About the Phonak Lyric 3
Phonak describes the Lyric as the "world's only 100% invisible hearing aid that delivers clear, natural sound!" But, is it possible that the Lyric is completely invisible, and is the sound really clear and natural?
As it turns out, Lyric 3 is a very unique hearing aid, and the only other hearing aids that are directly comparable are the first two generations that preceded it. Lyric is inserted deeply into the ear by a specially-trained audiologist or otolaryngologist. The device stays in the ear for months at a time, is not taken out at bedtime, and is only removed when it is time to replace the disposable battery inside.
The small size of the device, and the deep insertion, mean that it is basically impossible to see the device when it is being worn. So, Phonak's promise of invisibility does ring true. But what about the clear and natural part? Well, that part will largely depend on your type and severity of hearing loss. As with any hearing aid, folks with milder hearing losses will experience a more clear and natural listening experience with Lyric. One huge difference though, is that Lyric's unique deep insertion means your voice will sound much more natural than it would with other in-the-ear style hearing aids. As it turns out, the smaller the cavity between a hearing aid and the eardrum, the less the occlusion effect (the effect that causing booming in your ear when you speak, etc).