Life Sounds Great: better hearing

Thursday, October 19, 2017

I’ve tried Lyric, the invisible hearing aid, in the past but it didn’t fit in my ear, is there anything new?

Lyric is an extended wear hearing aid. What this means is that it can stay in your ear canal for months at a time. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the Lyric device to remain in the ear canal for up to 4 months at a time. The longevity of the device in your ear canal all depends on your personal body chemistry, meaning wax build up and how much your ear canals sweat. The average lifespan of Lyric is about 2 months. At the end of the two months, we remove the old devices and replace them with new devices. The Lyric device doesn’t not fit everyone. The only way to know if it is the right device for you is to try it. Your audiologist first needs to measure the length and width of your ear canal. To answer your question, yes there is something new with Lyric. There are two new sizes. There used to be only 5 sizes and now there are 7 sizes. Lyric added an XXS and XXL. If you are still interested in Lyric but were contraindicated in the past based on sizing, make an appointment to try Lyric again. Allow your audiologist to resize your ear and allow you to trial it again for 30 days risk free.

Life sounds great! Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Why do I hear people better sometimes and then not as well at other times?

As you know, hearing devices can be life changing but they do not restore normal hearing. How well you hear even with the devices is dependent on more than the hearing instruments. Here are three factors to consider when you miss hear.

The first factor is you, the listener. Are you hearing the best that you can hear? Wear your hearing aids all the time, from morning till night. Better yet, extended wear devices can have you hearing even while you sleep. Have regular visits to your audiologist’s office to keep the hearing aids in good condition. Your ability to hear also depends on how well you pay attention to the speaker. Are you well rested? When you’re well rested you have more energy to pay attention. When tired or ill, you won’t hear as well. Another important factor for the speaker is to get your attention prior to talking. This gives you time to pay attention.

The second factor is the person talking, the speaker. Did the speaker get your attention prior to talking? Does he or she have a familiar voice? Does the speaker project, and speak slowly and clearly? Have you noticed it’s more difficult to hear someone with an accent? The speaker’s expressions, body language, mannerisms and your interest in the subject all play a role in how well you hear.

The third factor is the room. Does it have high ceilings and hardwood floors? If so, there is likely an echo which can decrease your ability to hear words clearly. Loud background sound, as in a noisy restaurant, also interferes with your ability to catch the words.

These are just a few of the things that affect your ability to hear and understand. If you feel you are not hearing as well as you would like, make an appointment for an Audiologic assessment and hearing aid check. Ensure you’re hearing the best you can.