I would have to say that for the most part the comfort issues have all subsided. The only comfort issue remaining is an occasional itching that is easier relieved in one ear over the other. It appears that the Lyric is in a bit deeper or there is more space between the outside edge of the Lyric and the outside opening of the ear canal. For the ear that has the Lyric in further I am able to scratch any itch fairly effectively. The other ear is a bit more problematic as most attempts at scratching tend to disturb the Lyric itself.
As for hearing ability I think its a mixed bag. I can certainly get sounds to be louder, but I still have trouble understanding speech in noisy situations. I don’t believe it is any better than the Phonak Audeo Smart IX’s I was trying out before being fitted with the Lyrics. I think I may hold out for the Audeo Smart S(pice) and try them before making a final decision. The cosmetic appeal of wearing non-visible HA is very low on my priorities and I’m thinking the technology and capabilities of the normal BTE aids probably surpasses that of the analog Lyrics. I think that in a few more years they may have digital aids that may be fit in the same manner as the Lyric and I might try them again then. Of course I still have until Friday to make up my mind on my current Lyrics.
I certainly appreciate all of the useful information I have gleaned from this site and everyone sharing their experiences.