Lyric hearing aids and my experience with them

Hearing Aids
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#9

You might be right in your assessment of the Lyric - I really have nothing to compare them with other than my lousy hearing as I’ve never tried another brand or model. I posted above that I just started my 30-day trial of the Lyric and so far I’m pretty happy with them and will be even more pleased if the audiologist can fine tune the settings when I go back on Monday for a follow-up session. Outside the ear or easily visible hearing aids are simply not an option for me, so I hope I’ll be happy with the Lyrics. If I do keep them at the end of the trial, I’ll continue to assess them for the rest of my first year subscription. If I’m not happy with them at that point, I’ll simply either not renew for another year or take another look at what else is available. Maybe Lyric will improve their technology over the next couple of years. We’ll see how it goes. And to the other person who posted after me - no, this is not spam…

BTW, my hearing loss didn’t start because of listening to loud music - I never did like excessively loud music, that’s why I seldom go to concerts or even movie theaters. Mine came about from standing next to a 105mm howitzer for hours at a time, using either my fingertips or a cigarette butt for ear protection - that’s how we did it in the early 1960’s.

#10

I am new to the use of Hearing aids and I have been trialing a pair of Phonak Audeo Smart V’s for about 4 weeks. Then at my request, my Audi let me try a pair of Audeo Smart IX’s and a myPilot. Both of the aids helped, although speech in noisy environments was still a problem. Knowing that I am willing to try new things out, my Audi called me and asked if I wanted to give the Lyric a try. He had the Lryic representative in and was fitting those of his patients that had expressed an interest or were willing to try something new. I was fitted yesterday afternoon. The fitting process is a bit uncomfortable almost bordering on painful at times. Part of that was clearing out some dried wax that was very near the ear drum. Once fully fitted there was no pain, just the unusual feeling of something in your ear. After 24 hours the sensation is still there, but I believe that it is somewhat muted and hope that it will become barely noticeable with time.

I haven’t yet been in a noisy environment to check out my speech comprehension, but in general my hearing does seem to be fairly good and it certainly is hassle free. My hearing was never that bad, so it’s not like many people in these forums who experience a dramatic difference when wearing hearing aids. I can see where the price of these aids can be a deterrent, but since I have to pay for these out of my own pocket anyways, it would actually be cheaper for me the first year. I suspect that no matter which aid I ultimately select, I will always be looking at the next generation and upgrading often. I’ve already been promised a free upgrade to the Audeo Smart S (for Spice) when it comes out if I end up with the Phonak.

The one thing I can say for Lyric so far is it was nice to be able to go to sleep last night watching TV without having to turn it up because I took my aids out :slight_smile:

It’s too early for me to have made a decision on whether or not to stick with these, but it is nice to have choices.

I go back to see my Audi in two more weeks. I’ll try and post my impressions between now and them and let you know what I decide if I can ever make up my mind.

#11

Hi, I have been wearing BTE’s for about 10 years. Recently one of my molds has become very uncomfortable and squeels when I use the phone. My audiologist says it’s nothing. I know this isn’t normal. Any suggestions.???

#12

Thanks for the review of your hearing aid experience.

It’s always good to hear ANY feedback and experiences (both good and bad) about hearing aids.

I am keen to hear more about your experiences with the Lyric.

#13

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.

#14

One thing that I would question is if it is a good idea to keep the Lyric in your ear over night because it seems that there could be moisture build up in the inner ear. It may cause a fungus type to develop if air can’t get into the middle ear. It sounds like its still in an experimental stage.

#15

I believe that Lyrics have been on the market for several years now. I have not heard of any issue with moisture buildup causing medical problems. One of the factors that result in replacing the Lyric is moisture and wax damage. I have been told that the battery itself will last better than 4 months, but the average replacement time is 2-3 months.

#16

Well, I decided to have the Lyric’s removed and go back to the Audeo IX’s. My audi is ordering the new Audeo Spice IX’s and I will get fitted for those in about two weeks. I think the Lyric’s just aren’t quite ready for prime time.

#17

I’m really happy for all the people in this and the other older, much longer Lyric thread who found Lyric aids a great solution for their needs.

I really wanted Lyric to work for me. I loved that no one can tell you’re wearing them and the low maintenance (except for visits to replace them when the batteries die, but a Lyric audiologist works only five minutes away from my home, so for me, they would be very convenient). And what I came to like most about them was for me a very pleasant, unexpected surprise: they have a power-down feature where they turn into earplugs. Awesome! I haven’t slept that well in years! Great when cutting the grass! Also useful during in-law visits!

More than a few people try Lyric, like them, but back away (or never try them) because of their very high cost long-term (almost $10 per day, ongoing, because they’re sold by subscription). I would have sprung for the high cost if they’d worked reasonably well to get their special benefits, but for me they just didn’t work.

I tried two different times. The first week, I got my ear sized. I was close to being on the line between two sizes, so we tried the bigger one, and it seemed okay in the office, but over the next few days, pain slowly began to grow until by the fifth day when the pain was getting sharp, I knew it wasn’t going to work. I had to ask for a same-day appointment to get them taken out, and my canals showed irritation and some bleeding. I was having serious back pain issues at the time and was heavily medicated, so I felt my brain was confused with pain sensations and maybe it just wasn’t a great time to be trying to do this.

A few weeks later, after my back and ear canals had cooled down, I was ready to try again with the smaller size. This trial lasted four weeks, and though they didn’t cause acute pain, I never got comfortable with them, and my brain never adjusted to their sound. In a quiet setting, voices came in a little clearer, but everything else sounded muffled and wrong. Loud background noises like running water or traffic drowned voices out. Overall, I felt my hearing was slightly worse with Lyrics than without aids at all. I told the audiologist, It’s just not a meeting of the minds between Lyric and me!

I demo-ed two other hearing aids, the Oticon Agil Pro and the ReSound Alera 61, and liked them both very much. I felt I would be happy with either one, and chose Alera based on the enhanced Bluetooth features (something I didn’t even think I cared about when I first went in).

Again I’m glad for all of you who have found happiness with Lyrics, but just a note to encourage anyone else who gives Lyrics a go but decides, No, for whatever reason. There are many different options out there, so keep trying. You may have to go in a different direction than you first wanted, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness with hearing aids. Thank goodness for choice!

#18

Lyric has just posted a number of new pages and information about fitting, benefits, batteries, adjustments etc. Generally a great deal of information regarding what to expect from Lyric hearing devices.

#19

I am on my 5th day since having Lyric’s “installed” this week. The doctor’s fee was $3500 for an annual subscription. This fee was on the high side, but, I live in Chicago so I assume they can charge what they want. The hearing is very good, however, my ears are still very sore. It is particularly sore when waking up, because you wear these all through the night and I think the pressure of laying on them irritates the ear canal. They are “invisible” as advertised and I am happy with the results. My biggest concern is if the pain from wearing them goes away. I have a 30-day full refund if not satisfied.

#20

It’s been about a month - how are the Lyric hearing aids working for you?

#21

After such a great account and the many after comments, I hope this inquiry will not get lost in the shuffle. I had been seriously considering the Lyric replacement but then came across one review which flatly said they were not useable by diabetics or those using blood thinner ( baby aspirin one a day). I am 94 started using a pair of Unitron E8M in 2007 but never really obtaned much improvement over my gradual loss of speech comprehension in TV and Movie programs, or conversations with those of lower register and “sotto voce” comments and dialog. They stayed in the drawer much of the time and now I’ve lost the one for the better ear. Have you heard anything about the above limitation or know on what basis it was stated? My diabeties is border line and has been easily managed without much inconvenience or ill effects., and I am basically in generally good health otherwise. Would your audiologist know anything about this?
Many thanks
Bodkr

#22

We have audiologists onboard here (not me), but I’m not sure whether any of them are Lyric-certified dispensers. If so, they’ll likely see this and comment.

I don’t find any support online for the idea that Lyrics are specifically not for diabetics or patients taking aspirin daily, but it’s possible. I do see online that Lyrics are not for patients with bleeding disorders, which daily-aspirin takers can be prone to. Diabetics can also be prone to immunity disorders, but they aren’t necessarily considered immunosuppresed.

from http://www.insoundmedical.com/medical-professionals/professional-faqs/ :
What are the contraindications?
Lyric is not appropriate for all patients. At this time, approximately 50% of patients are contraindicated for the following reasons:

  • Degree/configuration of hearing loss
  • Lifestyle (e.g., lap swimmers)
  • Certain medical conditions (e.g., compromised immune system, bleeding disorders)
  • Geometry/anatomy of the ear canal
The degree or configuration of hearing loss is probably the most limiting factor. See this graph: http://www.lyrichearing.com/is-lyric-hearing-aid-for-me/hearing-loss-and-lyric-fitting-range If you have more than 90 dB of loss at the high end, it's not for you. If you have more than 80 dB at the high end, it's marginal. At the low end, the fitting range is marginal at 50 dB of loss, rule out at 60 dB. http://www.insoundmedical.com/medical-professionals/who-can-wear-lyric/

They’re in the process of solving the swimming issue at or very close to surface level, they believe, and Lyrics are now considered safe to wear in the shower.

If you consult with a Lyric-certified audiologist (which you can find on Lyric’s website), that person may have access to more detailed information about diabetes and baby aspirin, and they can call Lyric for a consult on it if you ask them to. Neither Lyric nor an audiologist is going to want to put you into Lyrics if they’re not for you. Lyric-certified audiologists generally sell one or more other lines of hearing aids, so they’re not wedded to them.

#23

Educate me<G> What is there about this HA that makes it inappropriate for the above mentioned conditions? Are other brands/types also inappropriate?

#24

I know you weren’t directing your question to me, but I can tell you that I tried the Lyrics back in November of last year. They were a cinch to put in, maybe just a bit of pressure as my audi placed them up close to the eardrum. My left ear was between sizes, so the smaller size caused feedback and we had no choice to go with the larger size, which cause an occlusion-feeling. I thought maybe I’d try and get used to it.

The discomfort started within a few hours. Nothing unbearable, but just a dull, throbbing ache in both ears. I had to take Tylenol for two days. Sleeping was especially difficult because putting pressure on either ear caused more pain.

The Lyrics in my canals were NOT invisible. You could see them if you looked. Maybe because I’m a woman with shorter canals, I’m not sure.

The sound was just okay. I never got used to the occlusion effect in the left ear, and on the fifth day I took that one out. Itchiness was also a problem, as was the psychological “ick” factor which for me was knowing I couldn’t clean my ears out for several months.

About two days after I removed the left Lyric, the right one started to get static-y. So I had no choice but to remove it–I need at least one ear to hear! Anyway…when I removed it I found the device (and my ear) to be full of moisture and just generally disgusting…and this was only after one week. I don’t swim and I was careful in the shower, even though they’re supposed to be water resistant.

Lyrics were not for me. Expensive, rather uncomfortable/painful, and icky.

#25

You can read up on Lyrics on their website:

It’s a totally different approach to hearing aids as compared to traditional behind-the-ear aids and a totally different business model.

The aid: goes totally in the ear canal. In most cases, they’re invisible or nearly invisible to other people. They’re completely self-contained including the batteries that last 2-4 months. When the aids die, you go back to the audiologist, who removes them and replaces them with another pair for no extra charge beyond what you’ve already paid. These aids can be programmed to a degree but they are analog hearing aids, so the programming is more limited. You wear them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are given a remote control to control the volume within a limited range and to power them off at night or in loud situations. When powered off or when the batteries die, they act as strong earplugs; you really can’t hear much at all. You’re given a tool that you can try to use to remove them yourself in an emergency, though some have trouble getting them out. An audiologist or ENT MD can remove them quickly. Once removed, you have to go back to a Lyric audiologist to get them replaced. No one else should try to reinsert them.

Business model: A hearing aid dispenser has to be certified for Lyric. Their website helps you find Lyric audiologists. With Lyrics, you get a free 30 day trial. If at the end of that period, you’re not liking them, you give them back and owe nothing. If you like them, your subscription started the first day you wore them. You pay an annual subscription fee of about $3500, give or take 10% typically depending on the dispenser. You just keep paying that as long as you’re happy. You can quit Lyric at any time, but there’s no refund on the annual fee partway through a year. You get new hearing aids as needed with no extra fees.

Who can’t wear them and why: Every hearing aid has a specific hearing-loss range it’s designed for. Lyrics are not as powerful as some so they’re not for people with severe losses. When subjected to water pressure (not usually when taking a daily shower, but when swimming underwater or diving), they tend to short-circuit and die and need replacement. (You don’t wear other hearing aids underwater, either. The difference here is: you’d take those off before getting in the water. You can’t do that with Lyrics.) The immunity issue is probably related to increased risk of ear infections. People are more subject to ear infections with Lyrics because of limited air circulation inside the ear. You can’t wear them when your ears are infected. Lyrics come in a few sizes but don’t fit every ear canal well.

As you see if you read through this thread, some people love them. They like that other people can’t tell they’re wearing hearing aids. They like the convenience of not having to mess with batteries, cleaning them, and keeping track of them. They like that they can’t misplace their hearing aids, unlike behind-the-ear aids. Lyrics don’t work well if you don’t live near a Lyric audiologist, because you have to keep going back to the office for replacement every two to four months. Lyrics don’t work well if money is a big concern because of the ongoing subscription cost which makes them more expensive than most other aids long-term. Some who try them, including me, reject Lyrics because of comfort and/or performance issues.

#26

Miket, I’m not a pro but I believe taking aspirin or blood thinners precludes one from wearing Lyrics because of the vascularity of the bony portion of the ear canal. When I was fit with the Lyrics my Audi said it’s not unusual for the deep placement to cause an abrasion and subsequent bleeding in the canal. Blood thinners would increase that possibility. When I removed my Lyrics, both had some dried blood on them from when they were inserted. You wouldn’t want a bleed going on while wearing a Lyric because you might not know it, which would possibly cause device failure or some kind of infection.

#27

Hi to all,

This is my first post. I hope this is the right place for my comments.

I’m 69 and noticed serious hearing loss in my right ear four years ago when I switched my cell phone from my right to my left. It was shock to hear the difference.

Since then both ears have steadily declined. Started the behind the ear hearing aids right away, getting very expensive Siemens aids.

They worked, but what a pain they were. They whistled, they came out when I combed my hair or took off my sunglasses.

The batteries ran down so fast. And I had to have them repaired more than once for various reasons.

My audiologist told me about Lyric when they were still in clinical trials. I kept checking the website to see where I could be fitted, but we were never within 200 miles.

i was delighted when we recently moved to NC and there is a Lyric fitting audiologist in our town!

I got the set I’m wearing now on February 1. The first week they did hurt a bit, as the audiologist had warned me. Then that stopped. If it hadn’t, I would have had to remove them, however.

I love them!

Sound is now ‘normal’!! I hear myself ‘normally’. I am so thankful I can wear them.

I do water aerobics, take showers and after both activities I dry my out ear carefully and use the hair dryer set on low to dry my ears.

It’s April 11, and the first pair are still working!

My ears do itch once in a while, but they always have, and now I just massage in front of my ear and figure if that’s the worst I have to put it with, so be it.

I pay my audiologist on a monthly basis, through a medical credit system she offers.

I would like to share experiences and questions with other Lyric users.

For example, I often carefully press my aids a little bit into my ear canal, especially on the right since it tends to move out a bit.

I also clean the wax with a soft Q-Tip in the part of my ear above the Lyric.

So far I’m assuming this will all turn out ok!

But i don’t know.

Has anyone else done these things?

I always push the envelope a bit with everything!

Hugs

miamax

#28

I was just curious if any of the audiologists have seen people with the lyrics having an increased incidence of otitis externa(canal infection) due to the fact these sit in the ear canal all the time. Thanks.