There is a certain stigma associated with hearing aids, and many people are embarrassed to be seen wearing them. This is the old way of thinking about hearing aids. Over the years, hearing aids have gotten smaller and less noticeable. If you want a completely invisible hearing aid, then the state-of-the-art Lyric Invisible hearing aid is for you.

Lyric hearing devices are the Rolls-Royce of hearing aids. The Lyric brand was first introduced to the marketplace in 2007. In 2012, Phonak acquired the Lyric brand, and since then, Phonak has released multiple versions of Lyric hearing aids. Presently, Lyric Invisible hearing aids are the smallest on the market. They are designed to be seated deep inside the ear canal, making them invisible to anyone looking at the patient.

What is an extended wear hearing aid?

When patients opt for a Lyric hearing aid, it is inserted deep inside the ear canal, sitting just 4mm from the eardrum. Once inserted, it remains in the ear canal for two to three months at a time, hence the term “extended wear hearing aid.” Trained hearing care professionals insert these hearing devices.

After two to three months of continued use, the patient will return to the clinic to have the hearing aids professionally removed and replaced with new devices. The process will repeat for as long as the hearing aid brand is suitable for the patient.

How can a hearing aid help with my overall well-being?

If you have lived with hearing loss for a while, you may have feelings of frustration and even sadness. After being seen by an audiologist, you can begin to create a treatment plan, which in itself may give you an emotional lift.

When you are fitted with your hearing aids, you will immediately hear the results of the technology. This reemergence of your hearing may allow your mental well-being to improve while your confidence grows to do things you once loved again.

Lyric Devices

What sets Lyric hearing aids apart from competitors is that they are 100% invisible, and they are worn 24/7, making them the most convenient hearing aids on the market.

Patients don’t have to remove them at night before bed or put them back in upon waking up in the morning and forget about changing the batteries! Furthermore, patients can even wear Lyric hearing aids in the shower—just don’t spray water directly into your ear canal. However, a small bit of water or moisture will not damage the device.

Comfort & Usability

Lyric hearing aids feel comfortable in the ear canal because of the medical-grade, self-wicking foam that suspends the hearing aid device inside the ear canal. Patients report it doesn’t even feel like they are wearing a hearing aid.

Some patients who suffer from tinnitus (high pitched ringing) report that Lyric offers relief from the condition both night and day.

Sound Quality

Even though Lyric hearing aids are digital devices, they offer analogue sound representing all possible frequencies. It is a better, more natural kind of sound compared to digital.

Pros of a Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid

• 100% invisible
• Convenient and comfortable
• Allows 24/7 hearing
• Digitally programmed
• Analogue sound
• Improved psychological benefits

Cons of a Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid

• Accurate ear measurements can’t always be performed consistently due to the space between the tip of the Lyric Invisible hearing aid and the patient’s eardrum.
• The success rate of Lyric devices is around 75%, which is much lower than traditional hearing aid devices at 99%.
• If the patient has delicate and sensitive skin, it can cause problems. For example, bleeding may occur when the devices are removed. A new Lyric device can’t be inserted until the skin tissue has healed if bleeding occurs. Healing can take days or weeks, in which case the patient must return to a daily wear hearing aid.

Determining if a Patient is Eligible for a Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid

Before a patient can receive a Lyric Invisible hearing aid, they need to be evaluated by a hearing professional.

May Qualify for a Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid:

• The hearing loss thresholds fit within the Lyric fitting range; mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
• The patient’s ear canals are not too short or narrow.
• The patient is at least 21 years old.

May Not Qualify for a Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid:

• Patients who have had radiation treatment to their neck and head areas.
• People with middle ear conditions such as a perforated eardrum, cholesteatoma (a skin-lined cyst), or pressure equalization tubes inserted.
• Patients who have frequent MRI testing.
• Patients who enjoy underwater swimming, scuba diving, and skydiving.
• Patients who have skin sensitivities.
• A medical doctor must clear patients who have diabetes or are on blood thinners.
• Patients who have compromised immune systems.
• Patients who have bleeding disorders.
• Patients who have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker.

Steps for Getting a Lyric Hearing Aid

Assuming you have been cleared to use and receive a Lyric Invisible hearing aid, you can start at Step One below.

Step One

Make an appointment at a Sound Advice Hearing Centre to have your ear canals measured by an audiologist. This is usually done during a preliminary consultation. Your specialist will use a special tool to measure the depth of your ear canals. The tool’s tip has a soft, flexible tip that gently touches the eardrum to give the depth reading.

Now the specialist knows exactly where to place the Lyric Invisible hearing aid, so it sits no closer than 4mm from the eardrum. Different sizes are slid into the ear canal to determine which size Lyric Invisible hearing aid is right for you. Sizes range from XXS to XXL.

Step Two

Once the hearing aid is seated correctly, the specialist uses a digital wand to take a reading. The patient lets the clinician know whether the volume is too high or too low and whether the hearing aid is comfortable. The doctor can make digital programming adjustments to the hearing aid using the wand. The entire process, on average, takes about twenty to forty minutes.

Step Three & Four

Patients will be given a special tool called a Sound Link with a removal hook at one end. You can use this hook at any time if you want to remove the device for any reason. The sound link also has a magnet that allows the person to adjust the volume levels of the hearing aid and can even be used to put the device into sleep mode.

The patient returns a week later for a follow-up to ensure all is well and if any adjustments are needed.

Step Five

Another follow-up appointment is scheduled for two to three months out for Lyric Invisible hearing aid replacement; remember they are an extended wear hearing aid.

Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid Subscription

Lyric hearing aids are sold on a subscription basis, while traditional hearing aids are sold for a one-time fee. With Lyric, you are offered a 30-day risk-free trial which allows you to take the hearing aid on a test drive. If, after 30 days, you decide the devices are not for you, you can cancel your subscription at no cost. If you choose to go with Lyric, your subscription begins when you were originally fitted and walked out of the clinic.

Cost of Subscription

Annual subscriptions range on average from £1300 to £1900 per year. This is lower than traditional hearing aids, but in the long run, Lyric Invisible hearing aids will cost more than traditional ones. Most Lyric hearing aid patients feel they are worth the extra cost.

A Lyric ID

Another excellent feature of Lyric is that you are given a Lyric ID. Should you be in another city or even another country and have a problem with your hearing aid, you can go to any clinic that dispenses them and be seen by a hearing care professional. Even if you need to be fitted for a new set of devices, you can be seen because your Lyric records are stored in a cloud database accessible from anywhere in the world.

Please note, in some cases, there may be an additional fee if you don’t have your Lyric subscription through that particular clinic. Be sure to ask about this when you call for an appointment so there won’t be any misunderstandings after you’ve been seen and treated.

Sound Advice Hearing Centres

A Lyric patient survey found that patients wearing a Lyric Invisible hearing aid felt like they were getting their natural hearing back with constant use, and they were very pleased. Lyric hearing aids may or may not be for you; however, if you have suffered hearing loss and are sensitive to the stigma of wearing hearing aids, then these completely invisible Lyric hearing aids may be for you.

At Sound Advice Hearing Centres, we will work diligently to find you a hearing aid that fits your needs and lifestyle. If you choose the Lyric Invisible hearing aid, we will ensure that you are comfortable with the device’s fit, sound, and usage.