Suffering with hearing loss for the past 15 years, local business owner, Robert Blott had seldom held a conversation with his wife, Dawn that didn‟t get lost in translation. After years of „what did you say?‟ and „pardon me?‟, the couple had almost given up hope in finding a hearing aid that provided Robert with natural hearing without background noise. That is until Lyric landed on Aussie shores; the world‟s first „invisible‟, extended-wear hearing aid.
“In the past, I often misheard or misinterpreted what my wife was saying to me, which caused an inevitable strain on our relationship,” says Robert, aged 66. “When enjoying a meal with friends, I spoke very loudly and I constantly missed crucial parts of a conversation. Since using Lyric hearing aids, I no longer embarrass my wife due to my bellowing voice at social occasions. And you know what they say… happy wife, happy life!”
Hailed „the contact lens for your ear‟, Lyric, which measures 16mm, is inserted deep inside the ear canal by a hearing health professional and is completely invisible from the outside. Lyric remains in the ear 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be worn for up to four months at a time, allowing users to shower, sleep, swim1, talk on the phone and even listen to headphones. The unique placement of the device, close to the eardrum, allows natural hearing without surrounding noise or feedback. Lyric is so unobtrusive that many users forget they are wearing a hearing aid at all!
Robert‟s wife, Dawn has also seen a change in her husband in professional situations. “Before we discovered Lyric, Robert and I would often go to senior management meetings and Robert would struggle to hear. At times his answers to questions would not relate at all to the conversation at hand and I would have to correct him,” explains Dawn. “Life has changed for the better since Robert started wearing his new hearing aids. I needn‟t attend meetings anymore because I can relax in the knowledge that Robert can hear clearly.”
“Before my audiologist introduced me to Lyric, I had spent thousands of dollars on hearing aids that I didn‟t want to wear due to the poor sound quality,” says Robert. “Lyric hearing aids are not only invisible, but they have brought back my ability to hear clearly. Finally, I feel like I can get on with my life.”
Designed by Phonak, a leading Swiss-based hearing device company, Lyric is sold on a subscription basis, with wearers choosing one-to-three year subscription terms. Visits with a hearing healthcare professional can take as little as 15 minutes every four months, and users get a brand new device at every refit, which means they always benefit from the latest technology. A one year subscription costs $2,400 per ear2.
Many Australians with hearing loss are suffering in silence, too ashamed to address a problem generally associated with ageing. Envisioning an old-fashioned, bulky hearing aid that fails to provide optimal hearing, it‟s no surprise that many people avoid visiting a hearing specialist. Lyric offers a solution to those concerned about the stigma attached to hearing loss and ensures no one “sees” how well a Lyric user can hear.
“I can understand why many people with hearing loss are self conscious about wearing a visible hearing aid – especially the youngsters,” says Robert. “Lyric offers the ultimate solution; it‟s completely invisible from the outside, it‟s comfortable and most importantly, the sound quality is exceptional. Lyric has granted me the freedom to live my life and enjoy the warm Australian summer without constantly being reminded of my hearing loss!”
To determine eligibility for Lyric, or for more information visit www.phonak-lyric.com.
To locate your nearest Lyric Provider and obtain a product brochure, please call 1 800 0 Lyric.
About Phonak
Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people’s hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life.
Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.
For more information, please visit www.phonakpro.com and www.phonak.com, or contact our press office.
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