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Hearing loss doesn’t only affect the person who is having trouble hearing, it affects relationships with the people around them as well. Thus, when we spoke to family members of people who wear Lyric hearing aids, they overwhelmingly agreed that Lyric had made a positive impact on their lives. In our survey, 96% of family members of people who wear Lyric hearing aid users agree that Lyric has helped them better communicate with the Lyric wearer and 94% would recommend Lyric hearing devices to other families in which a member suffers from hearing loss.*
Our first ever Lyric hearing aid spouse video from Niki (wife of Jeremy whose testimonial was featured last week), brings some of these ideas to life. In her story, Niki tells us how wearing Lyric hearing aids has helped Jeremy communicate better with her and their children. Not only can she whisper to him in a crowd and know that he has heard her, she also feels safer knowing that he hears everything that she does. Watch her video testimonial below and read her story in her own words:
“Hi my name is Niki Williams I am 39 years old, wife of Jeremy Williams, a Lyric user, mother of 4, receptionist and doer of all, residing in Saskatchewan Canada. Lyric hearing aids have added so much needed help with communication in our home. The frustration of translating between what the kids say to their dad is no longer an issue as Jeremy now hears everything that is said.
It has taken so much stress away from normal everyday life. It doesn't even compare to other aids he had previously used. It has also been so wonderful to see him be able to lead worship [as a Pastor and musician] each and every Sunday with no issues with his aids, when previously he would have to take them out while he performed and put them in to hear the band members ask questions, etc. It is wonderful to watch someone you love flourishing in what he was created to do and his loss of hearing not be an issue. What a blessing Lyric has been in our lives, it has not only made Jeremy's life better it has improved my life as well.”
For more Lyric hearing aid testimonials, visit our Lyric Hearing Facebook page.
* Based on results from two surveys totaling 50 family members of a Lyric hearing aid patients.
In follow-up to our post on tinnitus causes, we wanted to discuss tinnitus treatments and therapies. Although tinnitus does not have a cure, there are ways to manage it. The effectiveness of these different treatments will vary by person based on individual factors like the cause of tinnitus, severity of tinnitus and other health factors.
Hearing aids have been reported to lessen the annoying ringing sensations*. That is because tinnitus is not a condition in itself; it is actually a symptom of something else, like hearing loss, which can often be treated by wearing hearing aids. Hearing loss can reduce auditory stimulation from surrounding sounds. Therefore, wearing hearing aids can make a person less aware of tinnitus by helping them hear other sounds that can mask the ringing noises. Additionally, since hearing loss can change auditory pathways by depriving them of the stimulation they receive in a person with normal hearing, wearing hearing aids can bring back sounds that “re-activate” the auditory nervous system.
Hearing aids are only one possible therapy for tinnitus sufferers. Other tinnitus treatments include sound therapy, which utilizes sound like music or white noise to mask the tinnitus and is often combined with counseling. Alternative tinnitus treatments and drug therapies have also been studied as possible tinnitus management strategies.** A full list of tinnitus treatments can be found on the American Tinnitus Association website.
*Del B L and Ambrosetti U. Hearing Aids for the treatment of tinnitus. Prog Brain Res. 2007, 166:341-5.
**American Tinnitus Association: http://www.ata.org/for-patients/treatment
This week marks National Tinnitus Awareness Week, part of Better Speech and Hearing Month!
Even if you have never heard the term “tinnitus”, chances are that you have experienced it before. Tinnitus is the medical term for a sensation that people often describe as “ringing in the ears” although descriptions of “hissing”, “chirping”, “whistling” or “clicking” sounds are not unusual. Tinnitus is extremely common; one third of all adults experience tinnitus at some time in their lives and about 10-15% of adults have prolonged tinnitus that requires medical evaluation.*
There are many causes of tinnitus, many of which have not yet been fully understood. However, overexposure to loud sounds has been identified as the leading cause of tinnitus.* Overexposure to noise can also make tinnitus worse in people who already have it. Loudness of sounds is measured in decibels, and hearing protection like ear plugs are usually recommended when somebody is exposed to sounds that are 85 decibels or more for longer durations. How loud is that? Average traffic is associated with a loudness level of 85 decibels; a blow dryer, subway, power mower or chain saw measures around 100 decibels, and a jackhammer comes in at around 110 decibels**. Educational resources about noise levels and risk include “Dangerous Decibels”***, an interactive website, and the American Tinnitus Association’s “How Loud is Too Loud” page** .
If you have severe or prolonged ringing in your ears, you should visit a physician and an audiologist (or “hearing doctor”) for an evaluation and hearing assessment. Doing so can determine whether you have a medical condition like hearing loss that could be the underlying cause of your tinnitus. Tinnitus may be associated with different hearing-related conditions and an evaluation by an audiologist can provide helpful information about possible causes and tinnitus treatment options.
*American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Tinnitus page: http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/tinnitus/
**American Tinnitus Association “How Loud is Too Loud?” http://www.ata.org/for-patients/how-loud-too-loud#howloudwebsite
***Dangerous Decibels: http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/
May kicked off Better Speech and Hearing month, an annual event that raises awareness of communication-related issues like hearing loss, and treatments that can improve the quality of life for those affected. In celebration of the event, we are excited to share a Lyric Hearing Aid testimonial from our Lyric Ambassador, Jeremy.
Jeremy Williams is a 40 year old husband and father of four active kids. Originally from Oklahoma he now resides in Regina, Saskatchewan CANADA and works as a pastor and professional musician. Lyric hearing aids have been a crucial part of enhancing communication with his family, serving the people in his community and enjoying his passion of music not to mention made it possible to enjoy all the great outdoor activities he enjoys with his family.
As Jeremy says, “After being fit with Lyric I would never go back to my old hearing device. The very first time I was fit with Lyric the first day or so it was slightly uncomfortable but by the third day I forgot it was there and I could hear better than I ever had. Now my fittings are quick, easy and not the slightest bit uncomfortable. Lyric has made all the difference in my everyday communication with others and given me back my confidence.”
If you or someone you know has untreated hearing loss, we encourage you to seek treatment. As Jeremy’s story shows, there really is a hearing aid that can change your life without changing how you live. Find more Lyric hearing aid reviews and testimonials on the Lyric Hearing Facebook page. Or, request a Lyric appointment now and get a 30-day risk-free trial of Lyric hearing aids by calling 1-866-964-8450.
Did you know that the average person with hearing loss waits over 10 years after their initial hearing loss diagnosis to treat it*? In the meantime, hearing loss can significantly affect quality of life. Not only can hearing loss impact relationships with loved ones, it can directly affect
Difficulty hearing at work can be a good signal to check whether someone is experiencing a hearing loss. A great example of a case like this comes from Kim, who initially treated her hearing loss because it was affecting her ability to teach new nursing students. After trying hearing aids, she could finally hear what her students were saying to her, and she additionally discovered other sounds she had been missing for years. Now she wears Lyric hearing aids because they take her hearing to “the next level” by offering the sound quality and hearing benefits 24/7. Watch her Lyric Hearing testimonial in the video below:
If you have or think you may have untreated hearing loss, visit a hearing health professional as soon as possible. Should you have hearing loss, the audiologist or hearing professional can recommend a hearing solution that can make a positive impact on your quality of life. To make an appointment with a Certified Lyric Provider in your area, call us toll-free at 1-877-964-8450.
* Davis, Smith, Ferguson, Stephens, & Gianopoulos, 2007
**Kochkin S, “The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income”, Better Hearing Institute, August 2005.
Last August, we ran a Lyric Hearing Ambassador Contest through the Lyric Hearing Facebook page to identify some of Lyric’s biggest fans. After 21 entries and over 800 votes from our Facebook community, we selected 6 Lyric Hearing Ambassadors—then flew them out to our headquarters in Newark, CA to give them a behind-the-scenes look at Lyric hearing aids.
When our Lyric Ambassadors were visiting, they told us their hearing loss and Lyric hearing aid journeys. Below is a video testimonial from Syd, whose Lyric experience is a true testament to hassle-free hearing benefits of Lyric hearing aids.
Syd was a teacher for 16 years, then founded and was the principal for a private K-8 elementary school. After selling her six-acre campus in 2006, she set off to explore the world and then came home and created a fitness center. You can find her exercising daily and teaching health and wellness immersions, retreats and workshops – all while wearing her Lyric hearing aids! Syd lives in Phoenix, AZ and aside from teaching health and wellness classes, regularly speaks at events for her book, "All-Day Energy: 100 Ways to Boost Your Energy...Now".
Learn more about Syd at www.SydHoffman.com, and join the Lyric Hearing Facebook community to interact with her and the other Lyric Hearing Ambassadors around their Lyric hearing aid experiences!
In NPR’s piece, “Listen Up to Smarter, Smaller Hearing Aids”, they discuss advanced new hearing aid features like “directional listening”. That capability helps with something that audiologists or hearing health professionals refer to as “sound localization” – the ability to tell where sounds are coming from.
Cues that help listeners identify sound location come mostly from the way sound interacts with the pinna (outer ear) and concha (the hollow next to the ear canal). When sound enters the ear canal, the pinna produces acoustic transformations that help listeners determine where sounds are coming from.* This in turn, allows a listener to “organize” different sounds within the same environment and choose which one to focus on—like who to listen to while standing in a crowd of talking people**
As the NPR article points out, new hearing aids have “tiny computers” that can help users with sound directionality and localization. But, the Lyric hearing aid is especially well designed to offer these benefits for hearing that feels very natural.
Lyric’s placement deep in the ear canal enables the outer part of the ear to interact naturally with incoming sounds without reliance on a computer chip. The Lyric hearing device’s special placement leaves the pinna, concha, and lateral part of the ear canal completely clear. So, when incoming sounds reach the Lyric, they have already been transformed naturally by the pinna – instead of being artificially manipulated by a hearing aid receiver before entering the ear. This makes sound quality much more natural.
But, the high-frequency boost from Lyric’s wide bandwidth combined with Lyric’s location so close to the ear drum also helps more listeners take advantage of higher-frequency spatial cues for better sound localization.***
You can join the 91% of Lyric wearers who are very satisfied with Lyric’s sound quality by trying Lyric Hearing today. For a risk-free 30-day trial of Lyric hearing aids, call 1-866-964-8450. Or, watch real user testimonials about Lyric hearing aids’ natural sound quality to learn more about the benefits of Lyric Hearing.
* Blauert, J. (1997). Spatial Hearing: The Psychophysics of Human Sound Localization. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, p. 63; Langendijk, E.H.A. and Bronkhorst, A.W. (2002). Contribution of spectral cues to human sound localization. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 112, 1583-1596.
**Cherry, E. (1953). Some experiments on the recognition of speech, with one and with two ears. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 25, 975-979; Kidd, G. Jr., Arbogast, T.L., Mason, C.R. and Gallun, F.J. (2005). The advantage of knowing where to listen. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 118, 3804-3815.
***Arbogast A and Whichard S (2009). A New Hearing Aid Class: The First 100% Invisible Extended-Wear Hearing Aid. Hearing Review 16(4):20-27.
UK celebrity Jessica-Jane Clement was recently featured in the Daily Mail discussing her experience with sudden hearing loss and how her life has changed since wearing Lyric hearing aids.
The 27 year old actress and model acknowledges that adjusting to her hearing loss was a challenge early on. She struggled with depression, situations with a lot of background noise and work environments, but held off on trying hearing aids because she “didn’t want to have a visible hearing aid” in her line of work. However, after learning about Lyric, the world’s only 100% invisible hearing device, Jessica took the step to address her hearing loss.
Now that she is wearing Lyric hearing aids, Jessica recognizes what a positive difference hearing aids can make. Today, she accepts her hearing loss and is “happy to speak out about it” because she knows firsthand how fulfilling life can be even after hearing loss.
As Jessica points out, hearing loss is common and nothing to be ashamed of. Read about her hearing loss journey online. To find out whether Lyric is right for you, learn about the benefits of Lyric hearing aids, view the Lyric fitting range, or interact with our online community through the Lyric Hearing Facebook Page!
Lyric wearers are raving about Lyric hearing aid sound quality. 86% of Lyric hearing aid wearers agree that Lyric’s sound quality is “very natural” and another 91% of Lyric wearers are “very satisfied” with Lyric’s sound quality.
How can Lyric hearing aids deliver such exceptional sound quality? The answer is simple. Lyric works with the ear’s own anatomy to amplify sound. Lyric hearing devices sit deep in the bony portion of the ear canal. This deep placement means that sound travels into the ear canal naturally, like it would if there were no hearing aid. Then, unlike digital technology which mimics natural sound, Lyric simply takes natural sound that flows through the ear canal to make it more audible.
In a person with normal hearing, the pinna and outer ear capture and drive sound into the ear canal, where it travels down to the eardrum. The eardrum is located at the inner end of the ear canal. On that inner side of the eardrum is an air-filled space called the middle ear cavity. The ear drum’s vibrations are transmitted through the malleus (hammer) incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup), the last of which transmits the vibrations into the inner ear.
The inner ear has two main parts: one for hearing, the other for balance. The hearing division consists of the nerve of hearing and the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure that contains the sensory organ for hearing (the organ of Cort)i. The organ of Corti releases chemical messengers when vibrations that have traveled through the ear canal and past the ear drum activate its tiny hair cells. These then excite the nerves of hearing that carry sound to the brain.
As complex as the process sounds, Lyric hearing aids make natural sound simple by working with the ear’s own anatomy to amplify sound instead of mimic it—while eliminating the need for complicated programming.
View real Lyric wearer testimonials about Lyric hearing aids’ natural sound quality or learn how to try Lyric risk-free by requesting more information about Lyric hearing aids.
Since our last update on the rollout of the smaller Lyric hearing aid we have been actively working to make the smaller Lyric sizes available at even more providers. Now, the smaller Lyric hearing aids are available at 400 Certified Lyric Providers nationwide! See the full list of Lyric Providers that have the smaller Lyric hearing aid.
Lyric, the world’s first 100% invisible, 24/7 wearable, sweat-proof, shower-proof, for-months-at-a-time hearing aid now fits more people more comfortably than ever before. So, if you have been waiting for the smaller Lyric hearing aids to try Lyric Hearing, call 1-866-964-8450 to make an appointment today. Or, search online for a Lyric Provider in your area.
We will continue to provide updates as the device becomes available at more providers. Stay tuned on this and other Lyric Hearing news by “liking” the Lyric Hearing Facebook page!
As we enter the final days of 2012 and reflect back on this year, we are filled with gratitude to have made a difference in so many people’s lives. We have reached many milestones this year – among them, releasing a new, smaller Lyric hearing device that makes Lyric Hearing available to even more people, and launching a new Lyric Can campaign that shows how people with hearing loss can live normal, active lives—especially with a 100% invisible, 24/7 hearing aid!
This holiday season, we are also proud of Sonova’s foundation, Hear the World, which set a new Guinness World Record this year. Hear the World recently earned recognition as the world’s largest photographic awareness campaign. Today, more than 60 international celebrities support the Hear the World cause of raising awareness for both the importance of good hearing, as well as the consequences of hearing loss. Visit the Hear the World website to learn about the work Hear the World has been doing this year.
If you have untreated hearing loss, we encourage you to look at the new year as a new chance to improve your quality of life. With discreet and revolutionary new hearing technologies like 24/7 Lyric hearing aids or Phonak daily wear hearing aids, there is no longer any reason not to treat hearing loss. We would be thrilled to help you commit to improving your hearing in 2013. Just call us at 1-866-964-8450 and we will not only help you make an appointment with your local Lyric Hearing provider, we will also send you a certificate to try Lyric risk-free for 30 days*.
Again, Happy Holidays from all of us at Lyric Hearing. We are so thankful for the chance to make a difference in your lives and look forward to seeing you online in 2013!
*Trial period may be 45 days in some states.
Several lucky participants in our recent Lyric Can Creative Contest on Facebook will be receiving a sweet treat in their email inboxes this week—they will be getting $10 Starbucks electronic gift cards just for voting in our contest!
The Lyric Can Creative Contest asked Facebook fans of Lyric Hearing to vote on their favorite creative piece from the New Lyric Can campaign. The winning creative piece, “Lyric Can – Disappear”, highlighted different benefits that Lyric hearing aids offer, with a special emphasis on the 100% invisible nature of Lyric.
Our Lyric Hearing Facebook fans may have found Lyric’s invisibility to be one of this revolutionary hearing device’s most compelling features, but Lyric hearing aids offer many other benefits to wearers. Not only is Lyric the world’s first and only 100% invisible hearing aid, it can be worn 24/7 for months at a time*. It is also sweat-proof and shower-proof so it can be worn during all of your daily activities. Plus, Lyric hearing aids’ unique placement deep inside the ear canal helps the hearing device take advantage of the ear’s own anatomy to funnel sound naturally—so that Lyric wearers experience exceptional sound quality around the clock.
Learn more about the benefits of Lyric on our Lyric Hearing Aid Benefits page. To stay updated on future Lyric hearing aid news and promotions, visit and “like” the Lyric Hearing Facebook page!
*Individual replacement needs may vary.
Vote in our Lyric Can Creative Contest and you could win a $10 Starbucks gift card! Simply visit our contest tab on the Lyric Hearing Facebook page and vote for the Lyric Can ad that you believe best portrays the benefits of the Lyric hearing aid. It only takes a minute to vote and your next Starbucks trip could be on us.
The contest’s five choices each highlight a different aspect of Lyric hearing aids.
The Lyric Can “Disappear” ad highlights the Lyric hearing aid’s invisibility. Lyric is 100% invisible from any angle, any time so that no one will be able to see how you are hearing better!
The Lyric Can “Shower” ad emphasizes the hassle-free nature of Lyric hearing aids. Lyric hearing aids’ unique water-resistant technology means Lyric can be worn 24/7, even during daily activities like showering or exercising.
The Lyric Can “Montage” ad highlights the many lifestyle situations Lyric hearing aids can perform in. Lyric is the world’s first and only 100% invisible, 24/7 hearing device, so when Lyric can, you can too!
The Lyric Can “Revolutionary” ad showcases the true hearing technology revolution that Lyric hearing devices represent and highlights benefits that only Lyric hearing aids can offer. After all, the fact that it’s invisible may be the least revolutionary thing about Lyric.
The Lyric Can “X-Ray” ad highlights the science and technology behind the Lyric hearing aid. Lyric’s patented technology offers incredibly natural sound quality that 91% of Lyric wearers report being “very satisfied” with.
Let us know what you think the Lyric hearing aid’s most compelling benefit is. Vote now on the Lyric Hearing Facebook page!
Can your hearing aid do this? Lyric Can.
We recently launched the Lyric Can campaign, which highlights the diverse situations Lyric hearing aids can perform in. Our new Lyric Hearing commercial has been airing nationally for the last few months in the U.S., and recently began airing in Canada. Meanwhile, new Lyric Can print ads have been appearing in newspapers and publications like Reader’s Digest, Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic. And, for the next two weeks, you can vote on your favorite Lyric Can ad through our Lyric Hearing Facebook page for a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card!
Lyric by Phonak is the world’s first and only 100% invisible, 24/7 hearing device.
Lyric hearing aids CAN be worn for up to 4 months without battery changes.
Lyric hearing aids CAN be worn during daily activities such as showering, sleeping or exercising.
Lyric hearing aids CAN hear like your ears do by working with your ear’s anatomy to amplify sound naturally.
Lyric hearing aids CAN disappear completely once placed inside the ear canal by a Lyric provider.
To find out more about all the things Lyric hearing aids can do, watch our latest commercial below. To cast your vote in the Lyric Can creative contest for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card, visit the Lyric Can creative contest on the Lyric Hearing Facebook page now!
Last Friday, we were thrilled to host the six Lyric Hearing Ambassadors and their guests in our office! The visit included an introduction to the Lyric Hearing Marketing and R&D teams, as well as an in-depth tour to see where and how Lyric hearing aids are manufactured. Ambassadors also got an inside look at the new, smaller Lyric hearing device and filmed testimonials with a professional crew. Afterward, the Ambassadors had dinner in San Francisco before enjoying a free day in the city.
The behind-the-scenes view of Lyric will help our Ambassadors serve as resources to people in the community that may have questions about Lyric hearing devices. Ambassadors will help answer questions we receive online about Lyric hearing aids from the perspective of real Lyric wearers. They will also occasionally be authoring guest posts for our hearing aid blog, speaking in person at Lyric provider offices, and brainstormung new activities for our Lyric Hearing Facebook page. To stay updated on Lyric news and future contests, “like” Lyric Hearing on Facebook!
The trip to the San Francisco Bay Area was part of the prize for the Lyric Ambassadors, who won a contest on the Lyric Hearing Facebook page. Ambassadors submitted their Lyric hearing aid testimonials and were elected through votes from the Lyric Hearing online community. Visit their Lyric hearing aid testimonial entries to learn why they love Lyric and want to share these revolutionary hearing aids with you!
Syd, Jeremy, John, Rebecca, Kim and Ellie, it was a pleasure and a privilege to meet you in person. We are so thankful to have made a difference in your lives and cannot wait to share your stories with everyone!
