"Lyric" Hearing Aid Trial

Saw some info about this in another thread but don't think it has one of its own?

I contacted Cubex today and I think I might join this trial and see how it goes. I know my tinnitus is from hearing loss/noise trauma, although I do not have severe enough hearing loss to "qualify" for regular hearing aids.

https://www.cubex.co.uk/news/participate-tinnitus-trial-24-7-sound-enrichment-tinnitus-relief

What do you guys think, should I join it? Do I have anything to lose?

 

I have used Lyric for one year now. It has reduced the tinnitus a lot but it is not gone... in some quiet situations the tinnitus is still there.

 

Do you feel comfortable posting your audiogram here? (feel free to blank out any personal info)

 

Lyric is very comfortable and the sound is very very good... My hearing diagram is about 50-60 dB... The only bad thing in Lyric is the price.

 

Do you feel comfortable posting your audiogram (the graph) here? Your high level description doesn't explain where the losses are vs frequency.

 

If you don't have to pay, I think you should do it. Why not?

 

Do it, fam. Bearing in mind this trial is in London and you live in Austria. The cost of Lyric is about $300 a month - between flights and accommodation, you may be better off just getting a month's trial at a local audiologists.

 

What do you mean? You have to pay a monthly fee to use Lyric hearing aid? You can't buy it with a single payment?

 

Afraid not, ma'am.

The hearing aid is inserted into your ear canal, near the ear drum. It's tiny and got a battery that's set to run for a certain amount of time (a few months) and when it needs to be replaced, the audiologist takes it out and inserts a new hearing aid.

I'm sure they'd let you pay for a year up front if you wanted, but because it's constantly replaced, it's typically paid for on a monthly basis.

 

I'll actually be moving back to Sweden next month, and a flight from Gothenburg to London is about 40 EUR return with Ryanair, and I have a friend's place to stay at there, so almost no costs involved. I actually got the assessment meeting booked today. June 3rd! (I'm moving and then working all of May so can't go earlier)

 

I would also like to see an audiogram from you if possible, thanks!

 

Bra jobba!

 

You mean "Bra jobbat!"? Although still not sure what you would mean by that

You're in the UK. Are you looking to sign up for the trial?

 

I've actually been using hearing aids to some success the last month or so. My audiologist and I have discussed it, and I will potentially start with the Lyric in April. I think the trial is looking at how it affects sleep, this is one of the areas I would most prefer the Lyric over a regular hearing aid.

 

Alright, cool. Yeah it's interesting that you can sleep with them. I've never used a hearing aid before so will be interesting how I find it.

Luckily I never had any problems with sleep, even during massive spikes. If I have the time, I sleep 8-9 hours every night without a problem.

I'm mostly scared of how my phonophobia and hyperacusis will react to the hearing aids. I'm scared everything will get louder and make my ears fatigued more quickly. How is that for you?

 

Sorry I dont have an audiogram on my phone... it is moderate hearing loss in higher frequencies and mild in lower.

 

It's around this audiogram.

 

Not sure whether to sign up for this myself, as I'm based in UK.

It looks like it's not much different to a white noise generator though, the only difference being that you can't see it.

I assume they're not claiming it actually treats tinnitus, just helps mask it...

 

Damn, that's pretty brutal. Thanks for posting. May I ask, how old are you?

 

It includes a masking noise? I have to admit I didn't read all the info about it yet I thought it was about improving audio levels and clarity to reduce tinnitus?

 

Well, according to the link you posted it's a form of 'sound enrichment', which doesn't mean improving hearing, it means using masking sounds to reduce distress caused by Tinnitus. They may set it a little below the Tinnitus level to encourage habituation, but basically I don't think it's any different to a white noise generator?

I could be very wrong though!

 

Ah ok! I didn't know that was what it meant. Shit, that makes me less enthusiastic about it. I don't think masking sounds will help me. They never have.

 

Oh no, sorry

Had another look and it does sound like it's basically masking. But there are some forum posts here where people seem to have found it helpful.

 

I'm 25, my hearing loss is due to genetic defect.

 

If you're based in the UK, I would suggest you look into the Audion trials for a drug to cure hearing loss.

All they require is a PTA of -25 to -60db. They are doing this in London at Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital. They are doing three eardrum injections:

https://www.regainyourhearing.eu/trial/

It doesn't include masking, it's too small to include that. Or so my audiologist tells me. It sits right up next to your eardrum at the top of your ear canal. The battery isn't rechargeable either, it's basically discarded and replaced.

The thinking behind it is that it helps restore hearing you've lost, just like a regular hearing aid, but because this one is hidden, it's less intrusive and is worn at night. They market it as the "contact lens for the ear".

 

This is technically the same method/molecule type as Frequency Therapeutics's, right? And it’s a phase 2 study? It says they will test safety, but on the main URL they state that a phase 1 trial was already successful? I’m confused.

 

I think so.
Yes.
And yes, safety was in phase 1.
I applied, but hearing loss isn’t substantial enough

 

Hey, Drone Draper... my audiogram is worse than the one posted, the hearing loss is more significant... I'm in my early 50s, and had a noise trauma that brought about my tinnitus after decades of industrial work... blah, blah...

My question, kind sir, because I don't have access to an audiologist or ENT where I live, basically have to travel a good deal to get to one so that's ok...

Do hearing aids damage your ears more? If I've already lost a bunch of hair cells in my inner ear to noise, wouldn't inserting small amplifiers in one's ear put your remaining hairs in danger? Do you get me... does that make sense? Innocent question, I'm really curious...

Last time I was in the States I actually visited an audiologist and ENT, and they suggested hearing aids... I didn't have the time or the funds to follow up... I'm back with my family here in Laos... and can always shoot down to BK Thailand to visit the prose when I'm cashed up...

Hearing aids seemed to have really helped you... Can give your opinion to my latter question, and perhaps tell about the differences you have experienced before and after using aids. Thanks very much.

 

Hello good sir,

I'm by no means a hearing aid expert, though I have researched the Lyric quite a bit because I'm thinking of getting it. Certainly if Neuromod delays its launch for, say another year.

I think your question makes sense, but I think that is where setting the hearing aid correctly comes in. The aids I have amplify the frequencies where I have a hearing loss and only to the extent of my hearing loss. So I do have some control in the volume via Bluetooth and I can lower it. I've not really felt any discomforting levels of noise yet, but I have had to turn the hearing aids when someone's been yelling at work. Obviously I'm doing my best by avoiding loud environments, etc.

I've not had tinnitus for very long, but for me, the difference with and without hearing aids is that the tinnitus is turned down. I can still hear it, but it's turned down. I don't have enough of a loss that I can't understand speech, so it doesn't really aid in conversation. For me the benefit of the Lyric would be that I could get the tinnitus turned down while sleeping.

If you're interested in the Lyric, these guys seem to be Phonak's partner in BK - https://www.eartone.com/products_phonak.html

 

Above and beyond my hopes, Drone Draper. Thank you.

Your explanation makes sense and you went through the trouble of finding a link in Thailand. Too kind, much appreciated. Adios amigo.