In a perfect world, everyone who needs hearing aids would get them, perhaps in spite of any vanity concerns. Why? Because it’s common knowledge that when you can hear, your life improves¹ – physically, mentally, emotionally and even socially. But there are many people who feel there is still a stigma when it comes to wearing hearing aids. An over-the-ear device that is visible to others may be a lifesaver, but for some, it’s still a deal breaker.

The good news is, technology is always improving in the hearing industry. And the development of newer, more advanced equipment has brought relief to those who have been waiting for a “better” solution.

One advance that has been particularly noteworthy is the development of an “invisible,” extended-wear device. Lyric is a hearing aid from Phonak that can be worn continuously in the ear canal, 24/7, during all normal daily activities, for approximately 2-3 months.

A recipient of the Medical Design Excellence Award, Lyric is unique due to its placement close to the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. This placement means the device cannot be seen from the outside. Even better, a survey showed that 88% of Lyric users agree that Lyric comes close to giving them their natural hearing back.²

So how does it work? The use of advanced micro-engineering taps into the ear’s organic shape to capture sound and amplify it. In other words, sound enters the outer ear and flows toward the eardrum. As a result, the device delivers pure, natural sound quality that is not hampered by noisy environments.

Studies show that “even with all the improvements in technology during the past decade – directional microphones, Bluetooth compatibility, multiple programs, etc. – the percentage of hearing-impaired people using hearing aids has not changed or, more importantly, increased. The Lyric device has the benefit of being a device placed deeply in the ear canal and eliminates the stigma of wearing a hearing device due to its invisibility and convenience.” ³

Because Lyric is a very specialized device, however, it should only be fitted by a professional audiologist who is trained and certified in this technology. The device’s exclusive battery technology eliminates the need for battery changes. Instead, the entire device is swapped out by an audiologist every 60-90 days.

To learn more about a no-obligation trial of the Lyric technology, click here.

¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233884/ 

² https://www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-aids/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids/lives-changed-by-lyric.html

³ Sanford MJ, Anderson T, Sanford C. The extended-wear hearing device: Observations on patient experiences and its integration into a practice. Hearing Review. 2014;21(3):