A S K A N E X P E R T Can you imagine a completely invisible hearing aid? The Lyric™ Hearing Aid has been called the contact lens for the ear. Once placed in the ear canal, it is completely out of sight. Hearing Today recently talked to Dr. Amir Soltani about this state-of-the-art extended wear hearing aid. Q. What is an extended wear hearing aid? A.  It is a self-contained hearing aid that is placed well inside the ear canal by a trained professional.The device produces natural sound quality by using the natural anato- my of the ear to amplify and give you a full, natural listening experience.The device can be left in place for months without ever taking it out. It does not require any maintenance, battery replacement or any special treatment by the user! Q. Does the Lyric require any other external devices to work? A.  No, the hearing aid is completely self-contained and 100% invisible. Q. Who is a good candidate for extended wear hearing aids? A.  There are certain guidelines that need to be considered while assessing a good candidate for a Lyric hearing aid. A good candidate may be an individual with a mild to severe hearing loss. One of the most noticeable things about the Lyric Hearing aid — it is 100% invisible; a desirable option for those who are sensitive to the visibility of traditional hearing aids. Lyric is an ideal solution for those individuals with dexterity or visual challenges, who cannot maintain standard hearing aids.* An individual that has a tympanic membrane perfora- tion, cholesteatoma, pressure equalizer tubes, ear canal deformities or bony growths in the ear canals may not be a good candidate as it can be difficult to insert the unit. Someone who undergoes regular MRI testing, scuba dives often, is on anticoagulant medication or has a compromised immune system may also not be a good candidate for a Lyric hearing aid. Q. Can any hearing care professional fit a Lyric? A.  Special training is required from the manufacturer, and the clinic requires specialized equipment such as a surgical microscope or ENT head light and measurement and insertion tools necessary for a successful fitting. Q. How long have you been fitting Lyric for your clients? A. Close to eight years now. Q. What happens at a fitting? A.  After the initial audiological assessment of the overall health of the ear and ear canal, which are major factors in determining suitability, the cerumen (ear wax) is removed, the ear canal size and length is measured and the appro- priate Lyric Hearing aid size is selected, programmed and inserted at the appropriate depth in the ear canal. Q. How long does it take? A. You can expect to spend about 1-1/2 – 2 hours at the fitting. Most NexGen clinics have enough product in stock that after the assessment you can be fitted and have a device in place the same day. Q. Once the device is in place what kind of maintenance is required? A.  The Lyric Hearing aid is completely “hands-free” you don’t clean it or change the batteries. The engineering and materials have been built to withstand the challenging conditions of the ear canal. The proprietary battery is tiny yet powerful enough to last anywhere from 3-4 months. When the battery runs out the entire device is removed and replaced by your specially trained hearing care professional. Q. Does the fitting hurt? A.  This procedure is painless, but there is a small risk of some sensitivity in the ear canal due to the fitting process. Q. How often do I need to come back after the fitting? A.  Based on your personal comfort, and how well you are hearing, you should return 1 week after the fitting for a follow up consultation. After that about 3-4 months before it needs to be replaced. Q. What is included in the price? A.  It is subscription based pricing which includes all consultations, replacements and technology upgrades so you can enjoy a hassle-free one-year supply. *The extended wear hearing device option may not be appropriate for all patients; it is recommended that you see a certified provider to determine if this solution is right for you. NEXGEN HEARING CERTIFIED PROVIDERS DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER  604.688.5999 NORTH VANCOUVER  604.988.9900 KITSILANO  604.221.4688 VICTORIA OAK BAY  250.598.9884 KELOWNA  250.763.2335 Dr. Amir Soltani, AUD, R.AUD has been practicing as a clinical audiologist in the Vancouver Lower Mainland area for over 20 years. He has also been a clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for over 12 years. He is one of the few NexGen Hearing Audiologists certified to place extended wear hearing aids such as the Lyric Hearing aid. Dr. Soltani’s clinical interests include hearing instrument fitting and counseling, diagnostic audiology, implantable hearing aid fitting and consultation, and electro-physiological and vestibular assessments. 29 | HEARING TODAY NEXT GENERATION OF HEARING CARE | 30