New research from Johns Hopkins shows hearing loss among people in the United States may be more common than originally believed. As many as 29 million people across the nation are estimated to have some degree of hearing loss.

The problem isn't confined just to older individuals. Hearing loss occurs in 8.5 percent of people ages 20 to 29 and that incidence appears to be rising. The study, which involved 5,700 people, ages 20 to 69, also found men are more than five times as likely to suffer hearing loss and whites also suffer from it more often than blacks.

Many different types of hearing aids are currently available. According to the Mayo Clinic, they have four main components that help transmit sound from the environment into the ear:

A microphone picks up the sound

An amplifier increases the volume of the sound

A speaker sends the sound into your ear so the user can hear it

A battery provides power to the electronic parts

Sometimes hearing aids can present obstacles, such as overamplified background noise from things like a ceiling fan or beeping microwave oven. When showering or sleeping, hearing aids must be removed. Batteries are also known to often wear out. A new hearing aid appears to offer a solution to those typical issues.

Lyric is the first device that is completely invisible and designed for extended wear. It can be worn for 24 hours, seven days a week, for months at a time (up to 120 days).

The device is placed entirely inside the ear canal without the need for surgery. Its developers say it works with the ear's anatomy to produce excellent sound quality in noisy and quiet environments. It sits near the ear drum, requiring noises to be amplified less. It is also designed with a soft foam material to protect it from moisture and ear wax, which reduces the risk of infection.

The aid is offered to patients on a yearly subscription basis. It costs about $2,900 to $3,600 for both ears and less for just one ear. Insurance does not usually cover it.

A new device is provided at each follow-up office visit with a Lyric trained hearing professional. Currently, 500 people use the new hearing aid.

InSound Medical of Newark, Calif., the makers of the Lyric, say people whose ear canals are too narrow may not be able to use the device. They estimate that it will not work for about half of potential hearing aid patients, but an updated version is in the works and would bring that figure down to just 15 percent.

Additional Info:
Northern Valley ENT
(212) 635-9742
http://thelyricdoctor.com

Lyric Hearing
(510) 792-4000
http://www.lyrichearing.com