parts in water, as there is a risk of damage if a water drop becomes trapped in the sound tube. If this should occur, it will prevent sound from coming through the tube and may be harmful to the hearing aid s electronics. Re-attach the sound tube onto the body of the aid by holding the sound tube in one hand and the hearing aid in the other hand. Line up the sound tube and the connecting end of the aid, push the sound tube straight onto the aid body. There is no need to rotate the sound tube when re-attaching. 15
Caring for your aid The sound tube and the dome may need to be changed if the sound tube becomes stiff, brittle, kinked or damaged. When you change the domes, make sure they are securely fastened to the sound tube before inserting them in your ear. Failure to change the dome in accordance with the instructions could result in injury. Hearing aids are exposed to moisture in the form of humidity and perspiration while being worn. The daily use of a dehumidifying system or drying kit is recommended. These accessories may be purchased from the HearingDirect.com website. Sound Inlet filters Your HD 350 hearing aid is equipped with a filter. This filter is located at the front and top of the aid and prevents moisture and debris from getting into the hearing aid. If the hearing aid seems to have lost power and changing the battery does not correct the situation, the 16
filter may be blocked and needs to be changed. Use the repair/return form available to download at HearingDirect.com. Extended storage If it is necessary to store your hearing aids for an extended amount of time, follow the steps below for proper storage. 1. Remove the batteries. 2. Clean the aid according to the instructions on page 12. 3. Place the aids in a cool, dry place. Either their original container or a hearing aid dehumidifier is recommended. 17
Telephone use You may use your HearingDirect.com hearing aid with either a mobile or landline telephone. Finding the optimal position for holding a telephone may require practice for some individuals, and one or more of the following suggestions may be helpful. Hold the phone up to your ear as you would normally or you may want to try holding the telephone towards the top of the ear (closer to where the microphone is). If the hearing aid whistles, try repositioning the phone receiver so that it is not against the ear or completely covering the hearing aid. Individual differences in hearing loss, ear shape and size may influence how much hearing benefit your HearingDirect.com hearing aid can provide when used with a phone. 18
Push Button Multimemory These hearing aids feature multiple volume memory settings for different listening situations. The push-button control is used to switch between memories that have been programmed. Simply select your preferred option. 19
The DO s of hearing aid care l DO store the aids overnight in a hearing aid dehumidifier to absorb moisture (Be sure to remove batteries first). l DO always carry spare batteries. l DO replace the battery when the low battery warning beep sequence begins. l DO always care for your aid as outlined in this manual. l DO dry the battery contacts with a cotton swab in case of humid weather or heavy perspiration. l DO safely store hearing aids when not in use. Keep them out of the reach of small children and pets. 20
The DON Ts of hearing aid care l DON T leave your hearing aids on a radiator, near a stove, in a sunny window, in a car or in any other hot place. Excessive heat and cold can damage the aids. l DON T wear the hearing aids when using a hair dryer at home or when at the beauty salon, spa or barber. l DON T wear the hearing aids when having medical tests done such as MRI, X-rays or CT scans, as different types of radiation may damage the hearing aid. l DON T apply hair spray when wearing your hearing aids. It may damage the microphone. l DON T wear the aids while having a bath, shower or while swimming. l DON T store the aids in the bathroom during a shower or near a steam room, as moisture created by the steam may cause damage. 21
Trouble shooting No Sound l Ensure that hearing aids are turned on. l Replace the battery. l Ensure that there is no wax or debris in the sound tube. Not Loud Enough l Replace the battery. l Ensure that there is no wax or debris in the sound tube. l Ensure that hearing aids are positioned behind the ear and that the dome is placed properly into the ear canal. l Excessive earwax can prevent sound from entering the ear. Contact your doctor. 22
Whistling/Feedback l Ensure that hearing aids are properly positioned behind the ear and that the dome is put into the ear canal. l Excessive earwax and improperly sized sound tubes can cause whistling. Sound is Distorted or Unclear l Replace the battery. l Repair required. Intermittent Sound l Replace the battery. l Ensure that there is no wax or debris in the sound channel. 23
Trouble shooting Static Noise l Replace the battery. l If you are near an electromagnetic field (i.e. near a computer screen or fluorescent lights), step away to see if the static clears. 24
Warranty information Please see the HearingDirect.com website regarding your specific warranty information. Our warranty covers any defect in material or faulty production, except batteries. We will, at our discretion, repair or replace the aids or any defective part, at our expense, within the limits of the warranty. This warranty will become invalid if the hearing aids have been tampered with or altered in any way, or if the serial number has been altered, defaced, removed, or if any repairs have been made without authorisation. This warranty does not include a promise of specific hearing improvement, because that depends upon your audiological needs and proper use by the owner. 25
Any implied warranty shall be limited to twelve months from date of purchase. The only entity or individual who is authorised to perform the warranty obligations is the manufacturer. All in-house warranty work performed by the manufacturer will be done within a reasonable period of time. If warranty work is performed and there appears to be a defect, malfunction, or failure to conform to the warranty, the obligations will be met if brought to our attention within one month of the date of the original warranty work. This warranty is specifically limited to the scope set forth herein, and may not in any way be expanded. 26
Returning for service Before planning to return your aids for repair, please refer to the troubleshooting information on the preceding pages. In many cases, these solutions can prevent the time and cost associated with a repair. Please refer to the repair/service procedure at HearingDirect.com. 27
Hearing Direct.com HearingDirect.com Barclays House Gatehouse Way Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP19 8DB As manufactured by: Sonetik AG Laupenstrasse 4 CH-3008 Bern Switzerland