USER INSTRUCTIONS THE DREAM SERIES D-FA model Behind-the-ear YOUR WIDEX HEARING AID
(To be filled out by the hearing care professional) DREAM440 DREAM330 DREAM220 DREAM110 Programs:
Master Music TV Comfort Reverse focus Phone T M+T Zen Master + Zen Master + Reverse focus Master + T Master + M+T Master + Phone Zen+
Phone+
Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Audibility Extender Date Your hearing care professional 2 CONTENTS SYMBOLS. 4 THE HEARING AID . 5 Acoustic indicators . 8 The battery . 9 Inserting the battery. 9 Low battery indication . 11 Turning the hearing aid on and off. 12 Right/left identification . 13 Positioning the hearing aid . 14 Removing the hearing aid . 15 Volume adjustment . 16 Lost partner alarm . 18 Programs . 18 Switching between the listening programs . 22 Zen+. 23 Phone+ . 23 Using a telephone . 24 CLEANING. 25 The hearing aid. 26 ACCESSORIES. 27 IN CASE OF MALFUNCTION . 28 CARING FOR YOUR HEARING AID. 30 WARNINGS . 31 ADVICE . 35 Adapting to your hearing aids . 36 REGULATORY INFORMATION. 38 ADDITIONAL PROGRAM FORMS . 42 3 SYMBOLS The following symbols will be used throughout the manual:
WARNING Messages with this heading indicate serious adverse reactions, potential safety hazards and inadequate performance of device. CAUTION Messages with this heading indicate/include information regard-
ing any special care to be exercised. Not for general waste. 4 THE HEARING AID The illustration below shows the hearing aid without the ear-set. The choice of ear-set solution depends on your specific needs. Please refer to the separate ear-set user manual. 1. Microphone openings 2. Volume control 3. Program button 4. On/off switch 5. Battery drawer with nail grip 6. LED 1 2 6 3 4 & 5 5 NOTE In addition to these user instructions, a separate user manual is provided describing the various ear-set solutions available for your hearing aid: Ear-sets for Widex BTE hearing aids. WARNING This booklet and the manual Ear-sets for Widex BTE hearing aids contain important information and instructions. Read these booklets carefully before you start using the hearing aid. NOTE Your hearing aid, ear-set and accessories may not look exactly as illustrated in this booklet. We also reserve the right to make any changes considered necessary. 6 Intended use The hearing aids are intended as air conduction amplifi-
cation devices to be used in everyday listening environ-
ments. The hearing aids may be provided with the Zen program intended to provide a relaxing sound back-
ground (i.e. music/noise source) for adults who desire to listen to such a background in quiet. Indications for use The devices are indicated for individuals with a range of hearing loss severity from minimal (10 dB HL) to severe
(90 dB HL) and all hearing loss configurations. They are to be programmed by licensed hearing care professionals (audiologists, hearing aid specialists, oto-
laryngologists) who are trained in hearing (re)habilita-
tion. Description of device Your hearing aid is used with an ear-set which consists of a tube and an ear-tip or earmould. The hearing aid uses a proprietary wireless technology, WidexLink, to enable communication between the left and the right hearing aids, as well as between the hearing aids and the DEX accessories. Your hearing aid may be provided with a listening program called Zen. It makes musical tones (and some-
times a rushing noise) in the background. These sounds are shaped according to your hearing loss. 7 Acoustic indicators The hearing aid may be set to produce a signal to indicate the use of certain functions. The signal may be a spoken message or tones. The signal can also be deactivated. Functions Adjusting volume Confirming program button use Changing program Starting up the hearing aid Warning about low battery Warning about lost partner Service reminder Other settings Off Off Default settings Tone Clicking sound Message Tones/off Message Tone/off Message 4 tones/off Off Off Message Message Note: Warning about lost partner can only be made available in DREAM440. 8 The battery We recommend zinc-air batteries. Use a size 312 bat-
tery for the hearing aid. To obtain replacement batteries, please consult your hearing care professional. It is important to take note of the expiry date and the recommendations on the battery pack regarding disposal of used batteries. Otherwise there is a risk that the battery life may be reduced. Inserting the battery Before inserting a new battery into the hearing aid, remember to remove the adhe-
sive tab. Once the tab has been removed, the battery will start functioning after a few seconds. CAUTION Do not use batteries if there is a sticky residue from the tab or other unwanted substance, as this can cause the hearing aid to malfunction. Use the nail grip to gently swing the battery drawer open. 9 Place the battery in the drawer, so that the plus (+) sign on the battery faces upward. You can use the battery magnet provided to steer the battery into place. If the battery drawer does not close easily, the battery is incorrectly inserted. When changing battery, it is a good idea to hold the hearing aid over a table. The hearing aid may be provided with a special battery drawer, helping to secure the battery in the drawer. This type of drawer can be a good choice if the hearing aid is worn by a child. 10 Low battery indication An acoustic indicator will sound when the battery is nearly exhausted, unless this function has been disa-
bled (see page 8). We recommend that you always have a spare battery with you. WARNING Never leave an exhausted battery in the hearing aid. Exhausted batteries may leak, damaging the hearing aid. WARNING Your hearing aid may stop functioning, for instance if the battery is exhausted. You should be aware of this possibility, in particular when you are in traffic or are otherwise dependent on warning signals. 11 Turning the hearing aid on and off The battery drawer of the hearing aid also functions as the on/off switch. Close the battery drawer to turn on the hearing aid. An acoustic indicator will indicate that the hearing aid has been switched on, unless this function has been disabled. To turn off the hearing aid, open the bat-
tery drawer slightly to the first position where a click is felt. Note: Another way to verify that the hearing aid is turned on is to cup it in your hand. If it is on, it will whis-
tle. Please remember to turn off the hearing aid when it is not in use. Remove the battery if the hearing aid will not be used for several days. 12 Right/left identification If you wear hearing aids on both ears, the hearing aids can be provid-
ed with coloured marks (red mark =
right and blue mark = left). The arrow shows the position of the identification mark. 13 Positioning the hearing aid Insert the earpiece in the ear canal while holding the lower part of the tube. It may help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand. Place the hearing aid behind the ear, so that the hearing aid and tube rest comfortably on the ear, close to your head. The illustrations show an open ear-tip. For further infor-
mation on ear-tip/earmould types, anchors and proce-
dures, see the separate ear-set user manual provided. 14 Removing the hearing aid Remove the hearing aid from its position behind the ear. Carefully pull the earpiece out of the ear canal, while holding the lower part of the tube. If the earpiece is provided with an extraction cord, take hold of this and carefully pull the ear-tip out of the ear canal. 15 Volume adjustment The hearing aid volume is adjusted automatically in accordance with your sound environment. Furthermore, your hearing aid is provided with a volume control. Push the upper part of the volume control to gradually raise the vol-
ume. Push the lower part to gradually lower the volume.
Depending on hearing aid features and setting, any change you make will affect both hearing aids. To alter the increments in which the volume is increased or decreased, consult your hearing care professional. Each time you operate the volume control, you will hear a beep-tone unless this function has been disabled. When the maximum or minimum adjustment level is reached, a steady tone will sound. 16 CAUTION If the volume in the hearing aid is generally too loud or too weak, or the reproduced sounds are distorted, or if you would like any further information, consult your hearing care professional. To turn off the sound completely Keep pressing the lower part of the volume control after the steady tone has sounded To turn the sound on again Press the upper part of the volume control or Change listening program Any adjustment of the volume setting will be cancelled when your hearing aid is turned off, or when you change program. NOTE: Your hearing aid can be set to gradually increase the amplification provided to allow you to acclimatize yourself to the sound through the hearing aid. There-
fore you may notice an increase in level after a period of time. 17 Lost partner alarm
(Note: Only applicable if this feature is available and has been activated by your hearing care professional.) If one of your hearing aids falls off your ear, and/or the battery is exhausted, a tone signal and a spoken mes-
sage will sound two times in the other hearing aid, and a diode will flash on both hearing aids. When the lost hearing aid is repositioned, and/or the battery is exchanged, the diodes stop flashing. Programs Your hearing aid may be provided with several of the following programs, plus the special Zen program called Zen+. In some DREAM hearing aids, the Phone+
program can be made available instead of Zen+. Standard Master For listening to music Music For listening to the TV TV Attenuates background noise Comfort Reverse focus Focus on sounds from behind For listening to the telephone Phone 18 T M+T Zen Compound programs Zen+
Phone+*
In this program you listen via the telecoil (T) and not via the hearing aid microphones (M). The telecoil is used where a loop system is installed. If you activate the telecoil program, you listen to a specific sound source and shut out surrounding sounds. In this program you listen via the hearing aid microphones (M) and the telecoil (T). Generates different kinds of tones or noise. The Master program in one ear and Zen, Reverse focus, T, MT or Phone in the other. Special Zen program with up to three differ-
ent Zen styles For phone use only. Transmits the telephone sound received in one hearing aid to the other hearing aid. Note that the microphones on the hearing aid to which the sound is transmitted are turned off.
* only in some DREAM hearing aids Your hearing aid has a function called the Audibility Extender. This feature makes high frequency sounds audible, and can be set to operate for one or more or all available programs. If your needs change over time, the combination of listening programs can be altered. CAUTION When selecting Phone+ as listening program, please remember that there are situations in which it is particularly important to be able to hear the surrounding sounds. 19 Zen program Your hearing aid may be provided with a unique optional listening program called Zen. It makes musical tones
(and sometimes a rushing noise) in the background. The Zen program may be used alone (without amplification) in quiet when you are not required to hear surrounding sounds. Or, it may be used with amplification so both the surrounding sounds and the generated sounds
(fractal tones and noise) are heard together. CAUTION Use of the different Zen programs may interfere with hearing surrounding sounds including speech. The programs should not be used when hearing such sounds is important. Switch the hearing aid to a non-Zen program in those situations. CAUTION If you perceive a decrease in loudness, tolerance of sounds, speech not as clear, or worsening tinnitus, contact your hearing care professional. 20 Benefits The Zen program may provide a relaxing listening background for some people. When the Zen program is used in a tinnitus management program, its wearer may experience some relief from tinnitus. Indications for use The Zen program is intended to provide a relaxing sound background (i.e., music/noise source) for adults who desire to listen to such a background in quiet. It may be used as a sound therapy tool in a tinnitus treatment program that is prescribed by a hearing care professional (audiologists, hearing aid specialists, oto-
laryngologists) who is trained in tinnitus management. Directions for use Because of the unique ways in which Zen is programmed in your hearing aid, please follow the recommendations of your hearing care professionals as to how to use the program, when to use the program and/or how long to use the program. 21 Switching between the listening programs To change programs, press the program button briefly. Each time you switch to another program, an acoustic indicator will sound unless this function has been disabled. Program 1: Message or one short beep Program 2: Message or two short beeps Program 3: Message or three short beeps Program 4: Message or one long and one short beep Program 5: Message or one long and two short beeps Zen+ or Phone+: Message or tone Depending on hearing aid features and setting, any change you make will affect both hearing aids. 22 Zen+
This program is accessed via a long press (more than 1 second) on the program button on the hearing aid or the RC-DEX. A short press then allows you to cycle through the available Zen styles. You can exit Zen+ by pressing and holding the program button for more than 1 second. Phone+
If your hearing aid is programmed with Phone+ instead of Zen+, this program is accessed via a long press
(more than 1 second) on the program button on the hearing aid. You can exit Phone+ by pressing and holding the same program button for more than 1 second. If you wish to have the program button disabled, please consult your hearing care professional. 23 Using a telephone When using a telephone, we recom-
mend that you hold the telephone against your head at an angle above your ear, rather than directly against the ear. If the sound is not optimal, try moving the telephone earpiece to a slightly different posi-
tion. 24 CLEANING The following cleaning accessories are available for the hearing aid and ear-set*. For cleaning the ear-set, see the user manual Ear-sets for Widex BTE hearing aids. 1. Cloth 2. Wax removing tool 3. Cleaning thread Contact your hearing care professional if you need additional supplies of cleaning accessories.
* Selection depends on ear-set type. 25 The hearing aid Clean the hearing aid with the soft cloth after use. WARNING Never use water or cleaning solutions to clean the hearing aid, as this may cause it to malfunction. When the hearing aid is not in use, keep it in a warm, dry place with the battery drawer open, to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry. 26 ACCESSORIES A variety of assistive listening devices are available for your hearing aid. RC-DEX TV-DEX M-DEX remote control for listening to TV and audio for mobile phone applications and remote con-
trol PHONE-DEX for easy landline use*
T-DEX FM+DEX for connecting hearing aids to mobile phones using a telecoil the FM+DEX is a high-quality streaming device designed specifically for Widex hearing aids
* Available in some countries only 27 IN CASE OF MALFUNCTION Problem The hearing aid is com-
pletely silent Possible cause The hearing aid is not turned on Solution Make sure the battery drawer is pushed all the way upwards The battery does not work Insert a new battery in the hearing aid Your ear is blocked by earwax Contact your ENT doc-
tor/physician Your hearing may have changed Contact your hearing care professional Your ear is blocked by earwax Contact your ENT doc-
tor/physician The on/off switch is dirty The connection between the hearing aids is lost Push the switch back and forth a couple of times Turn the hearing aids off and on again The hearing aid volume is not powerful enough The hearing aid whistles continuously The hearing aid func tions intermit tently Your two hearing aids are not work-
ing in syn-
chrony 28 Possible cause a. The DEX is used beyond the trans-
mission range b. Strong electro-
magnetic interfer-
ence in the vicinity c. The DEX and the hearing aids are not matched Solution a. Move the DEX closer to the hearing aids b. Move away from known source of EM interference c. Check with hearing care professional to make sure DEX is matched with hearing aids a. The battery in one of the hearing aids has expired b. Strong electro-
magnetic interfer-
ence in the vicinity a. Replace battery in one or both hearing aids b. Move away from known sources of interference Problem The hearing aids do not respond with a correspond-
ing change in volume or program to the DEX You hear inter rupted speech (on and off) from the hearing aids or no speech
(muted) from the transmit-
ting ear. Note: This information covers only the hearing aid. See the Ear-sets for Widex BTE hearing aids user manual for information specific to your ear-set. If the problems persist, contact your hearing care pro-
fessional for assistance. 29 CARING FOR YOUR HEARING AID The hearing aid is a valuable object and should be treated with care. Here are some things you can do to prolong the life of your hearing aid:
CAUTION Turn off your hearing aid when it is not in use. Remove the battery if the hearing aid will not be used for several days. When the hearing aid is not in use, keep it in its case in a dry location out of reach of children and pets. Do not expose the hearing aid to extreme temperatures or high humidity. Make sure to dry the hearing aid thoroughly after heavy perspiration such as that which may occur during intense physical activity, e.g. playing sports. Avoid dropping your hearing aid perform cleaning and battery changes while holding the hearing aid above a soft surface. Do not wear your hearing aid while in the shower or swim-
ming, or when using a hair dryer, perfume, hair and body sprays or gels such as suntanning lotions or creams. 30 WARNINGS WARNING Hearing aids and batteries can be dangerous if swal lowed or used improperly. Swallowing or improper use can result in severe injury or even fatalities. In case of ingestion, contact a physician immediately. Keep hearing aids and their parts, accessories and batteries out of reach of children and anyone else who might swallow such items or otherwise cause injury to themselves. Do not change batteries in front of them and do not let them see where you keep your battery supply. Discard used batteries carefully. Batteries are very small and can easily be mistaken for pills or the like. Never put a battery or hearing aid in your mouth for any reason as you may risk swallowing it. 31 WARNING Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type or recharged. Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions. Never allow others to wear your hearing aid, as this could cause permanent damage to their hear ing. When selecting a listening program, please remember that there are situations in which it is particularly important to be able to hear the surrounding sounds (e.g. traffic, warning signals). The hearing aid is made of modern non-allergenic materials. Nonetheless, in rare cases skin irritation may occur. If you notice skin irritation in or around your ear or ear canal, contact your hearing care professional. 32 WARNING Please note that when using any type of hearing aid, you must allow regular ventilation of the ear. If the ear is not adequately ventilated, there may be a slightly increased risk of infection or disease in the ear canal. We therefore recommend that you remove the hearing aid and ear-set from your ear when you go to bed, to allow the ear canal to be ventilated. If possible, you should also remove your hearing aid and ear-set during the day if there are any periods when you do not need them. Make sure that you clean and inspect your hearing aid and ear-set as required. If an ear infection or disease occurs, you should seek medical attention and contact your hearing care professional for advice on how to disinfect the various hear-
ing aid parts. Do not under any circumstances use alcohol, chlorine or similar substances for this purpose. Regular use of a de-humidifier is recommended to help avoid malfunction of the hearing aid. Do not use Widex hearing aids in mines or other areas with explosive gases. Do not wear your hearing aid during radiation, X-rays, MRIs, CT or other medical treatments and scans. The emis-
sions from these procedures as well as from other types of radiation, such as that in a microwave oven, can damage your hearing aid. Radiation from, for example, room surveillance equipment, burglar alarms and mobile phones is weaker and will not damage the hearing aid, but may create audible interference. 33 CAUTION Your hearing aid has been tested for interference according to international standards. Nevertheless, it is possible that unforeseen interference may occur in the hearing aid due to electromagnetic radiation from other products such as alarm systems, room surveillance equipment and mobile phones. Although your hearing aid has been designed to comply with the most stringent international electromagnetic compatibil-
ity standards, the possibility cannot be excluded that it may cause interference with other equipment, such as medical devices. Never try to open or repair the hearing aid yourself. 34 ADVICE NOTE The hearing aid will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve a hearing loss resulting from organic conditions. However, the hearing aid can help you to make the best possible use of your remaining hearing ability. You should also bear in mind that it can take time to get used to a new hearing aid and new sounds. In most cases, using the hearing aid infrequently will not permit you to gain full benefit from it. The use of a hearing aid is only part of hearing habilitation and may need to be supplemented by auditory training and instruction in lipreading. The use of hearing aids increases the risk of accumulation of earwax. Contact your physician/ENT doctor if you suspect that a plug of earwax has accumulated in your ear. Earwax may not only reduce your own hearing but also the effect of the hearing aid considerably. It is a good idea to ask your physician to clean your ears a couple of times a year. 35 Adapting to your hearing aids Congratulations for taking the first steps toward re-
storing your communication skills with the purchase of state-of-the-art hearing aids from Widex. Because many of the sounds you may now hear have not been fully audible without hearing aids, we urge you to take a few minutes to perform the following sim-
ple activities in the order listed. Do these first in quiet settings, then try them in noisier surroundings. Activity 1: First, listen to a friend or relative speak to you with your eyes closed and your hearing aids off. Now, put your hearing aids on and continue to listen. Notice the difference? The purpose of this activity is not to hear every word, but just to recognize the difference in amplified speech from a familiar source. Activity 2: Listen to your friend or relative speak to you with your hearing aids on, but with your eyes closed. Now continue to listen with your eyes open. The goal is to demonstrate how helpful it is to receive information from your eyes to supplement your ears. Activity 3: Purchase two copies of todays newspaper. Ask a friend or relative to read a story aloud while you read along with the same story. Alternatively, read it aloud and listen to your own voice. It is also helpful to watch captioned TV. 36 We hear in our brain, not in our ears. It will take your brain some time to fully adapt to the new sounds you are hearing. It is not unusual, for example, to hear certain sounds, such as your own footsteps, or a newspaper rustling, or the refrigerator humming, that people with normal hearing take for granted and thus dont consciously process. Be patient and allow yourself a few weeks to adapt. Your brain will learn to ignore them if they are not important. Of course, if sounds are too loud or uncomfortable for you, contact your hearing care professional. Conversational speech has many redundant cues. Worrying about a word you may have missed will likely lead to additional missed words. Focus on the essence of the conversation. It may help to ask someone you are comfortable with to subtly alert you about the overall topic when listening in groups. Before going to a restaurant, call ahead and request a seat away from the kitchen or bar area. Remember that in noisy places, even normal hearing people may struggle to hear. For more activities, training materials, and helpful com-
munication hints please go to www.widex.com. 37 REGULATORY INFORMATION FCC ID: TTY-DFA IC: 5676B-DFA Federal Communications Commission Statement This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. NOTE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communica-
tions. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. NOTE:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. 38 Changes or modifications to the equipment not expressly approved by Widex could void the users authority to operate the equipment. Industry Canada Statement / Dclaration dindustrie Canada Under Industry Canada regulations, this radio transmitter may only operate using an antenna of a type and maximum (or lesser) gain approved for the transmitter by Industry Canada. To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain should be so chosen that the equivalent isotrop-
ically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is not more than that necessary for successful communication. This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired operation of the device. Conformment la rglementation dIndustrie Canada, le prsent metteur radio peut fonctionner avec une antenne dun type et dun gain maximal (ou infrieur) approuv pour lmetteur par Industrie Canada. Dans le but de rduire les risques de brouillage radiolectrique lintention des autres utilisateurs, il faut choisir le type dantenne et son gain de sorte que la puissance isotrope rayonne quiva-
lente (p.i.r.e.) ne dpasse pas lintensit ncessaire ltablissement dune communication satisfaisante. Le prsent appareil est conforme aux CNR dIndustrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. Lexploitation est autorise aux deux conditions suivantes :
(1) lappareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et
(2) lutilisateur de lappareil doit accepter tout brouillage radio-
lectrique subi, mme si le brouillage est susceptible den compro-
mettre le fonctionnement. 39 Hereby, Widex A/S declares that this D-FA is in compli-
ance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC. A copy of the Declaration of Conformity can be found at: http://www.widex.com 40 Hearing aids, accessories and batteries should not be disposed of with normal household waste. Please consult your national Widex distributor for advice on how to dispose of these items. 41 ADDITIONAL PROGRAM FORMS Programs available in your hearing aid:
Program 1:
Program 2:
Program 3:
Program 4:
Program 5:
Special program:
42 43 Manufacturer 9 514 0135 041>
#01v Printed by HTO / 2012-11 9 514 0247 001 #01