One of the most common requests at my practice is for hearing aids that are hidden. Not only do patients want to be discreet about their hearing loss, but today’s mask-filled world can make over-the-ear hearing aids a burden for some people.
After all, looping your mask around your ears only to pull out your hearing aid isn’t exactly a fun-filled adventure.
In-ear hearing aids are smaller and more discrete than traditional hearing aids.
They don’t have the plastic component that loops behind the ear, and they’re usually smaller than most over-the-ear pieces. But what if you could get even more discrete?
Lyric — the invisible hearing aid — is becoming an incredibly popular option at my clinic. So, let’s talk about Lyric, what makes it invisible, and whether it’s the right fit for your hearing requirements.
What Is The Lyric Invisible Hearing Aid?
Hearing aids come in two main styles: over-ear and in-ear. Within each of these styles, there’s a variety of options.
Over-ear hearing aids may have the traditional plastic piece that loops behind the ear, a smaller wire that ties behind your ear (receiver-in-canal), or a clear tube that goes behind your ear and connects to a larger piece (open fit).
All of these are great options, especially for someone with more severe hearing challenges.
However, in-ear hearing aids are growing in popularity. There are a variety of in-ear aids as well.
There are micro implantable hearing aids, in-the-canal hearing aids, and in-the-ear hearing aids, which are all small and lack any material that goes outside the ear itself. But, there aren’t any that are quite as unique as the Lyric.
For years, hearing aid manufacturers have been chasing the El Dorado folktale of an invisible hearing aid. But it hasn’t been easy.
Implantable hearing aids come with risks, and non-implantable hearing aids can cause infection if they aren’t built correctly.
Lyric solves these issues. By converging Silicon Valley startup fever with Swiss watch engineering, Lyric has designed an impressive hearing aid. It’s 100% invisible, and it rests snugly in your ear canal.
So, how does that work?
How Lyric Works
The Lyric hearing aid is tiny. We’re talking smaller than the tip of your finger. And, instead of being implanted into your ear, it’s put in by a hearing professional, and it can be removed via a magnet.
That may sound like a pain, but you won’t be removing the Lyric yourself (at least not without the help of a professional). It has a battery that lasts for months, and once you put it in, you get 24/7 hearing protection.
You can shower, sleep, and eat with Lyric in your ear without any problems. In fact, most of my patients completely forget it’s there until it’s time to remove it.
The outside of Lyric is made of a spongy material that prevents moisture from getting trapped in your ear (which can cause infections in regular implants).
Since Lyric is inside your ear (around 4 millimeters deep), it uses the natural anatomy of your ear to deliver sound, which many of my patients really enjoy.
It doesn’t distort your voice as heavily as over-ear aids.
Better yet, Lyric can be installed by a professional in a single office visit. I can sit my patients down, install this invisible hearing aid, and get them on with their lives. Within a few days, they forget it’s even there.
There are some cons. Lyric doesn’t work for everyone. Some people’s ear anatomy isn’t the right fit for Lyric, and advanced hearing loss cases often need more comprehensive equipment like over-the-ear hearing aids.
But for those patients who use Lyric, I hear nothing but rave reviews.
Will Lyric Work For You?
One of my life goals is to bring hearing solutions to the millions of Americans quietly suffering from hearing loss.
A mere one in three people that could change their lives with hearing aids actually go out and get them.
I’m hoping that micro hearing aids like Lyric help sway over some of these people. It’s comfortable, tiny, invisible, and provides around-the-clock care.
Are you suffering from undiagnosed hearing loss? Come in and see us.
Let’s run a few tests and find a treatment plan that works for you. This new wave of microdevices like Lyric has made it easier than ever to treat hearing loss without impacting quality of life.
Please don’t wait until it gets worse. Let’s find something tangible to treat your unique situation.
