Beltone Identity Instructions for use Digital Behind-the-Ear hearing instrument IDT66D and IDT66D Open IDT76D and IDT76D Open IDT86D
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.
Your Hearing Instrument Tone tube Microphone Microphone behind cover Program button Plastic tube Battery door Earmold Mini BTE Hearing Instrument ThinTube Microphone Microphone behind cover Program button Battery door Mini dome 4 Mini BTE Hearing Instrument with ThinTube
Tone tube Microphone Microphone behind cover Program button Plastic tube Volume toggle Battery door Earmold BTE Hearing Instrument Microphone Microphone behind cover ThinTube Program button Volume toggle Mini dome BTE Hearing Instrument With ThinTube Battery door 5
Tone tube Microphone Microphone behind cover Program button Plastic tube Volume toggle Battery door Earmold Power BTE Hearing Instrument 6
Switching on and off Your instrument is equipped with an on/off switch integrated into the battery compartment. When the battery compartment is fully closed, the instrument is turned on. To turn the instrument off grasp the battery compartment door with your fingernail and gently pull downwards. The power will switch off at switch off the instrument the point where you can feel a small click. After switching on the device, the volume will be as set by your hearing care practitioner.
Changing batteries When the battery voltage/power decreases to a certain level, the instrument will emit a soft beeping signal. This signal will continue for about one minute, and the sequence will continue every five minutes until the instrument will be automatically switched off. It is therefore advisable to keep an extra battery at hand. open battery door completely Open the battery compartment completely by using your fingernail. The end of the cleaning brush is magnetic.
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 batteries (Zinc Air) which are not specifically designated rechargeable as they may leak or 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 (standard earmould) 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.
• 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 shifting the battery door to 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.
Inserting and removing the instrument (ThinTube) Inserting the instrument • Hang the instrument over the top of the ear. • Grasp the sound tube where it bends. The dome should be placed far enough into the ear that the sound tube lies flush with your head. When the dome is placed appropriately, you should not see the sound tube sticking out when you look directly into a mirror. • If the device whistles, the most likely reason is that the dome is not placed correctly in the ear canal.
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 coloured Left and Right indication: Left is blue and Right is red.
Setting the volume – BTE and Power BTE Your instrument has a fully automatic volume control. Therefore, it should not be necessary to control the amplification (volume) manually. However, the volume control toggle provides you with the ability to adjust the amplification to your liking. Use your index finger to adjust the volume, pushing the toggle horizont ally or upwards to increase and downwards to decrease the volume.
Program button Your hearing instrument has a program button allowing you to use up to four 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, 3 or 4 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 Type of program Intended for 1 2 3 4 Dual microphone system If you want to listen to a person in a noisy environment, the micro phones in your hearing instrument can help you to concentrate on the speech. If the microphones are in the directional mode the background noise will be attenuated. In this mode the sounds in front of you will be enhanced, so you can hear better the speech of the person you look at.
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 instrument automatically detects the direct audio input source. The direct audio input supports the systems for the wireless use as well.
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 earmold • First, remove the tubing and earmold 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. pull earmold and device apart • Rinse the earmold with water. Note: Do not use water or other liquid on the hearing instrument itself.
• Dry the earmold with a cloth. • Let the earmold dry overnight on a tissue or blow possible water drops from tubing and earmold. A special device is available for this from your hearing care practitioner. • Ensure that the earmold and tubing are completely dry before attaching them to the hearing instrument. Take care with left and right instruments, check the figures on page 14.
The ThinTube and the dome should be cleaned regularly. Remove the ThinTube from the instrument before cleaning by unscrewing it. Use a damp cloth to clean the ThinTube and dome on the outside and use the black cleaning rod to “push” any debris out of the sound tube. The cleaning rod should be inserted where the ThinTube attaches to the instrument and pushed all the way through the ThinTube and out through the dome.
General warnings Hearing instruments can be dangerous if improperly used. • Do not leave your 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 professional will be happy to counsel on this. • Remove your instrument when applying cosmetics, e.g.
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.
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. Listen to radio or television Listen to the radio or television. Start with the news, then turn to another program.
Ask others to talk slowly and clearly. Talking louder does not help. If your instrument is equipped with a Dual Microphone System, select the directional listening program. Read more on this on page 16. 6. Visit public buildings Visit public buildings. Try to sit near the speaker; try to be seated in the front rows in a show. Avoid a seat behind a pillar or in an alcove, you will be in a ‘sound shadow.’ In a restaurant, sit with your back towards the wall.
8. Use your instrument all day Using your hearing instrument and practising with it is the best way to learn to hear again. Even if you can hear without an instrument in some cases. Try to wear your instrument all day. In that way you will benefit the most. Of course, a hearing instrument cannot restore natural hearing, but it will help you make the most of your hearing as it is today. Go beyond these eight steps and discover the world of sound around you.
General precautions • Consult a physician if you find a foreign object in your ear canal, if you experience skin irritation or if excessive ear wax accumulates with the use of the instrument. • Different types of radiation, e.g. from NMR or CT scanners, may damage the instrument. Therefore, do not wear the instrument during these or other corresponding scanning procedures.
Technical specifications Audio signal technology Digital Hearing instrument maximum output (IEC 118-0 OES) model IDT66D 131 dB SPL IDT66D Open 127 dB SPL IDT76D 133 dB SPL IDT76D Open 132 dB SPL IDT86D 140 dB SPL 32
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE Symptom Feedback, ’whistling’ cause Is your earmould/Dome 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.
POSSIBLE REMEDY Put it in again Reduce it Visit your hearing care practitioner Move your hand away or create some more space between the instrument and the object Visit your physician Switch it on Switch it to the microphone program Insert a battery Replace it with a new one Visit your hearing care practitioner Visit your physician Replace it with a new one Clean it or use a new one Visit your hearing care practitioner Use a dissecator Always switch off the instrument at night Check the date on the battery
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.
Your selected model Your hearing care professional place a check mark in the below table to identify the model you have received.
Any issues relating to the EU Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC should be directed to Beltone A/S, Denmark 16897300 GB-08.06 Rev. A Printed in Denmark © Beltone 2008 Beltone A/S Lautrupbjerg 9 DK-2750 Ballerup Denmark Tel.
