Hearing devices have evolved rapidly over the past several decades. Devices are smaller, placed deeper in the ear canal and are of higher sound quality than they used to be.
What would the world be like if everyone who needed glasses decided not to wear them anymore? People would bump into walls, cars would drive head-on into each other and many grandparents would not recognize their families. But this is the exact dilemma faced by those of us who take care of patients with hearing loss.
The simple words "hearing aid" are enough to conjure up severe negative emotions from hearing loss sufferers. Patients often complain of poor fit, unsightly appearance and obnoxious feedback from many devices. They also report difficulty using the phone and poor sound discrimination, especially in loud environments. It is no surprise, therefore, that many newly purchased devices end up in dresser drawers. Many patients have been frustrated by the high cost and low fidelity of most devices.
First, every patient with hearing loss needs a full medical evaluation to determine the cause of the loss. Unfortunately, many dispensing firms are all too quick to fit a patient with a hearing device before a full evaluation is done.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms of hearing loss may include:
• Difficulty understanding conversation, including on the television or telephone
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Vertigo or imbalance
• Pressure in the ears
Diagnosis
Initially, an audiogram tests hearing levels at different frequencies. Most commonly, the diagnosis is a nerve loss, or loss of hearing due to the inner ear. This causes loss of high-frequency sound and is most often related to aging. Another type of loss is a conductive loss and may include fluid buildup, wax impaction or a perforated eardrum. Conductive losses can be corrected in most instances.
Hearing devices
Once the cause of hearing loss is known, a hearing device may be prescribed. Hearing devices have evolved rapidly over the past several decades. Devices are smaller, placed deeper in the ear canal and are of higher sound quality than they used to be. Other devices can be worn behind the ear with a clear plastic tube that carries sound into the ear. These behind-the-ear devices are especially good for high-frequency hearing loss (the most common type) and are very difficult to see, especially if the wearer has longer hair.
Most recently, the Lyric® device made by InSound Medical has appealed to many disenchanted hearing-aid wearers. The Lyric is a 24-hour, extended-wear device so patients can wear it both day and night without removing it. Patients have it fitted in the office and wear it without removing it until the battery dies in about three months. The device is then replaced with an entirely new one. A yearly subscription allows the user to get as many devices as needed for that year. Additionally, every time the Lyric is improved by the company, the patient receives the upgraded device free of charge.
Lyric users also have the advantage of being able to shower and go into the pool without a problem. This device is therefore ideal for the patient who is active and does not want to be limited by their device, yet still wants to enjoy the benefits of hearing. The Lyric device has advantages over other hearing aids in that it:
• Does not have to be removed when using the phone.
• Eliminates troublesome squealing (feedback).
• Is not visible to the eye.
• Does not have to be removed when exercising.
Patients with hearing loss no longer need to worry about the cosmetics of a hearing aid. With novel devices such as the Lyric, a hearing aid doesn't have to be a stigma of aging. Turn them on and hear what you have been missing.