Product History and Technical Overview
When I first heard about Lyric, as audiologist, I was thinking: No way, that can't work - that's impossible...
- Lyric is 100% invisible hearing aid worn 24/7, including in the shower, playing sport and in bed.
- Lyric is worn up to 4 months and then exchanged by a Lyric qualified clinician.
- Lyric is an evolving product: subscription holders receive the latest-generation device every exchange.
- Lyric can provide a natural sound that is, in comparison, often far superior to other hearing devices regardless of technology/ brand.
Lyric in the ear canal. Ideal placement is 4mm from the eardrum.
Is Lyric Suitable for me?
The best way to find out is to have a Pre-Candidacy Sizing, where we check the ear canal for suitability with fake devices, and then a Lyric Trial. Trials generally consist of a minimum 30-day period with actual devices, and include any devices used, a fitting appointment, follow up in one week and a follow up in 3 weeks.
Every ear is different, and even with all my experience I find a high degree of variation in patient adaptation. Hence, trials may not run to this exact pattern. Sometimes, we need to rest an ear if it reacts negatively--and we may extend trials by several weeks as we try different approaches to the fitting. This is normal, and an experienced Lyric provider with good communication skills should guide you through this journey.
Every ear is different, and even with all my experience I find a high degree of variation in patient adaptation. Hence, trials may not run to this exact pattern. Sometimes, we need to rest an ear if it reacts negatively--and we may extend trials by several weeks as we try different approaches to the fitting. This is normal, and an experienced Lyric provider with good communication skills should guide you through this journey.
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Lyric may not be possible or the best choice for you for several reasons:
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Lyric is insertion with special forceps and increased magnification and light source, in this case a medical microscope
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I trialled Lyric an it didn't work
The History of Lyric
Lyric is not only my favorite hearing aid, it's a fascinating piece of technology whose history is worth knowing. Below I'll give my 'unofficial' account of the product, including some of the challenges that had to be overcome to be viable for patients.
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Lyric was developed from the conception to prototype to a commercial product by InSound Medical Inc, in California.
Totally unique as a hearing aid, the development team had to overcome many design and medical challenges. |
Lyric 1 in the ear.
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Conceptual challenges:
Could an ear tolerate a foreign object, and would it stay in place?
Yes, historically patients have presented with years of impacted earwax that, upon removal, show the ear in good health. Therefore, if the object present is soft enough (has a low capillary pressure) and breathable enough (have a good moisture vapour transfer rate). This was achieved by having the core device surrounded by soft, tapered foam layer. If this device was then inserted deeply enough, 4mm from the ear drum, it was be surrounded by they bony portion of the ear, and would stay in place.
How can we power a device for months at a time?
Digitial hearing aids are also very power-hungry, with their computer chips performing millions of processes per second, and their amplifier and speaker units require energy to output enough sound. Power consumption from processing is kept down by using an analog chip, power requirements minimized by proximity to the eardrum. A propriety battery system was also designed, it's maximum lifespan of 4 months where the entire Lyric will be disposed of and replaced.
Could a device survive in the ear long enough to be useful?
The ear is a harsh environment, full of ear wax and humidity that regularly cause hearing aids to break down an require repairs. Lyric gets around the issue of ear wax by being inserted deeper than where ear wax is made. General humidity and acidity of the ear is overcome by the subscription model -- devices are replaced in their entirety at a refit, which on some individuals can be as early as 4 to 6 weeks.
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What would the sound quality be like from a deep, analog device?
Fantastic. One of the biggest concerns I hear is that it's an analog chip and analog is old, right? (I hear this a lot of audiologists, by the way). Lyric stacks up to and is often better than far more sophistiated devices, even ones with directional microphones. This is possible due the deep placement. Natural sound cues from the ear are presereved, enable a a more natural sound that also supplies localization information wich the brain can use to interperet speech in noise.
Yes, historically patients have presented with years of impacted earwax that, upon removal, show the ear in good health. Therefore, if the object present is soft enough (has a low capillary pressure) and breathable enough (have a good moisture vapour transfer rate). This was achieved by having the core device surrounded by soft, tapered foam layer. If this device was then inserted deeply enough, 4mm from the ear drum, it was be surrounded by they bony portion of the ear, and would stay in place.
How can we power a device for months at a time?
Digitial hearing aids are also very power-hungry, with their computer chips performing millions of processes per second, and their amplifier and speaker units require energy to output enough sound. Power consumption from processing is kept down by using an analog chip, power requirements minimized by proximity to the eardrum. A propriety battery system was also designed, it's maximum lifespan of 4 months where the entire Lyric will be disposed of and replaced.
Could a device survive in the ear long enough to be useful?
The ear is a harsh environment, full of ear wax and humidity that regularly cause hearing aids to break down an require repairs. Lyric gets around the issue of ear wax by being inserted deeper than where ear wax is made. General humidity and acidity of the ear is overcome by the subscription model -- devices are replaced in their entirety at a refit, which on some individuals can be as early as 4 to 6 weeks.
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What would the sound quality be like from a deep, analog device?
Fantastic. One of the biggest concerns I hear is that it's an analog chip and analog is old, right? (I hear this a lot of audiologists, by the way). Lyric stacks up to and is often better than far more sophistiated devices, even ones with directional microphones. This is possible due the deep placement. Natural sound cues from the ear are presereved, enable a a more natural sound that also supplies localization information wich the brain can use to interperet speech in noise.
Concept to marketplace:
Lyric was initially only availble in the United States and inesrted by Ear noise and throat doctors. In 2008 it was approved by for fittingby audiologists. Inin 2010, Insound Medical and the Lyric brand were acquired by Sonova. This enabled a global launch, where it arrived in my country, Australia, in 2011.
This is the product we refer to as Lyric 1
This is the product we refer to as Lyric 1