Unitron Unison Digital BTE Owner's Manual

Unison

™

Digital
BTE Guide

Table of Contents

Your Unison™Digital Hearing Aids ..................................1

Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems ......................2

Getting the Most Out of Your Unison

™

Hearing

Instruments..................................................................3

Using the Unison

™

Digital BTE Guide .............................4

Turning Your Unison

™

Hearing Aids On and Off..............5

Putting Your Unison

™

Hearing Instruments

on Your Ears .................................................................6

Feedback-Free Listening.................................................6

Operating Instructions....................................................7

Assistive Listening Devices.............................................9

Replacing the Battery ....................................................11

Caring for Your Hearing Aids.........................................13

Cleaning Your Unison

™

Hearing Aids.............................13

Warnings .......................................................................16

Troubleshooting Guide .................................................20

Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers .............................23

Your Unison

™

Digital Hearing Aids

Hearing Healthcare Professional: _________________________

_____________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________________________

Model: _______________________________________________

Serial Number: ________________________________________

Replacement Batteries: Size 10 Size 13 Size 675

Warranty:_____________________________________________

Use Program 1 for: _____________________________________

Use Program 2 for: ____________________________________

Use Program 3 for: ____________________________________

Date of Purchase: ______________________________________

1

Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems

Congratulations on choosing your new BTE (Behind-the­Ear) digital hearing instruments. For 40 years, Unitron
Hearing has been committed to making life better for
people with hearing loss. This means a commitment to
developing high-quality hearing solutions that
incorporate special features to solve the everyday
problems and concerns you have with hearing loss and
hearing aids.

The best choice of hearing instrument is different for
everyone: it comes down to your individual hearing loss,
lifestyle, preferences and budget. The Unison

™

series
meets your unique needs with three high-quality digital
hearing instrument models. Your hearing healthcare
professional helped you choose the right Unison model
and style for your needs.

2

Getting the Most Out of Your Unison

™

Hearing Instruments

Adjusting to your new hearing instruments will take
some time. In the beginning it is important that you do
not use the hearing aids for longer than is comfortable.
Depending on your previous experience with hearing
instruments, a few hours a day may be enough and then
you can increase wearing time gradually. Once you have
become accustomed to your hearing aids, you should
wear them all day every day since infrequent use will
not permit you to adapt to your hearing aids and enjoy
their full benefits. The quicker you get used to the
everyday sounds around you, the less you will notice
that you are wearing hearing instruments.

3

Using the Unison

™

Digital BTE Guide

Refer to the table of contents for a complete listing of
the topics covered in this guide.

There are several different styles of BTEs available. The
diagrams below identify some of the components on
your hearing aids. Have your hearing healthcare
professional place a check beside the diagram that best
describes your BTE style.

4

Legend

1 Earhook
2 Slim Tube
3 Microphone and

Microphone Shield
4 Program Button
5 Volume Control
6 Battery Door/On &

Off Switch
7 Dome
8 Retention Piece

BTE with
Volume Control

BTE with
Slim Tube

BTE without
Volume Control

1
3

4

5
6

1
3

4

6

2
3

4

6
7

8

Turning Your Unison

™

Hearing Aids

On and Off

Your hearing aids have a three-position battery door
that acts as an off/on switch and that allows access to
the battery compartment.

To turn the hearing aid on, close the battery door fully.

Note: If the start up mute is activated, your hearing aids
will not turn on until the program button is pushed.

To turn the hearing aid off, partially open the battery
door. This position allows excess moisture to vent away
from the battery compartment.

Note: If you have a high
power BTE with a 675 battery, you also have an on/off
switch in the volume control.

To replace the hearing aid battery, fully open the battery
door for access to the battery compartment.

5

on off open

Note: When turning your
hearing aid on and off, grasp
the top and bottom of the aid
with your index finger and
thumb. Use your thumb to open
and close the battery door.

Putting Your Unison

™

Hearing

Instruments on Your Ears

BTEs with Slim Tubes

1. Place the hearing instrument over the top of your ear.

2. Hold the slim tube where it attaches to the dome and

gently push the dome into your ear canal. The slim
tube should lie flush against your head and not stick
out.

3. Place the retention piece in your ear so it rests at the

bottom of the opening of your ear canal.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 for your other ear if you wear two

hearing aids.

BTEs with Earhooks

1. Place the hearing instrument over the top of your ear.

2. Carefully insert the earmold in your ear. The earmold

should fit into your ear snugly and comfortably.

3. Repeat steps 1-2 for your other ear if you wear two

hearing aids.

6

Feedback-Free Listening

Your hearing aids may have an optional start up mute
that can be activated by your hearing healthcare
professional. If the start up mute is activated, your
hearing aids will not turn on until the program button is
pushed, even if the battery door is in the ON position.
The hearing aids return to the start up mute position
each time you turn your hearing aids on. This allows you
to insert your hearing aids without experiencing
whistling.

If you wear hearing aids now, you may have experienced
whistling from your hearing aids when you talk, chew,
use the telephone or hug someone. Unison’s feedback
technology dramatically reduces this uncomfortable
whistling before you or anyone else can perceive it.

7

Operating Instructions

Changing Programs on Your Unison™Digital
Hearing Aids

Your Unison digital hearing aids may have up to three
programs. Each program has been individually tailored
by your hearing healthcare professional to meet your
particular listening needs.

Your hearing aids are equipped with a push-button for
switching between programs. Each time you push the
program button, you will move to a new program. Your
hearing aids beep to indicate which program you are in
(i.e. one beep for program 1, two beeps for program 2,
etc.) If you prefer, your hearing healthcare professional
can adjust the pitch and loudness of the program beep
or turn it off entirely.

Adjusting the Volume

The volume on your hearing aids may adjust
automatically in response to the loud or quiet sounds
around you. If you have a manual volume control, you
can further adjust the volume on your hearing aids. The
manual volume control dial is numbered one to four.
One indicates that the volume is at the minimum level
and four indicates that the volume is at the maximum
level. Rotate the volume control upward to increase the
volume or downward to decrease the volume. Note that

8

your volume control may be disabled by your hearing
healthcare professional and, therefore, could be
inactive.

Setting Your Ideal Volume

Unison digital hearing instruments equipped with
manual volume control have an ideal volume indicator.
A single beep indicates when the volume control has
reached its ideal level for your particular hearing loss, as
pre-set by your hearing healthcare professional.

Listening in Quiet and Noisy Environments

Your Unison digital hearing aids have a directional
microphone system which focuses on sounds in front of
you (e.g., speech) while reducing sounds from the sides
or behind you (e.g., noise). Your directional system is
activated by the push of the program button. Your
hearing healthcare professional will tell you which
program(s) contain the directional microphones.

Replacing the Microphone Protectors

Your Unison digital hearing aids have a shield to protect
the microphones from dirt and debris. Debris on the
microphone protector reduces the sound quality of the
instrument. You should have the microphone protectors
replaced by your hearing healthcare professional
approximately every three months to ensure optimal
sound quality.

9

Using Unison™with Telecoil for the Telephone

Unison hearing aids come equipped with an optional
telecoil that can help you listen on the telephone. The
telecoil program is selected with the program button.
When using the telecoil, center the telephone receiver
on the hearing aid and move the receiver along the
hearing aid to locate the clearest, strongest signal. You
may have to increase the volume of your hearing aid
slightly. To return to normal listening, push the program
button. Your hearing aid will beep to indicate which
program you are in.

Assistive Listening Devices

Listening in Public Places

Unison’s telecoil can also help you listen in public places
equipped with telecoil compatible assistive listening
devices such as a loop system. If your hearing aids do
not operate when the telecoil is on, the loop system
may not be operating or you may be in a “dead” spot.
Try positioning yourself in a different part of the looped
area or return your hearing aids to the microphone
position and sit as close to the speaker as possible.

Connecting to External Audio Sources

Your Unison hearing aids may feature optional direct
audio input (DAI) to connect to other audio sources
such as a stereo or television. You will need to purchase

10

the direct audio input system and a
connector cord from your hearing
healthcare professional before you can
connect to external audio sources.

DAI can also be used to fit your hearing
aids with an assistive listening device,
such as a FM system, which you may
purchase to improve listening in difficult situations.

Note: If your hearing instruments are the small BTE
Moda (see “Using the Unison Digital BTE Guide”), your
digital hearing aids are not compatible with direct
audio input, MicroLink MLx or an FM system.

Listening Over Distance

Your Unison hearing aids may be compatible with
Phonak’s MicroLink

™

Receiver Module, a wireless FM
system that improves listening over distance. The MLx
FM receiver module connects to the direct audio input
system and is powered by the hearing aid battery.

See also “Direct Audio Input”

Using FM and Infrared Systems

Some FM systems consist of a teleloop worn around the
neck, which is connected to the FM receiver worn on a
belt or in a shirt pocket. To listen through the FM
system, select the telecoil program and turn on the FM
receiver. To keep the signal clear, you may need to
adjust the volume control on your hearing aids, as well

11

as on the FM receiver.
With some infrared systems you may need to remove

your hearing aids and wear the system’s headset
receiver. If the volume on the infrared receiver is not
loud enough, use your hearing aids instead.

Replacing the Battery

1. Gently swing out the battery compartment door with

your fingernail.

2. Grasp the battery with your thumb and index finger

and remove.

3. Insert the new battery into the battery compartment

with the plus (+) sign on the battery facing the same
way as the plus (+) sign on the edge of the battery
door. This will ensure that the battery door closes
properly.

Note: If the battery is inserted incorrectly, the door will
not close.

4. Close the battery compartment door.

Low Battery Warning

When you hear one long beep, your digital hearing aids
are warning you that their batteries are low. You will
hear the warning approximately every 30 minutes until
you change the batteries or the batteries die. After the
first warning, you may experience some reduction in

12

sound quality. This is normal and can be remedied by
inserting fresh batteries in the hearing aids. If you
prefer, your hearing healthcare professional can change
the pitch and loudness of the low battery beep or turn it
off entirely.

Caring for Batteries

• Always discard batteries carefully.

• To prolong battery life, remember to turn your

hearing aids off when not in use.

• Remove the batteries and keep the battery door

open while hearing aids are not in use. This will allow
internal moisture to evaporate.

Battery Warnings

• Never leave hearing aids or batteries where small

children and pets can reach them.

• Never put hearing aids or batteries in your mouth. If

a hearing aid or battery is swallowed, call a physician
immediately.

13

Caring for Your Hearing Aids

• Always remove your hearing aids when using hair

care products. The hearing aids can become clogged
and cease to function properly.

• Protect your hearing aids from excessive heat (hair

dryer, vehicle glove box or dashboard) and moisture
(bath or shower). Do not immerse the hearing aids in
water.

• If your hearing aids do become wet, do not attempt

to dry them in an oven or microwave. Do not adjust
any controls. Open the battery doors immediately,
and allow your hearing aids to dry naturally for 24
hours.

• Regular use of a dehumidifier, such as a Dri-Aid kit,

can help prevent corrosion. See your hearing
healthcare professional for more information.

• Do not drop your hearing aids or knock them against

hard surfaces.

14

Cleaning Your Unison

™

Hearing Aids

Ear wax is natural and common. Ensuring your hearing
aids and earmolds are free of ear wax is an important
step in your daily cleaning and maintenance routine.

• Never use alcohol to clean your hearing aids or

earmolds.

• Do not use sharp tools to dislodge ear wax. Sticking

household items into your hearing aids or earmolds
can seriously damage them.

Cleaning the Earmolds

If your Unison hearing aids have earhooks (see “Using
the Unison Digital BTE Guide”), your hearing healthcare
professional fit you with customized earmolds.
Earmolds send amplified sound from the hearing aids
into the ears. They must fit into your ears snugly and
comfortably. If amplified sound leaks out of your ear,
you may hear whistling.

Always ensure earmolds are clean and free of ear wax
and moisture. Do not use alcohol to clean your
earmolds. If the earmolds become plugged, clear the
opening with a wax loop or pipe cleaner. If your
physician prescribes eardrops, clean any moisture that
may get into the earmolds or tubing to prevent
plugging.

If the earmolds require further cleaning, disconnect the

15

plastic tube from the hook of the hearing aids. Wash
only the earmolds in warm water with a mild soap. Rinse
them with cool water and allow them to dry overnight.
Make sure the earmold tubes are dry before
reconnecting them to each hook on your hearing aids.

Cleaning the Slim Tubes and Domes

If your hearing instruments have slim tubes (see “Using
the Unison Digital BTE Guide”), you need to ensure that
the tubes and domes are free of ear wax and moisture.
You should have the slim tubes and domes replaced by
your hearing healthcare professional approximately
every three months or when they become stiff or brittle.
Clean the domes daily with a damp cloth. You should
also clean the slim tubes periodically, with the cleaning
pin provided, when you begin to notice debris in and
around the tubes.

To clean the slim tubes and domes:

1. Hold the slim tube in one hand and the hearing

instrument in the other hand.

2. Gently turn the hearing instrument until it detaches

from the slim tube.

3. Use a damp cloth to clean the outside of the slim

tube and the dome.

4. Using the black cleaning pin provided in the kit,

gently insert the cleaning pin where the slim tube

16

attaches to the hearing instrument and push the pin
all the way through the tube and out through the
dome.

Note: The slim tubes and domes should never be
rinsed or submerged in water as water drops may
become lodged in the tube, block sound or damage the
electrical components of the hearing instrument.

5. Once the slim tube has been cleaned, reattach the

slim tube to the hearing instrument using the tool
provided.

17

Warnings

• Hearing aids should only be used as directed by your

physician or hearing healthcare professional.

• Hearing aids will not restore normal hearing and will

not prevent or improve a hearing impairment
resulting from organic conditions.

• Do not use your hearing aids in explosion hazard

areas.

• Allergic reactions to hearing aids are unlikely.

However, if you experience itching, redness,
soreness, inflammation or a burning sensation in or
around your ears, inform your hearing healthcare
professional and contact your physician.

• Remove your hearing aids for CT and MRI scans or for

other electromagnetic procedures.

• Only plug the DAI cables into devices that produce

safe voltages of less than 3 volts.

• Special care should be exercised in wearing hearing

aids when maximum sound pressure levels exceed
132 decibels. There may be a risk of impairing your
remaining hearing. Speak with your hearing
healthcare professional to ensure the maximum
output of your hearing aids is suitable for your
particular hearing loss.

18

Precautions

• The use of hearing aids is only part of hearing

rehabilitation; auditory training and lip reading
instruction may be required as well.

• In most cases, infrequent use of hearing aids does

not provide full benefit. Once you have become
accustomed to your hearing aids, wear your hearing
aids everyday all day.

• Your hearing aids use the most modern components

to provide the best possible sound quality in every
listening situation. However, communication devices
such as digital cell phones can create interference (a
buzzing sound) in hearing aids. If you experience
interference from a cell phone being used close by,
you can minimize this interference in a number of
ways. Switch your hearing aids to another program,
turn your head in a different direction or locate the
cell phone and move away from it.

Labeling

The serial number and year of manufacture are located
inside the battery door.

19

Troubleshooting Guide

SYMPTOM CAUSE POSSIBLE REMEDY

No sound • Not turned on

• Low/dead battery

• Poor battery contact

• Battery upside down

• Earmolds/slim tubes
blocked with ear wax

• Plugged microphone

protector

Not loud • Low volume
enough

• Low battery

• Earmolds/slim tube

not inserted properly

• Change in hearing

• Earmolds blocked

with ear wax

• Turn on

• Replace battery

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Insert battery plus (+) side up

• Clean earmolds. See “Cleaning the
Earmolds”. Consult your hearing
healthcare professional.
Use cleaning pin to dislodge ear wax
in slim tubes. See “Cleaning the slim
Tubes and Domes”. Consult your
hearing healthcare professional.

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• See hearing healthcare
professional

• Replace battery

• See “Cleaning the Earmolds” or
“Putting Your Unison Hearing
Instruments on Your Ears”. Reinsert
carefully.

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Clean earmolds. See “Cleaning the
Earmolds”. Consult your hearing
healthcare professional. Use
cleaning pin to dislodge ear wax in
slim tubes. See “Cleaning the Slim
Tubes and Domes”. Consult your
hearing healthcare professional.

20

Not loud • Plugged microphone
enough protector

Intermittent • Low battery

• Dirty battery contact

One long beep • Low battery
Whistling • Earmolds/slim tubes

not inserted properly

• Hand/clothing near ear

• Poorly fitting ear­molds/slim tubes

Not clear, • Poorly fitting ear­distorted molds/slim tubes

• Earmolds/slim tubes

blocked with ear wax

• Low battery

• Plugged microphone

protector

Earmolds/ • Poorly fitting ear­slim tubes molds/slim tubes
falling out • Earmolds/slim tubes
of ear not inserted properly

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Replace battery

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Replace battery

• Remove and reinsert

• Remove hand/clothing from ear

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Clean earmolds. See “Cleaning the
Earmolds”. Consult your hearing
healthcare professional.
Use cleaning pin to dislodge ear
wax in slim tubes. See “Cleaning
the Slim Tubes and Domes”.
Consult your hearing healthcare
professional.

• Replace battery

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Consult your hearing healthcare
professional

• See “Cleaning the Earmolds” or
“Putting Your Unison Hearing
Instruments on Your Ears”.
Reinsert carefully.

21

SYMPTOM CAUSE POSSIBLE REMEDY

22

SYMPTOM CAUSE POSSIBLE REMEDY

"Motorboating"

• Low battery

• Dirty battery contact

Weak on the • Telephone not
telephone positioned properly

• Hearing aid requires
adjustment

For any problems not listed in the guide, contact your hearing healthcare
professional. If you do not have a hearing healthcare professional, please
contact the nearest office listed on the back page of this booklet.

• Replace battery

• Consult your hearing
healthcare professional

• Move telephone receiver around
ear for clearer signal. See “Using
Unison with Telecoil for the
Telephone”.

• Consult your hearing healthcare
professional

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: (i) Visible congenital or traumatic deformity
of the ear. (ii) History of active drainage from the ear
within the previous 90 days. (iii) History of sudden or
rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous 90
days. (iv) Acute or chronic dizziness. (v) Unilateral
hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the
previous 90 days. (vi) Audiometric air-bone gap equal to
or greater than 15 decibels at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz,
and 2,000 Hz. (vii) Visible evidence of significant
cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal.
(viii) Pain or discomfort in the ear. Special care should be
exercised in selecting and fitting a hearing aid whose
maximum sound pressure level exceeds 132 decibels
because there may be risk of impairing the remaining
hearing of the hearing aid user. (This provision is
required only for those hearing aids with a maximum
sound pressure capability greater than 132 decibels
(dB).)

23

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 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

24

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.

25

Unitron Hearing Distributors

Corporate Office/International

20 Beasley Drive, P.O. Box 9017, Kitchener, ON N2G 4X1 Canada

Australia

Level 2, Norwest Quay, 21 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills, NSW, NSW 2153

Canada

5 Cherry Blossom Road, Unit 2, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R7

Europe

Daimlerstr

asse 22, 70736 Fellbach-Oeffingen, Germany

France

2, rue Maryse Bastié, 69500 Bron, France

Netherlands

Archimedesbaan 19, P.O. Box 1214, 3430 BE Nieuwegein

New Zealand

10/215 Rosedale Rd., M277 Private Bag, 300987, Albany, Auckland

United Kingdom

St. George House, Cygnet Court, Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1PD

U.S.A.

2300 Berkshire Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441

Manufacturer

Unitron Hearing Ltd.

20 Beasley Drive, P.O. Box 9017, Kitchener, ON N2G 4X1 Canada

Distributor

A/05-009 029-5316-02 Printed in Canada