Ready... Set... Go! Start here... more info inside. 1. Insert the battery. (size 13 battery) 2. Measure, cut and attach eartip and tubing. 3. Place the HHE-33 behind your ear and select a comfortable size eartip. 4. Turn on (M). Slight delay to activate. Then adjust volume. Hearing aids may whistle. This is normal. See page 19 for tips to stop whistling (feedback). Look inside for complete instructions. HHE-33 Hearing Help Express, Inc. Your complete HHE-33 guide.
You made a great choice! 2 Slim, mini-casing Very durable Telephone switch Low cut tone control Congratulations on your choice of the HHE-33! It is our newest behind-the-ear hearing aid and customers favorite. You ll enjoy all the benefits, especially knowing how little you paid for your HHE-33 hearing aid from Hearing Help Express. Comfortable fit with soft eartips or custom earmold High cut tone control So, put the HHE-33 to the test and find out if it s right for you. We only ask that you read these instructions so you can make the most of your HHE-33. And do take advantage of your 45 day home trial. Sincerely, Jim & Catherine
Introduction Table of contents HHE-33 parts identified How to insert battery How to attach eartip How to tell right from left Insert and remove HHE-33 Choosing which eartip Custom earmolds 2 3 4 5 6-7 8 9 10 11 On / Off slide controls Talking on the telephone Using tone controls Care and Cleaning Helpful Tips Troubleshooting/service Additional Information Technical Data Warranty 13 14 15 16-17 18 19 20-21 22-23 24 Table of contents Adjusting the volume 12 105 N 1st Street PO Box 586 DeKalb, IL 60115 Questions, call toll-free: 1-800-221-2099 3
HHE-33 parts identified. 5 6 HHE-33 Power level 4 2 4 3 Serial number: Located on the back of the hearing aid. 1 1 - Earhook (sound outlet) 2 - Microphone (sound inlet) 3 - Volume Control 4 - Tone Controls (hidden under the door) 5 - On/Off Control 6 - Battery Door 4
1 2 3 1. Remove the orange colored tab from the flat, positive side (+) of the size 13 battery. Batteries need a minute to activate. 2. Open battery compartment gently, using your fingernail or thumbnail. 3. Place the battery in the battery basket - NEVER directly inside the hearing aid. (The flat side of the battery will face up like the gold screws visible on side panel of aid.) The door should close easily. If not, the battery is probably upside down. Read this when you hear BEEPING. Low battery indicator: You will hear two rapid beep-tones when your battery is getting low. Replace the battery as soon as possible. How to insert battery. 5
How to attach eartip. Your HHE-33 hearing aid comes with the most popular soft, silicone eartip attached (size MS for women and size M for men). Five different size eartips are available. Two sizes are included with your order. (Ordering information on p. 10.) How to attach eartip and tubing: 1 Attach eartip 1. Attach the soft, silicone eartip securely to the elbow joint tubing. 2 Put tip and HHE-33 in place 2. Place the eartip with attached tubing in your ear and the hearing 6 aid over your ear. continued
3 4 CUT OFF EXTRA TUBING 3. Observe where the tubing overlaps the earhook and mark the tubing leaving an 1/8 to 1/4 inch overlap. Cut off any extra tubing. Attach tubing to earhook 4. Insert the tip of the earhook into the tubing. If it is hard to insert, warm the tip of the flexible tubing with hot water. Attention: Please make sure eartips are securely attached to the tubing and to your HHE-33 hearing aid before using so they do not come off in your ear. Order replacement BTE Elbow Joint Elbow joint shown with eartip. Small elbow joint and tubing attaches Eartip sold separately. to BTE eartip and BTE hearing aid. #88571 $2.00 SAVE: 3 for only $5.00 How to attach eartip. 7
Which is right and left? 8 How to tell your right aid from your left aid: Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used on either ear. Once you have attached your eartip or custom earmold your hearing aid is set for either your Sound opening right or left ear. The sound opening on the eartip will point away from the HHE-33. Left ear: sound opening points right Right ear: sound opening points left MiraCell Healthy Ear Solution Now there is a safe, all-natural solution to help ears stay healthy. MiraCell helps relieve itchy, irritated ears. It also has mild antibacterial, antifungal and anti-yeast properties. Try it today for happy ears. 1/2 ounce bottle. Item #88851 Call 1-800-221-2099
Inserting and removing: 1. Hold the tubing behind the eartip and insert into your ear. If using a custom earmold, make sure it is correctly positioned in your ear. The top and bottom of the earmold should fit securely. 2. Place the HHE-33 behind your ear by slipping it over the top of your ear. Some people prefer to first place the HHE-33 over their ear and then insert the eartip. Experiment and find what works best for you. Reverse steps 1 and 2 when removing the HHE-33 aid. Insert & remove HHE-33. 9
Customize your fit. Eartips: Eartips come in five different sizes. Each HHE-33 is shipped with one soft silicone eartip (size MS for women and size M for men). You can improve the fit by using a different size eartip. Eartips should be cleaned and/or replaced when necessary. small med-small medium med-large large small (S) #88581 $2.50 medium-small (MS) #88582 $2.50 medium (M) #88583 $2.50 medium-large (ML) #88584 $2.50 large (L) #88585 $2.50 10 SAVE: 3 of any size for only $5.95
Improve your HHE-33 with a custom earmold Reduce feedback (whistling) Reduce stuffed up feeling Reduce talking-in-barrel sound Making your earmold is easy. Step one: We ll send you a kit with materials and complete instructions so you or a friend can make your ear impression. (If you have had ear surgery or ear damage or if you have an unusual ear canal, have your doctor assist you.) Step two: It s easy over 100,000 people have made their own impression at home. Impression material sets up in minutes and easily can be removed from your ear. Of course, if you have any questions we re always happy to help. Step 3: Mail your ear impression to us and we use it to make your custom earmold. You can expect to receive a finished earmold in about two weeks. There s a refundable $19 charge for the impression kit that will be credited in full when you return your impressions. Plus, you ll get a $5.00 coupon with your earmold for future orders. Hard Lucite Soft 1 earmold #88421 $79.99 $89.99 2 earmolds #88435 $159.98 $179.98 Making an Impression Soft & Hard Earmolds Custom earmolds Wearing an Earmold 11
Adjusting the volume. 12 How to adjust the volume: Adjust the volume up and down by rotating the volume control wheel. The higher the number, the more amplification. (The HHE-33 will not amplify if turned all the way down.) Note: Feedback is a whistling sound that hearing aids can make. Feedback can be caused by a hearing aid being set too loud. If you experience feedback, reduce the volume slightly. The whistling/squealing should then stop.
How to turn the HHE-33 off and on: Move the switch from O (off) to M (microphone on) to turn the HHE-33 off and on. It will take a few seconds to first activate. M T O Slide controls. Setting descriptions: M: Microphone working, power on. Use for everyday listening. T: Telephone coil. Use when talking on the telephone or with a loop system. Your HHE-33 will then only pick up electromagnetic signals produced by telephones and loop systems. O: Power off. Use when your HHE-33 is not in use. (Open the battery door when aid is not in use.) 13
Talking on the telephone. 14 Talking on the telephone: Talking on the telephone is easy with the HHE-33. Move the slide control to the T setting and hold the telephone receiver near the hearing aid a little above your ear. You will only hear the sounds from the telephone. If you prefer to use the M setting on the telephone so you also hear what s going on around you, simply hold the telephone over the HHE-33 (up and behind your ear). It may also be necessary to hold the telephone at a slight angle to avoid feedback. It s not hard with a little practice. Note: T setting will not work with most cell phones. Try the T-LINK cell phone amplifier for easy, hands free listening. Call for pricing.
Optional Adjustments (Both adjustments are set to the off position when mailed.) Your HHE-33 probably won t need to be adjusted but if it does here s how you do it: 1. Open the protective door to reveal two tone controls. 2. We suggest you hold the hearing aid upside down so the door hangs open. 3. Hold upside down and twist control clockwise to activate control. The colored dots indicate the following: blue = off, white = slightly engaged, yellow = more engaged, red = completely engaged. Shown upside down High-cut (HC) - at the top Adjust if: feedback or squealing is a problem. Low-cut (LC) - at the bottom Adjust if: constant background noise is a problem. LC HC Tone controls. 15
Care and cleaning 16 Always clean your HHE-33 hearing aid regularly. Without regular cleaning, wax and moisture can build up and prevent the hearing aid from working properly. It s best to clean your HHE-33 in the morning before you use it. Cleaning Brush How to clean your hearing aid: 1. Wipe off the outside of the HHE-33 hearing aid and the eartip with a soft cloth. Eartips can be replaced when necessary. 2. If wax or debris remains, use a small soft cleaning brush to gently remove it. Protect your HHE-33 Moisture can quickly damage your hearing aid. Remove harmful moisture with the Super Dri-Aid Kit. Easy to use. Store your HHE-33 in the Dri-Aid Kit overnight. Pellets can be recharged and used indefinitely. Super Dri-Aid Kit, item #88740 Call 1-800-221-2099
Open the battery door when not wearing your HHE-33 hearing aid. Any moisture inside your hearing aid can then evaporate, extending the life of your HHE-33. With the battery door open, you can be assured your hearing aid is off and not squealing. A squealing aid can attract pets which have been known to chew on hearing aids and damage them beyond repair. Avoid extreme heat and cold when storing your hearing aid. Never place your hearing aid in water. If your HHE-33 aid becomes wet, immediately remove the battery and let it stand in a dry place for several hours. Never use heat (blowdryer, oven, etc.) to dry your hearing aid. Care and cleaning Before applying hair spray, perfume or cologne, be sure to remove your HHE-33 hearing aids. Such sprays can damage hearing aids. 17
Helpful tips 18 1. Start Slowly Begin by using your new hearing aid a few hours a day while you are alone. If you are not used to wearing a hearing aid, you will probably notice many sounds you have not heard in a while. Crackling paper may be surprisingly loud. Other sounds like the refrigerator or air conditioner may feel uncomfortable. With time you should be able to focus on the sounds you want to hear. Hearing aids will not restore your old hearing, but with time and practice, they can help. 2. Read Out Loud Your own voice will sound different to you. Try reading out loud for 15 minutes a day to get used to the sound of your own voice. 3. Practice Listening to One Voice Start in a quiet environment listening to the radio or your favorite TV show. Then practice listening with one friend or family member at a time. 4. Listen and Talk in Small Groups Next try talking with a small group of friends or family members in a quiet setting. Crowded places such as restaurants or churches are likely to have more background noise that can interfere with your understanding. Remember, it is difficult for most people to understand in these situations. So, be patient and keep practicing. Your understanding should improve with time.
If your hearing aid is: WHISTLING (FEEDBACK) 1. Turn the volume down, it may be set too high. (p.12) 2. Check that your eartip is inserted correctly. (p. 9) 3. Try a different size eartip (p. 10) or if you have a custom earmold, select a vent plug with a smaller opening. 4. Verify that the tubing is attached (p.6-7) correctly and that it is soft and in good condition. If the tubing has hardened or is damaged, it should be replaced. 5. Your HHE-33 will whistle when a hand, hat or other object is near it, bouncing amplified sound back into the HHE-33. If your hearing aid is: WEAK, DISTORTED, DEAD 1. Verify your HHE-33 hearing aid is 5. If your HHE-33 goes dead periodically, turned on and set to M. (p. 13) but comes on after several hours of rest, 2. Check that the battery is inserted the problem may be a build-up of correctly. (p. 5) humidity. Try storing it in a dry-aid 3. Try a fresh battery. kit when not in use (p. 16). Call 4. Clean your HHE-33 hearing aid and toll-free to order: 1-800-221-2099. eartip thoroughly. (p. 16-17) SERVICE If your hearing aid requires service, send it to: Hearing Help Express 105 N First St PO Box 586 DeKalb, IL 60115-0586 1. Enclose a note with your name, address, 3. Pack your HHE-33 securely in a sturdy phone number and a description of box. (Do not mail hearing aids in an what is wrong with your hearing aid. envelope, they could be destroyed 2. If your HHE-33 is out of warranty, also during shipping!) We recommend include repair fee. (Call to verify price.) insured mail or UPS for your protection. Troubleshooting & Service 19
Precautions: A hearing aid is a precision electronic device and as such, it requires the care in use and handling that you would afford any fine piece of equipment. The following precautions are not meant to discourage normal use of your hearing aid, but are suggested to insure quality performance and long life from your hearing aid. Do not drop or throw your hearing aid, as this may damage internal components. Do not expose your hearing aid or batteries to excessive heat, such as from stove tops, hair dryers, heat lamps or your automobile rear shelf or glove compartment. Do not immerse your hearing aid in water or other liquids, or wear it while bathing, showering or swimming. If your hearing aid is to be stored for any length of time, be sure to remove the battery and store both in a cool, dry place. Your hearing aid has been constructed from the finest materials, using the latest engineering technology; however, in rare instances, an individual may exhibit signs of skin irritation, allergic reaction, or accelerated accumulation of cerumen (earwax). If this occurs, consult your physician. Keep new and used batteries out of reach of children and those with diminished mental capacity. Batteries, if consumed, can be harmful. Consult your physician immediately and call the National Battery Hotline collect (202) 625-3333. Federal law permits an adult to purchase hearing aids by mail. You may either send a prescription or sign a medical waiver. 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 (preferably a physician who specializes in diseases of the ear) before purchasing a hearing aid. Licensed physicians who specialize in diseases of the ear are often referred to as otolaryngologists, otolotists or otorhinolaryngologists. The purpose of a medical evaluation is to assure that all medically treatable conditions that may affect hearing are identified and treated before the hearing aid is purchased. Following the medical evaluation, the physician will give you a written statement that your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for a hearing aid. The physician will refer you to an audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing aid evaluation. 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 aid evaluation will enable the audiologist or dispenser to select and fit a hearing aid to 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 that permit you to wear a hearing aid for a period of time for a nominal fee, after which you may decide if you want to purchase the hearing 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 for religious or personal beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician. The exercise of such a waiver is not in your best health interest and its use is strongly discouraged. 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 since hearing loss may cause problems in language development and the educational and social growth of a child. An audiologist is qualified by training and experience to assist in the evaluation and rehabilitation of a child with a hearing loss. 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 a hearing aid 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: Warning Signs: 1. Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear. 2. History of active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days. 3. History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous 90 days. 4. Acute or chronic dizziness. 5. Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days. 6. Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz. 7. Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal. 8. Pain or discomfort in the ear. NOTE: Special care should be exercised in selecting and fitting a hearing aid whose maximum sound pressure level exceeds 132 decibels because there may be a risk of impairing the remaining hearing of the hearing aid user. Hearing with Your New Amplification The world will seem noisier at first, but in time, you should become accustomed to your new listening experiences, learn to hear speech more clearly, and enjoy many of the special sounds you may have been missing. Obtaining maximum benefit from your new hearing aid(s) requires effort and practice on your part. Your new hearing aid(s) will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions. In most cases, infrequent use of the hearing aid(s) will not permit you to obtain full benefit from it. Follow the program recommended by your hearing professional. The use of your hearing instrument(s) is only part of your hearing rehabilitation, and you may need supplemental auditory training and instructions in lipreading.
Technical Data Maximum SSPL90 HFA SSPL90 HFA full-on gain Peak gain Frequency range Equivalent input noise Total harmonic distortion Range of volume control Input switch Tone control Battery type and current Battery life Dimensions 129 db 120 db 48 db 54 db 200 Hz to 7000 Hz 29 dbspl 500 Hz: 1.9%, 800 Hz: 0.4%, 1600 Hz: 0.5% 35 db M-T-O Low & High frequency cut size 13 (orange), 1.5 ma or less approx. 144 hours 1.3 x.48 x.36 inch 22
Technical Data 23
YOUR MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE FROM HEARING HELP EXPRESS Your 2-way assurance of complete satisfaction 45-Day, Risk-Free Trial 1. Money-Back Guarantee 2. Try your HHE-33 Hearing Help Express hearing aid for 45 days risk-free. If you are not 100% satisfied, simply return all materials within 45 days from the date of delivery, and we will refund your full deposit. You are responsible for the safe return of all materials in their original condition. Please pack your hearing aid in a sturdy box. Please ship insured mail. One Year Warranty on Parts and Labor Your HHE-33 Hearing Help Express hearing aid is warranteed for one year against defects in materials and workmanship. For service, replacement or repair, you must send your HHE-33 hearing aid(s) to Hearing Help Express (not to the manufacturer) for this warranty to apply. Please pack your hearing aid in a sturdy box. Please ship insured mail. 105 N 1st Street PO Box 586 DeKalb, IL 60115-0586 Questions, call toll-free: 1-800-221-2099 HH.235-140226