Panasonic WH-416KZ, WH-412LZ, WH-409MZ Operation Manual

Operating Instructions

Hearing Instrument

WH-416KZ

The information contained in this manual is important for safe and reliable operation. Anyone who will handle, maintain, store, or dispose of your hearing aid should read this document.

Carefully read and thoroughly understand this entire document before attempting to set up and operate the hearing aid. Failure to follow the operating instructions may result in poor performance of the hearing aid or even cause permanent damage to the user. Keep this document for future reference. If you have any questions, consult the dispenser where you purchased your hearing aid.

The Limited Warranty document is enclosed together in the package. Keep it in a secure place. Make sure that it is properly completed, signed with the authorized dispenser’s name, and filled in with date of original purchase, name of dispenser and other important information.

The difference among the three models (WH-416KZ, WH-412LZ, WH-409MZ) is only additional installed circuit as described in Page 37 of this document; otherwise the same.

WH-412LZ WH-409MZ

Introduction

Component structure

We would like to thank you for purchasing the Panasonic Hearing Instrument. The Panasonic Digital Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aid helps optimize both intelligibility and comprehension for the hearing impaired.

The type of hearing aid that will work best for you depends on the type and severity of your hearing loss and usage conditions. You will need to get a thorough hearing evaluation and have your ears examined by an ear specialist or an audiologist. They will suggest the most appropriate type of hearing aid for you depending on the type and degree of hearing loss. In order to get the right hearing aid that will be tailored to meet your individual needs and lifestyle, be sure to have your hearing aid properly fitted and fine-tuned to your ears, as an improper fit can cause discomfort and flexibility issues, and even further damage to the ear.

It is important to keep in mind that hearing aids will not restore normal hearing, nor will they halt the progression of hearing loss. They are intended to compensate for impaired hearing. They should be used only for the purpose they are designed and directed. Carefully read the instructions and make sure you fully understand the operation of the hearing aid before using it.

The Panasonic Digital Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aid consists of the following items. If there are any missing, misplaced, or defective components, contact your dispenser.

Components:

Open-type eartip Size S/M/L.QTY: 1 of each size

·Receiver unit ......................... QTY: 1

(Integrated with the main unit)

·Carrying case ........................ QTY: 1

·Dehumidifier ......................... QTY: 1

·Wax guard ............................ QTY: 2

·Replacement tool .................. QTY: 1

The other sizes of eartips than the one to be used

(

for your hearing aid will be kept at your dispenser.

Documentation:

·Operating Instructions

·Limited Warranty

·Quick Tips

)

Contents

Before Use

Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers ................. 4

Important Notice for Prospective Hearing Aid Users ...

Children with Hearing Loss .............................. 6

Safety Precautions ......................................... 7

Usage Instructions ....................................... 14

Care and Maintenance ................................ 17

Operations

Component Descriptions ............................... 20

Basic Operation Flow ..................................... 20

1 Inserting/Removing Zinc Air Battery ........... 21

2 Wearing the Hearing Instrument ................ 22

Reference

Carrying Case ................................................ 25

Eartip ............................................................ 25

Eartip Replacement ....................................... 26

Wax Guard Replacement ............................... 28

Receiver Unit Replacement ............................ 29

For First-Time Users ....................................... 30

3 Turning on the Hearing Instrument .......... 23

4 Turning off the Hearing Instrument ......... 23

5 Removing the Hearing Instrument ........... 24

Use with Telephone ..................................... 24

How Family and Friends Can Help ................ 31

Troubleshooting Guide ................................ 32

Performance ............................................... 33

Specifications .............................................. 37

Information ................................................. 38

Warranty and Customer Service .................. 41

Before UseOperationsReference

Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers

Before Use

 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:

· Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.

· History of active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days.

· History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous 90 days.

· Acute or chronic dizziness.

· Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days.

· Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15 decibels at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.

· Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal.

· Pain or discomfort in the ear.

 Hearing aids must be programmed and

adjusted by the dispenser on an individual basis. Inappropriate hearing aid setting may cause damage to the ears of your customers. If you have any questions about fitting, contact the Panasonic sales division below.

Company name:

Panasonic Corporation of North America Health Care Group

Address:

One Panasonic Way, 1H-6, Secaucus, NJ 07094

Telephone No.:

1-888-422-6309

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, otologists or otorhinolaryngologists. The purpose of 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 states that your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for 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.

Before Use

Children with Hearing Loss

Before Use

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 problem 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.

Safety Precautions

Follow the instructions below to reduce the risk of personal injury or damage to the hearing instrument.

 The following symbols are used throughout this document, and contain important differences

regarding the probability of serious injury. These definitions are as follows:

WARNING

CAUTION

 The following symbols specify behavior or actions which are not permitted and an instruction

that must be carried out.

Prohibitions Mandatory

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that could result in death or serious injury.

Indicates a possible hazard which if not avoided minor to moderate injury. It is also used to alert against unsafe practices that can result in property damage.

Attention, consult ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENT

may result in

Before Use

Safety Precautions (Continued)

Before Use

WARNING

Keep out of reach of children and pets

A hearing instrument and its components can be a choking hazard or can lead to death if swallowed. To prevent accidental

ingestion of hearing instrument or its components and/or accessories, secure them in a safe place where they are not accessed by infants, small children, pets, or others who might accidentally swallow them.

· If swallowed, obtain immediate

medical attention.

Keep batteries away from children and pets

Hearing instrument batteries can be easily swallowed and pose a choking hazard and possible internal injury. To prevent accidental ingestion, secure batteries in a safe place where they are not accessed by infants, small children, and pets. Dispose of used batteries immediately.

· If swallowed, call the 24-hour National Button Battery Ingestion Hotline collect at 1-(202)-625-3333. Seek medical attention.

CAUTION WARNING

Do not let others use your hearing aid

Inappropriate use of a hearing aid can cause severe damage to the ear. Do not let children play with the hearing aid. out of reach of children.

Keep the hearing aid

Do not disassemble, short-circuit, or expose the zinc air battery to water or fire

Failure to heed this warning may result in leakage or explosion, which can lead to injury or contamination of surrounding factors.

Before purchasing a hearing aid, have your ear examined by a licensed physician, or get a hearing evaluation from a hearing instrument specialist or an audiologist

If the wrong type of a hearing aid is selected, or a hearing aid is used in an improper manner, it can cause ear or hearing damage.

Before Use

Safety Precautions (Continued)

Before Use

CAUTION

Stop using the hearing aid if you experience any physical discomfort

If you keep using the hearing aid when you suffer from headache, dizziness, pain in the ear or skin abnormality at the ear such as swelling and rash, your condition may become worse.

· Stop

using the hearing aid immediately

and consult your physician.

Ask the dispenser for a proper fit

Inappropriate fitting may result in damage to your hearing. Have your hearing aid fitted to your individual needs.

Make sure that you position the battery correctly

Insert the fresh battery with the plus side up. Inserting a battery with the positive and negative terminals mixed up may result in a burst or leak, which can cause injury or damage to the unit.

CAUTION

Before wearing the hearing instrument, make sure that the eartip fits into place

If the eartip is not securely attached, it may come off and remain in the ear. When attempting to remove the eartip, special caution must be taken not to push it further into the ear.

If you cannot take out the eartip, consult your physician. Immediate medical care is important to avoid possible complications. When you replace the eartip, be sure to contact your dispenser. (See page 27.)

Confirm that the hearing instrument is completely free of burrs and cracks

Rugged projection like sharp edges and rough burrs protruding from the surface of the hearing instrument can cause cuts and nicks to the skin.

·When cleaning your hearing aid, wipe it gently with a soft cloth. Never use organic solvents such as alcohol, paint thinner, or benzene. Failure to heed this caution may result in deformation of the hearing instrument or cracking on the surface.

Before Use

Safety Precautions (Continued)

Before Use

CAUTION

Do not use the hearing instrument near any device that emits high frequency radio waves or generates a strong magnetic field

The hearing instrument may emit acoustic feedback which can result in hearing damage.

· Remove your hearing aid while undergoing any kind of electromagnetic treatment such as X-Rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrocardiogram (ECG), Short-Wave Diathermy, or other electrical or magnetic treatment.

· Other types of radiation such as burglary alarms, room surveillance systems, radio equipment, and mobile phone will not damage the hearing aid. They could, however, affect the sound quality or produce unusual sounds in the hearing aids.

CAUTION

Do not modify or disassemble the hearing instrument

Failure to heed this warning may result in damage to the ear.

· Contact your dispenser if you need to have your hearing instrument adjusted, or if you encounter unexpected behavior of the hearing instrument.

Do not immerse the hearing aid in water, and do not allow it to get wet

Otherwise, it may short-circuit and become damaged.

Do not use any other receiver unit

Use of another type of receiver unit that is not provided by your dispenser may generate loud sound, which can damage hearing.

Before Use

Usage Instructions

Before Use

For proper care and handling of your hearing aid through daily cleaning, be sure to read and follow the instructions below. Preventive maintenance will help extend the life span of your hearing aid.

z Stop using the hearing aid if you are draining

fluid from your ears.

Do not use the hearing aid without resolving any problems that may cause drainage from the ear. Discharge from the ear adhering to the receiver may obstruct the sound, affect the hearing quality, or damage the hearing aid.

z Clean the ear canal before each use of the

hearing aid.

Safely remove earwax from your ear.

z Remove the hearing aid before going to sleep. z

Wash your hands after using hair styling products

z Check your pockets to ensure that the hearing

aid will not accidentally get thrown in the wash when you do the laundry.

z Handle with care and ensure that the hearing aid is

maintained in proper working order.

·Do not drop, hit, or shake the hearing aid. Do not subject the hearing aid to high impact, vibration, or shock loads. Drops and impacts will cause scratches, cracks, and physical damage.

·If the receiver unit is pulled out forcibly from the ear, it may get distorted in shape. Do not drop, hit, or shake the receiver unit.

z Avoid high temperatures, moisture, humidity and dust.

·Do not wear the hearing aid in the shower or swimming.

·Do not use a dryer or microwave oven to dry the hearing aid.

·Do not touch the hearing aid with wet hands.

·Do not apply hair spray while wearing the hearing aid.

·Do not use the hearing aid on wet hair.

·Do not leave the hearing aid in the kitchen, bathroom, a

dusty area, or in any place where it will be subjected to direct sunlight or high temperatures (e.g. heater, a car exposed to direct sunlight in summer and its all doors and windows are kept shut).

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