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Possible Processor Issues

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Edited

@debbie_o my Aud definitely told me no UV light for the processor when in the dry box.
@Raudrive an excellent topic about maintenance on processors. I’ve got a N7, the only things I’ve been told to do is

  1. change the monthly.
  2. change the microphone cover every 3 months.
    3 change the dry thingy in the dry n store every 2 months.
    4 coil will also need changing occasionally. I’ve had mine since July 2019 still going strong.

I haven’t been shown how to do any maintenance on the actual processor though. I use compact rechargeable batteries only. I have disposable batteries here but never used them and wouldn’t know how to if I had to…

@Deaf_piper I’m impressed your coil wire has been going strong since you time traveled back to our time :smiley:

supplies a UV light enabled dryer in the kit, the flow med Dry-Space UV. I put my hearing aid in it as well (remove all the batteries from both of course). UV light shouldn’t hurt anything non living so wonder why they said for you not to use it.

I actually only have used it this past week for the first time and then one additional time because I was working outside a lot and I noticed some moisture in my earmold tube on my hearing aid so figured I’d toss them both in there. It says it has a fan; I can’t feel or hear it but it definitely dries things out just fine. I suspect the fan is just to get some air motion since it’s USB powered and probably pretty weak.

Edited

In reply to @Zebras

@zebras @Deaf_piper I searched through the manuals for the 5, 6, and 7 and they all have that same warning - “Do not use a dry aid kit that has an Ultra Violet C (UVC) lamp (e.g. do not use the Freedom™ Dry and Store).”

Whereas says…“Drying kits provided in MED-EL user kits for recent audio processor models (flow-med dry-space uv and dry-star uv) use ultraviolet light during the drying process. According to the manufacturer, this ultraviolet light “removes all germs, bacteria and fungi up to 99.9%”. It is therefore likely that this radiation will kill at least some of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses on the device’s surface. However, this has not been specifically tested by MED-EL.”

Cleaning Your Audio Processor: Special Guidance Relating To COVID-19...

Find out how to clean and disinfect your cochlear implant or hearing implant audio processor during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In reply to @phobos512

@phobos512 said:

UV light shouldn’t hurt anything non living so wonder why they said for you not to use it.

UV significantly damages a number of non-living surfaces including some plastics and paints and pigments. It can also cause darkening of some glass types and other optical materials such as highly reflective diffuse surfaces made from a material similar to teflon. In our optics labs (at a University) we have to worry about UV damage to a variety of materials as we use bright sources, some of which contain UV wavelengths at sufficient levels to cause damage. Even anodized aluminum can be damaged by a large UV dose (typical black anodized aluminum will bleach in the sun).

I would not use a UV light on an expensive device without a statement from the manufacturer that the use of UV was OK or will not damage the device.

@biggar that’s all well and good but using UV sensitive materials in devices that are exposed to sunlight anytime the wearer is out in the daytime is pretty silly in my opinion. I’m glad my and Resound devices have no limitations in this regard.

Regarding anodizing, it’s the dyes that are being damaged, not the metal / aluminum oxide (ceramic).

I called Starkey technical support to ask about using the Flow-Med Dry-Cap UV2 dryer with their Livio Edge rechargeable . I was told that with the materials they use for their HAs, the UV light is not a problem, especially for a 2-minute cycle. However, they don’t recommend using any dryer that heats over 104 degrees. Since the Dry-Cap doesn’t use heat during it’s drying cycle, that’s not a problem.

My experience with ordering this device through the eBay vendor was less than satisfactory, but others seem to have had a better experience. I wound up purchasing from Warner Tech-Care Products, (800) 328-4757 and receive it within 3 days. After talking with a Warner rep, I believe they also sell through Amazon.

The fan on this device is hardly noticeable and there are no beeps or sounds during any cycle. However, the light in this dryer will definitely light up its location in a dark room at night. I cut off one side of the dryer box and a portion of the top to slide it part-way over the dryer without covering the fan. That was enough “dimming” for me…

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