Evaluation of New Fitting Characteristics for Extended Wear Hearing Aid Technology

Hearing aid candidates will be assigned to either Group A or Group B. Group A will be fit only with extended wear devices that are commercially available. Group B will be fit with either the commercially available devices, or a set of devices that have a new fitting characteristic, depending on what is most appropriate and the best fit. Because extended wear devices are inserted by a hearing care professional and sit deep within the ear canal, participants will be blinded as to which devices they are wearing. After a typical hearing aid trial period (i.e. 30 days), participants will be asked to make a determination on whether they would purchase if given the option. The percentage of people that indicate a desire to purchase devices from Group A will be compared to the percentage of people that indicate a desire to purchase devices from Group B to determine if the offering of additional fitting options results in an increase in intent to purchase, or a trial to success rate.

Inclusion criteria

• Mild to moderate hearing loss
• New hearing aid users with no previous hearing aid experience interested in trying Lyric devices
• Must meet Lyric candidacy (see exclusion criteria)

Exclusion criteria

• middle ear disease, including but not limited to history of tympanic membrane perforations, chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, PE tubes
• radiation therapy to head or neck area
• participants who need regular MRI testing
• participants who regularly scuba dive or swim underwater