User guide

Electro-Static Discharge
Your HiRes Auria and its attachments are designed to withstand most static events
without damage or interruption to your programs. However, there is a chance that
high levels of static electricity will generate extreme electrostatic discharge events
that may damage the electronic components such as the ones used in the cochlear
implant systems. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid exposing the headpiece,
cables or sound processor to situations in which high levels of static electricity
are created.
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) is present when you feel a spark jump from your body.
ESD events are more likely to occur in very dry or cold environments. ESD events are
less common in humid areas.
High levels of electro-static charge are known to build up under the following
circumstances:
• Walking on carpets
• Sliding on plastic slides
• Exiting an automobile
• Pulling sweaters on and off
• Touching TV or computer screens
• Removing bedding materials
You should take the following basic precautions in order to reduce ESD to your
processor system:
• Static electric potential can be safely reduced by touching any person or object with
your fingers prior to that person or object contacting a headset, cables or sound
processor. Hand contact will safely equalize electric charge and prevent sparks from
jumping to the processor system. When approached by someone (for example on
carpet), touch him or her first with your hand prior to them touching your external
components. Parents are advised to touch their child before they touch a headset or
sound processor that their child is wearing. Also, before placing any part of a proces-
sor system on a table or other surface, you should first touch the surface.
• Avoid contact between your processor/cables/headpiece and metal surfaces
before you touch the metal surface with your hand. This is particularly important
on the playground where high levels of static electricity can be easily generated
and extreme electrostatic discharge events can occur between a headset or sound
processor and metal that supports the playground equipment. A plastic tubular
slide, for example, will quickly charge a child who then often immediately runs to a
metal support structure such as a ladder. If at all possible, teach children who wear
cochlear systems to “touch with hands first.”
• Carefully exit motor vehicles, particularly in dry, cold weather. Try to avoid contact
between processor system components and any vehicle metal as you exit.
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User Guide