Instructions for use Digital Behind-the-Ear hearing instrument FORCE FRC 95
A new Beltone hearing instrument Congratulations on your choice of a Beltone hearing instrument. This is an important step towards clearer hearing and better understanding. We have used all our experience with hearing instruments to help you communicate, lead an enjoyable social life and listen to the world around you. Your hearing instrument is a very advanced device. Your hearing care practitioner has tuned it to your individual needs. With a little devotion and patience you will become familiar with it.
This booklet & your instrument In this booklet you will find instructions for inserting and controlling your new hearing instrument. You will find explanations on controlling your instrument, on daily handling and on its use. Furthermore, you can read what to do if things do not live up to your expectations. We will give a few practical steps towards better hearing.
tone tube microphone behind cover volume wheel plastic tube program button battery door earmould FRC 95 2
Switching on and off Switch your hearing instrument on by closing the battery door. Switch your instrument off by a small movement of the battery door till you feel a click. After switching on, your hearing instrument will always start in program 1. Read more on this subject on page 11. off On page 13 you will read more on the T-program. • Switch your instrument off if you are not using it. This will increase the battery life. • At night, switch off your instrument and open the battery door completely.
Changing batteries When the hearing instrument generates a warning signal it's advisable to change your battery as soon as possible. The signal will continue as long as the battery is not changed or unless it does not run out of power, and therefore it is advisable to keep an extra battery at hand. Remove ‘dead’ battery Open the battery door by placing your fingernail or a pencil on the edge of the battery door and gently pull it down.
Warnings • Keep batteries away from children and mentally challenged persons. • Batteries can be harmful if swallowed. If you do, seek medical attention immediately. • Do not attempt to recharge the batteries, as they could explode. • Do not burn the batteries, as they could explode. • Replace spent batteries and do not leave them in the instrument for a prolonged period. • Used batteries are harmful to the environment.
Inserting and removing the instrument Inserting the instrument • With the battery door opened in the off position take the earmould between thumb and index finger and position its ‘point’ in your ear canal. Now, slide the earmould all the way into your ear with a gentle, twisting movement. Insertion can be easier if you gently pull your auricle backwards with your other hand. • Turn the top-part of the earmould gently backwards and forwards so that it fits behind the fold of skin above your ear canal.
• You can as well insert the hearing instrument while in the on position. However you might experience some feedback (whistling) during the operation. Removing your instrument • Switch off the instrument by pressing the battery door in the ‘off’ position. • Lift the hearing instrument from behind the ear. For a moment, let it hang beside your ear. • Using your thumb and index finger, gently pull the earmould (not the instrument or the tubing) loose from the ear.
Recognising left and right instrument If you have two hearing instruments, they may be tuned differently. One for your left ear, the other for your right. Do not swap them. Please pay attention to this when cleaning, storing and inserting the instruments.
• You might want to ask your hearing care practitioner to mark your instruments with a Left and Right indication: L is for Left and R is for Right.
Setting the volume Your instrument has a volume control which allows you to set and control the volume manually. During the fitting of the hearing instrument, your hearing care practitioner will have chosen an optimal volume setting for you. Please note the setting of that particular level. Your volume control has numbers on it to indicate the sound level. • If you prefer not to use the volume wheel your hearing care practitioner can switch the wheel off.
Program Button Your hearing instrument has a push button allowing you to use up to three different listening programs, each of them suitable for certain situations. After pressing the program button, the instrument will switch program. If it was in program 1 it will switch to program 2, if it was in program 2 it will switch to program 3 etc. If program 2 or 3 are not activated, nothing will happen. Your instrument will give an audible signal after pressing the program button.
Let your hearing care practitioner fill out the following table: Program number 1 2 3 12 Type of program Intended for listening situations
T-program Your hearing instrument has a built in function, the telecoil, enabling in many cases an improved use of the telephone and better hearing in those churches or halls where an induction loop system is installed. In order to activate this function, the telecoil program has to be selected (often available in program 2). In this program you will hear no sounds from the microphone, therefore most environmental sounds will be lost.
Hearing through an induction loop More and more public places, churches, theatres and cinemas, have induction loops systems. In these particular rooms, they transmit, wirelessly, the sound of the presenter or show. At home, radio or television can be connected to an induction loop system. Sound quality through induction loop is often better because noises from the environment are not transmitted. • Switch your instrument to the telecoil program. • Choose a good spot.
Audio input Your hearing instrument is equipped with a direct audio input facility. Direct audio input allows direct connection of sound sources, a radio, television or even school equipment, to your hearing instrument. Often, this will improve sound quality. • The sound source is connected to your instrument with a cable and an audio shoe. • The hearing instrument practioner will set one of your programs for audio input (usually program 3). To use this system set the instrument to that particular program.
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Maintenance and cleaning Earwax (cerumen) can accumulate in and on the earmould during use. Therefore, clean your earmould regularly. Failure to do so can lead to an accumulation of earwax, impairing sound quality. Keep your hearing instrument clean and dry. Wipe the case with a soft cloth or tissue after use to remove grease or moisture. You should avoid exposing your instrument directly to moisture such as rain or water from the shower.
Cleaning the earmould • First, remove the tubing and earmould from the hearing instrument. Keep left and right instrument separated. • Remove earwax with the cleaning brush and a soft cloth. If needed, use a mild solution of soft soap and water or a special cleaning solution. Ask your hearing care practitioner for detailed instructions. • Rinse the earmould with water. Note: Do not use water or other liquid on the hearing instrument itself. • Dry the earmould with a cloth.
General warnings • Do not leave your hearing instrument in the sun, near an open fire or in a hot, parked car. • Do not wear your instrument while showering, swimming, in heavy rain or in a moist atmosphere such as steam bath or sauna. • Should your instrument become moist, put it in a dessicator. Your hearing care practitioner will be happy to counsel on this. • Remove your instrument when applying cosmetics, e.g. perfume, aftershave, hair spray, suntan lotion.
Solving small problems Your Beltone instrument is a reliable one. In case of minor problems Symptom Feedback, 'whistling' No sound Sound is distorted, spluttering or weak Battery drains very quickly 20 Cause Is your earmould inserted correctly? Is the volume very loud? Is the plastic tube or the earmould clogged or broken? Are you holding your hand or an object (e.g.
or malfunctions, you may be able to solve them yourself.
Eight steps towards better hearing You need to get used to your new hearing instrument. Sounds seem new and different. That is because you grew accustomed to your diminished hearing. Therefore, familiar sounds seem strange or unnatural at first. Every first-time user of a hearing instrument responds differently to this. Some can wear the new instrument a whole day right from the start while others find it hard to get used to.
getting used to your instrument. Sometimes they sound very loud; try not to get frightened. 3. Have a conversation with a single person Use your instrument in conversation with one person; a family member or a friend. Move to a quiet spot. Explain that you are now wearing a hearing instrument; ask the other person to talk normally. Look at your conversation partner. If your instrument is tuned to your requirements you will be able to communicate better than before. 4.
Focus your attention on the person you want to understand. Practice this regularly. If you did not understand something that was said, please ask for it to be repeated. Ensure that you can see the face of your conversation partner(s) clearly and that there is sufficient light. This will help you to lipread. Avoid ‘looking into the light,' position yourself with your back towards the window so that you can see the other person(s) better. Ask others to talk slowly and clearly. Talking louder does not help.
7. Use your telephone Often, you can hear the telephone clearly with your hearing instrument in the microphone program. Hold the telephone handset 1 inch (2-3cm) from your ear and tilt the receiver outwards a little. See whether or not the telephone sounds better if you switch your hearing instrument to the telecoil program. Read about this on pages 13 - 14. Your hearing instrument meets strict international regulations. Therefore, it should be possible to use a GSM telephone in most cases.
Hearing instrument identification For service contact (hearing care practitioner): Telephone number: Model: Serial nr. right Model: Serial nr.
International warranty and service Any digital hearing instrument from Beltone has an international warranty. Read more on this subject on the warranty card you received with your instrument. Repairs If your Beltone hearing instrument malfunctions, it must be repaired by a qualified technician. Do not attempt to open the case of the hearing instrument since this would invalidate the warranty. If your Beltone hearing instrument requires service, please contact your hearing care professional for assistance.
Warning to hearing care practitioners Special care should be exercised in selecting and fitting a hearing instrument(s) whose maximum sound pressure level exceeds 132 dB SPL with an IEC 60711: 1981 occluded ear simulator, because there may be a risk of impairing the remaining hearing of the hearing instrument user. Technical Specifications Max.
Model FORCE Any issues relating to the EU Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC should be directed to Beltone A/S, Denmark Beltone A/S Lautrupbjerg 9 DK-2750 Ballerup Denmark Tel.: +45 45 75 11 11 Fax: +45 45 75 11 19 www.beltone.biz 16439400 GB-07.07 Rev.
