NB:

Special Pantone orange:

Pantone Warm Red: 45%

User’s instructions

The mind

™

440 Series

m4-X

In-the-ear

The hearing aid and accessories shown in these instructions may not look the same as the ones you have.

We furthermore reserve the right to make any changes considered necessary.

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 your hearing aid.

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Contents

Thank you… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The hearing aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Function signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Right/left identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Inserting the battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Low battery indication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Turning the hearing aid on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Placing the hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Removing the hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Possible start-up settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Automatic volume adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Fine tuning volume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Listening programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Switching between the listening programs . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

The hearing aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

The sound outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The relief vent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Widex wax guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Changing the wax guard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Caring for your hearing aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Good advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

In case of malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Your hearing aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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Thank you…

…for choosing a Widex hearing aid.

Your hearing aid is a sophisticated instrument that can be adjusted to your requirements in consultation with your hearing care professional.

All illustrations in this booklet show a right-ear hearing aid.

Unless otherwise stated, the same principles apply to the left ear.

We hope you will be pleased with your new Widex hearing aid.

The hearing aid

1. Microphone openings, where the sound enters the hearing aid.

2. Volume control for fine tuning of volume is available on some models.

3. Program button for choosing between different listening programs.

4. On/off function, which is integrated into the battery compartment cover.

5. Nail grip on the battery compartment cover for easy opening

6. Sound outlet, through which the amplified sound from the hearing aid reaches your ear.

7. Widex wax guard

8. Relief vent for ventilation of the ear canal. (Not in all models).

Important

Please read this booklet carefully before you start using your hearing aid.

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Function signals

Your hearing aid may be set to produce a signal to indicate the use of certain functions. The signal can be a spoken message or tones adjusted by the hearing care professional in consultation with you. The signal can also be deactivated.

Right/left identification

If you are wearing hearing aids in both ears, it is easy to tell them apart as the right-ear hearing aid has a red

Widex logo and the left-ear hearing aid a blue.

The arrow shows the position of the logo.

The battery

We recommend Zinc Air batteries. Use a type 312 battery for your 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 regarding disposal of used batteries on the battery pack. The battery life will depend on a number of factors, such as the setting of your hearing aid, how many hours you use it daily and the listening environments in which you use it.

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Inserting the battery

Before inserting a new battery in the hearing aid, remember to remove the adhesive tab on the battery. Once the tab has been removed, the battery will start functioning after a few seconds. Do not use batteries on which there is a sticky residue from the tab or other unwanted substance.

1. Use the nail grip to push the battery compartment cover downwards and open the cover. Do not press the battery compartment cover beyond the open position.

2. Place the battery so that the plus (+) sign of the battery faces upwards.

3. You can use the provided battery magnet to steer the battery into place.

Low battery indication

In the standard setting, the hearing aid will produce a spoken message when the battery is nearly exhausted

(see page 6). If a setting with tone indication has been chosen, four beep-tones will be produced. Once the battery is totally exhausted, the hearing aid will be completely silent. Exactly how long the hearing aid will function after the low battery indication varies from one case to another. We recommend that you always have a spare battery with you.

Never leave an exhausted battery in the hearing aid.

Exhausted batteries may leak, damaging the hearing aid. When changing battery, it is a good idea to hold the hearing aid over a table.

1.

2.

3.

If the battery compartment cover does not close easily, the battery is incorrectly inserted.

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Turning the hearing aid on and off

The battery compartment cover of your hearing aid also functions as the on/off switch.

1. Close the battery compartment cover and push it upwards to turn the hearing aid on. If you have just turned off the hearing aid, wait at least three seconds before turning it on again.

2. Push the battery compartment cover downwards to turn the hearing aid off.

1.

2.

In the standard setting a spoken message will indicate that the hearing aid has been switched on (see page 6).

Please remember to switch the hearing aid off when it is not in use. Remove the battery if the hearing aid will not be used for several days.

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Placing the hearing aid

Close the battery compartment cover completely.

1. Hold your hearing aid with your thumb and forefinger. Slowly guide the hearing aid into your ear canal until you feel resistance.

2. Let go of the hearing aid and use the tip of your forefinger to gently push it into your ear until it rests comfortably in your ear canal.

3. To help position the hearing aid properly you could pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand.

1.

2.

3.

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Removing the hearing aid

Hold the hearing aid with your thumb and forefinger and pull gently.

If it is difficult, you can try to move the hearing aid carefully from side to side. It may also help to pull the outer ear backwards and upwards with the opposite hand.

Possible start-up settings

The hearing aid can be set to start up in two different ways. In the standard start-up setting the hearing aid minimises whistling while it is being placed in the ear.

The alternative is a setting where the hearing aid whistles slightly while you place it in the ear. Together with your hearing care professional you can choose the start-up setting that suits your needs best.

Automatic volume adjustment

The hearing aid adjusts volume automatically in accordance with your sound environment.

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Important

If the volume in your hearing aid is generally too loud or too weak, or if the reproduced sounds are distorted, or you would like any further information, consult your hearing care professional.

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Fine tuning volume

Your hearing aid may be provided with a volume control, shaped like a small lever. (The lever on your hearing aid may be positioned differently than the lever in the drawing).

Push the lever upwards to gradually raise the automatically set volume.

Push the lever downwards to gradually lower the volume.

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Each time you operate the volume control, you will hear a beep-tone – unless you have chosen to have the tone indication deactivated (see page 6). When you raise the volume, you will hear a higher beep-tone for each step the volume is raised. When you lower the volume, you will hear a deeper beep-tone for each step the volume is lowered. When the maximum or minimum adjustment level is reached, a steady tone will sound.

To turn off the sound completely:

• Keep pressing the volume control lever downwards after the steady tone has sounded.

To turn the sound on again:

• Press the lever upwards or

• Change listening program or

• Turn the hearing aid off, wait 3 seconds and turn it on again

Any adjustment of the volume setting will be cancelled when your hearing aid is turned off.

If you wish to have the volume control disabled, please consult your hearing care professional.

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Listening programs

Depending on how your hearing care professional has programmed your hearing aid, you can have up to six listening programs intended for specific listening situations.

At the back of this booklet your hearing care professional can list the listening programs that are available in your hearing aid. If your needs change over time, the combination of listening programs can be changed.

When selecting a listening program, please remember that there are situations where it is particularly important to be able to hear the surrounding sounds (e.g. traffic, warning signals).

Master: Standard program

Acclimatisation: Has the same features as the Master program, but provides slightly less amplification.

Music: For listening to music.

TV: For listening to the TV.

Comfort: Attenuates background noise

Audibility Extender: Makes high-frequency sounds audible.

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T: In this program you listen via the telecoil (T) and not via the hearing aid microphone (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.

M + T: In this program you listen via the hearing aid microphone (M) and the telecoil (T).

Zen: Makes fractal tones. The tones are adjusted according to your hearing loss.

The Zen program may be used with amplification so both the surrounding sounds and the fractal tones are heard together. Or, it may be used alone (without amplification) in quiet when you are not required to hear surrounding sounds.

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Up to two listening programs with one Zen style each can be programmed for Zen. Furthermore, a special

Zen program can be made available. This is called Zen+ and can contain up to three Zen styles.

Switching between the listening programs

You can switch between the listening programs by using the program button on the battery compartment cover. Each time you switch to another program, a click is produced unless this function has been disabled.

In the standard setting, a spoken message will indicate your choice of program (see page 6).

Zen+

If your hearing aid is provided with the Zen+ program, you access this program by pressing the program button for more than one second. This function is called

SmartToggle.

A short press of the program button in the Smart-

Toggle mode will allow you to cycle through the available Zen styles. You can exit SmartToggle by pressing and holding the program button for more than a second.

Important

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.

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If you have chosen the tone indication setting, the various sounds tell you which program you have chosen:

• Program 1: One brief beep

• Program 2: Two brief beeps

• Program 3: Three brief beeps

• Program 4: One long and one brief beep

• Program 5: One long and two brief beeps

• Zen+: Tone

If you wish to have the program button disabled, please consult your hearing care professional.

Remote control

- an alternative way of operating the hearing aid.

A remote control is an accessory for your hearing aid. You can easily operate your hearing aid without a remote control, but it gives you a number of additional options.

For help to determine whether you could benefit from a remote control, please consult your hearing care professional.

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Cleaning

The following accessories are available for cleaning the hearing aid.

1. Small brush

2. Soft cloth

3. Wax removing tool

1.

2.

3.

Contact your hearing care professional if you need additional supplies of cleaning accessories.

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The hearing aid

Your hearing aid is an in-the-ear instrument, which means it is worn in your ear canal.

It is very important for the hearing aid’s performance that it is kept free from earwax and dirt.

1. Clean your hearing aid daily with the soft cloth to keep it dry and clean of earwax or dirt. Never use water or cleaning solutions to clean the hearing aid.

2. When the hearing aid is not in use, the battery compartment cover should be left open, so as to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry.

We recommend that every time you take the hearing aid out of your ear, you inspect the sound outlet and the relief vent openings to ensure that no wax or dirt has gathered there. Below is an example of how the sound outlet and relief vent openings can be posi- tioned. The positions can be slightly different on your hearing aid.

1. Sound outlet

2. Vent opening

1.

2.

1.

2.

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The sound outlet

It is important that the sound outlet is not blocked by earwax. If it is blocked, do as follows:

Remove any visible earwax from around the sound outlet with the small brush or cloth.

If the sound outlet is still blocked, you should change the wax guard (see page 26).

The relief vent

If earwax has accumulated in and/or around the relief vent opening, it should be removed:

Clean any earwax from the vent by passing the wax removing tool all the way through the vent.

Important

If you cannot clean the sound outlet completely, you should contact your hearing care professional.

Do not insert anything into the sound outlet as this could damage the hearing aid.

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Important

It is important for the performance of the hearing aid that the relief vent is never blocked by earwax.

Make it a habit to clean the relief vent every day! In rare cases so much earwax can accumulate in the relief vent that the hearing aid sound is affected. In that case you should see your hearing care professional.

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Widex wax guard

The wax guard helps protect the hearing aid against earwax. Always use Widex wax guards with your hearing aid. Otherwise the warranty for your hearing aid will be void.

A Widex wax guard consists of the following parts:

1. Holder

2. Removal hook

3. Wax guard

Changing the wax guard

Insert the removal hook into the used wax guard placed in the sound outlet. Pull the wax guard straight out.

1. Vent opening

2. Sound outlet

3. Used wax guard

Wax guards come in a carrying case. The wax guard is mounted on one end of the holder.

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1. Turn the holder around so that the new wax guard is in position to be inserted.

2. Insert the holder into the opening of the sound outlet and gently press the wax guard into the opening.

3. Then pull the holder straight out.

4. After inserting the new wax guard, discard the holder with the used wax guard attached to the removal hook. Never reuse a wax guard.

1.

2.

3.

The new wax guard will automatically dismount from the holder and remain in place in the sound outlet when the holder is pulled out.

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4.

The frequency with which wax guards should be changed varies from one individual to another depending on, for example, the type and amount of earwax produced.

If you have any questions regarding your wax guard, please contact your hearing care professional.

Important

If the wax guard fits loosely, discard it and insert another. If the wax guard becomes dislodged from the hearing aid while in the ear canal, please contact your physician. Do not try to remove the wax guard from your ear canal yourself.

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Caring for your hearing aid

With proper care, your hearing aid will give you consistent reliable service. Here are some things you can do to prolong the life of your hearing aid:

• Switch your hearing aid off when it is not in use.

Should you not use it for several days, take out the battery.

• Treat the hearing aid as the valuable object it is: with care. When the hearing aid is not in use, keep it in its case in a cool, dry location where it cannot be reached by children or pets.

• When not in use, do not expose the hearing aid to extreme heat or high humidity.

• In environments with high humidity, a Widex drying kit may be used daily to reduce the amount of moisture inside the hearing aid. See the instructions enclosed with the Widex drying kit.

• Do not wear your hearing aid in the shower or swimming or when using a hair dryer, perfume or other sprays.

• Never try to open or repair the hearing aid yourself.

• Do not wear your hearing aid during x-ray, MR scans,

CT scans, short-wave diathermy, or similar radiation treatments and never place your hearing aid in a microwave oven. These are some of the types of radiation that can damage your hearing aid. Radiation from, for example, room surveillance equipment, burglar alarms and cellular telephones is weaker and will not damage your hearing aid.

• Widex hearing aids are not certified for use in mines or other areas with explosive gases.

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Good advice

• 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.

• Please be sure to keep the hearing aid and its accessories out of the reach of children, who might place them in their mouths. Also keep batteries out of children’s reach and discard used batteries carefully. Do not change batteries in front of children and do not let them see where you keep your supply.

• 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. In case of ingestion, contact your physician immediately.

• The hearing aid will not restore normal hearing but can help you make best possible use of your remaining hearing ability. However, you should be aware that it takes time to get used to a new hearing aid and new sounds.

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• The hearing aid is made of modern non-allergenic materials. Still, in rare cases skin irritation can occur. If you notice skin irritation in or around your ear or ear canal, contact your hearing care professional.

• Please be aware that the use of any type of hearing aid may involve a slightly increased risk of infection in the ear canal. An infection can arise as a result of inadequate ventilation of the ear. Therefore, we recommend that you remove the hearing aid from your ear at night to allow the ear canal to be ventilated.

Make sure that you clean and inspect your hearing aid as required. If an infection occurs, you should seek medical attention and contact your hearing care professional for advice on how to disinfect the hearing aid. Do not under any circumstances use alcohol, chlorine or similar substances.

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In case of malfunction

The following pages include some quick advice in case you experience problems. Before contacting your hearing care professional, please follow the advice below:

If the hearing aid is dead, it could be because:

• The hearing aid is not turned on. Make sure the battery is placed correctly and the battery compartment cover is closed correctly.

• The battery is dead or does not work. Insert a new battery in the hearing aid.

• The sound outlet is blocked. Clean the area around the sound outlet of the hearing aid with the provided small brush or cloth (see page 24). If the sound outlet is still blocked, you should change the wax guard. If you cannot clean the sound outlet completely, you should contact your hearing care professional. Do not insert anything into the sound outlet as this could damage the hearing aid.

• The microphone opening is blocked. If you suspect that earwax or dirt has migrated into the microphone inside the hearing aid, contact your hearing care professional. Do not insert anything into the microphone opening.

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If the hearing aid volume is not powerful enough, it could be because:

• The sound outlet is blocked. Clean the area around the sound outlet of the hearing aid with the provided small brush or cloth (see page 24). If the sound outlet is still blocked, you should change the wax guard. If you cannot clean the sound outlet completely, you should contact your hearing care professional. Do not insert anything into the sound outlet as this could damage the hearing aid.

• Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your physician/

ENT doctor.

If the hearing aid whistles continuously, it could be because:

• The hearing aid is not correctly placed in your ear canal.

Take the hearing aid out and reinsert it.

• Your ear is blocked by earwax. Contact your physician/

ENT doctor.

• The hearing aid fits loosely in your ear canal. Contact your hearing care professional.

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If the hearing aid is uncomfortable to wear, it could be because:

• The hearing aid is not correctly placed in your ear canal.

Consult your hearing care professional on how to place the hearing aid correctly in your ear canal.

• The hearing aid does not fit your ear properly. Contact your hearing care professional.

• Your outer ear or ear canal is sore. It is important that first-time users only wear the hearing aid for short periods of time at the beginning. The skin in the ear canal is very thin and may swell a bit because of the pressure from the hearing aid. Take 2-3 weeks to gradually get used to the hearing aid. If the soreness continues, contact your hearing care professional.

Your hearing aid

(To be filled out by the hearing care professional)

Date: ____________________

Battery type: _____________

Listening programs Chosen program position

Master

Acclimatisation

Music

TV

Comfort

Audibility Extender

T

M + T

Zen

36 37

38 39

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