Q: Is there anything new with the Lyric? I was interested but it didn’t quite work for my hearing loss. Also what advantage is there in wearing the Lyric instead of a custom or post-auricular type?
A: Indeed the research team that are doing the ongoing study of the Lyric have made some improvements, of late. Not quite as drastic as the last makeover, but improvements nonetheless. Firstly, and probably most importantly, they have been able to provide a little more gain, that is, a little more amplification. The result is that overall it will fit more people. The increase works out to be approximately 2 dB across the frequency spectrum, which doesn’t sound like much, and truth be told, it’s not, but it should increase the range of potential Lyric candidates by about 10-15%. So it’s still not going to fit someone with a severe hearing loss, or for that matter a moderate hearing loss, but for those who may be interested it is probably worthwhile to have us check if the new range will be helpful.
To put it in perspective, two decibels would likely not be noticeable to the average person. A bird chirping at 25 dB would be no easier to hear at 27 dB, depending on the distance from the person hearing it, but that has a lot to do with the diminishment of sound over distance. The receiver, (speaker), of the Lyric sits between 2 and 5 mm from the tympanic membrane, (eardrum), which leaves a lot less distance for that diminishment to occur. The result is that 2dB over 2 – 5 mm is the equivalent of approximately 20 dB over 10 meters. Without going into the physics of how sound travels, suffice to say that it is a significant, but not a huge, increase in gain.
As for candidacy, I must reiterate again that the Lyric is not for everyone. It is a great hearing system, but it is somewhat elite. There is no government coverage for the Lyric, mostly because it is an ongoing subscription based system. The ideal Lyric candidate is someone similar to someone who uses extended wear contact lenses; someone who prefers the no muss, no fuss of getting new lenses/hearing aids when the old one is done. The lyric is put into the ear and left there for anywhere up to 3 months at time. At that point a quick office visit is needed to remove it and have it replaced by brand new one. This provides several benefits: First, no batteries to change. The Lyric is self powered and once the power supply is done it can’t be replaced. Ideally, you come in for a replacement before this occurs, but sometimes that can get difficult. Second, no maintenance; because you don’t take the Lyric out at night, or anytime for that matter, there is nothing to clean. Each Lyric is built in a sterile environment and packaged to seal it from outside contaminants, thus when we put it in your ear, there is no risk of bacterial growth. As a matter of fact, another of the recent changes has been to put a nano-coating over the entire instrument which prevents bacteria from being able to latch on. A secondary effect is that decreases the risk of allergic reactions and prevents moisture from damaging the components. It is among the best systems for those who don’t want to bother with the everyday trials and tribulations of using hearing instruments. Warranties are a non-issue, if the Lyric stops working we put a new one in, and while there is a maximum number per annum, we have yet to have someone reach that number.
I am not necessarily advocating the Lyric any more than any other hearing instrument, but for those who have subscribed to this system, the feedback has been very positive. For those who it doesn’t work for, there are other systems that are better for them. Either way, the holidays are fast approaching, and for those who think they need the assistance, now is a good time to come in and see what solutions we have to keep you in touch with friends and family during this time of the year.
For those of you who already wear hearing instruments, now is the perfect time to bring them in to make sure they are working to their full potential. Nothing is more frustrating than having a really good holiday season interrupted by a silence you weren’t expecting. Get it done before the family gets together and you can enjoy everything the season sends your way.
Going south for the winter? Again, come in for a check before you leave. For those of you with the Lyric system, we have a list of Lyric providers for just about anywhere you’re going to spend the colder months, and should an emergency arise, it’s good to know ahead of time.