Apr 15, 2008
Check out this New York Times article on the Lyric.
I’ve been interested in a new hearing aid concept through Insound Medical, called the Lyric. [I've written about them already] The hearing aid fits all the way inside the ear, 1/16th of an inch from the ear drum. This means the device is invisible but it also means the sound doesn’t have to be amplified as much. Theoretically, the sound should be more natural and less distorted. Its supposed to be quite comfortable with its soft and spongy exterior. The spongy material helps dispel moisture that would otherwise be trapped. You can keep the hearing aid in your ear when your sleeping, showering, or doing just about anything but constant swimming. The device provides pure analog sound as supposed to the now ubiquitous digitally processed sound. Analog sound might prove to have its advantages over digital when it comes to hearing aids. The 500 people or so who currently wear the device swear by it.
Cost? You wear the hearing aid up until the battery runs out - which can end up going about 120 days but that varies based on environmental factors and your hearing loss. They charge an annual subscription fee of $2,900 to $3,600 (less if the hearing loss is in one ear). That would add up to a little more than the $6,000 or so I would pay for BTE hearing aids that last me 3 or 4 years. It would be worth it if they prove themselves to be better than my BTE options. Check out this New York Times article on the Lyric.
I’ll be trying the Lyric out myself in the next couple months and I’ll let you know what I think. It probably won’t be a good long term fit for me because I’m in the water almost every single day surfing (and I won’t stop doing so). But I’m very curious- I might as well try something on a 30 day trial or your money back that many State Laws provide.
Their website for consumers has well made videos but they need to freaking add some captions to them if their consumers are hearing impaired.
Apr 19, 2008 at 9:49 am
I saw your post on Engadget regarding Lyric. I’m probably in the same demographic as you are (young, fixed income, severe hearing loss around 80 dB in both ears, etc.) and currently wear a bit older Oticon Digifocus II superpower. My next likely hearing aid is Phonak Naida. But I am also interested in learning more about Lyric and would like to test them out. I live in NYC and inSound has an NJ office. I am not familiar with free trial laws so I do not know if there is a similar free 30 day trial law like in CA. Please do let me know what lyric details you find out. I have been speaking with an InSound doctor to answer my many questions. You have my contact info. Thanks.
May 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I have high-frequency hearing loss to about 75 db and have used many hearing aids. I got the Lyrics about two weeks ago at the New Jersey office - only one in Metro area. There is no doubt they are better than the Widex Inteos I had before, especially with restoring high-frequency loss. As with all of them, noisy environments are tough, but the Lyric has a volume control so it is easy to turn down the gain. The left one felt fine from day one; the right one was sore for about ten days, but they told me to expect that as my right ear canal is smaller. They do have a 30-day trial period, so I encourage you to try them.
May 9, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Hi David,
Thanks for checking in and your feedback. I just tried out the Lyric recently and I had a GREAT experience with them. I too felt that they worked better than other hearing aids on the market and I could hear speech really well.
Theres a caveat for me- I can’t wear them. I have an ear canal with a little bit of bony growth called “surfers ear” ..its not a bad case ..but its enough that I can’t wear the Lyric without my my ears become painfully bruised.
I have hopes that the future Lyric hearing aids will get around some of these size issues…
I bet I would have bought them if it weren’t for that issue..but I did have qualms about the idea of having a hearing aid that was permanently in my ears..even if they turn off.
Do you find that when you turn them off they act like an earplug? or do they let the sound you would hear without them through the ears?