Lyric Hearing Aid Review: How Does AMP Hearing Aid Compare

by:
Jake
Last Updated on March 3, 2021

Continue reading for a complete Lyric hearing aid review.  

The Lyric hearing aid device is what I would term a "semi-implantable" hearing aid. Fitters have to have specialized training to implant and remove this tiny earpiece.

The patient is not supposed to remove the hearing aid. The Lyric hearing aid is worn for several months and then is discarded and replaced with a new implant.

The battery is a sealed system, and there is no way to remove or service the battery. The patient buys a "plan" covering a period that allows them a certain number of replacement Lyric hearing aids over the time span contracted.

Lyric Hearing Aid Review: What You Should Know

Prices vary, but the Lyric hearing aid cost is in the one to two thousand dollars an ear per year.

Given the average lifetime of a standard hearing device, you are looking at a significant investment beyond the cost of a more mainstream system.

Our Lyric hearing aid review found the Lyric hearing aid appeals to individual patients for several reasons. That might sound good on the surface, but I think, fail under the strong light of scrutiny.

Some patients want to think "I am getting a medical solution to my problem, rather than a prosthetic device.  The patient may be drawn to the idea that they are not being "sold"  for thousands of dollars, they are leasing it for several hundred every couples of months.

But more traditional medical devices, while having a higher upfront investment, are owned outright and will service the patients’ needs for years to come. "Leasing" an aid for even a hundred dollars a month, will add up pretty quickly.

A professional who will offer a “trial period” fits most traditional equipment, so the patient is typically not stuck with a device that does not work correctly anyway.

AMP Hearing Aid

The Amp hearing aid is an entry-level product, designed for people who are transitioning into hearing assistance device. Lyric users found the product would not be satisfactory for anyone who has a "full time" need. The major advantage (and disadvantage) of the product is its low entry cost.

It is a stock module that is adapted via various sleeves to fit the patient. It might as well be viewed as "reading glasses" for the ears.

Just as someone who is transitioning into wearing spectacles might go to the drug store and buy a cheap set of reading glasses to wear occasionally; someone may choose to wear the AMP hearing aid for an hour-long business meeting and then take it off for the rest of the day.

Battery life is directly related to how long the battery is in the unit. The AMP hearing aid requires that you remove the sleeve to remove the battery.

That is not easy, but it is the only way to prevent the battery from depleting when the aid is not in use. The small battery that is used in the unit only has about 85 hours of use in it.

If you purchase cheap batteries, store your batteries incorrectly or do not remove the battery from the unit when not in use- your battery life will be severely reduced.

Most problems with battery life are related to the quality and storage of the battery. If a hearing aid is malfunctioning, it will drain a battery in a matter of an hour or so.

If the battery lasts a day, then the fault most likely lies with the battery, not the equipment. Batteries need to come from a reliable source and need to be kept in a dry, cool place, away from the sun. Cheap batteries are usually not a bargain.

The AMP has a limited ability to be programmed and "tuned in" to the patient's hearing loss. The low price is appealing, but it is not without its' drawbacks.

Other Lyric Options

The Starkey AMP people also offer a product that is a deep canal fitting along the lines of the Lyric.

That product allows for the replacement of batteries and has a huge range of tuning and comfort options.

If you have an ear that will accommodate this product, it is an excellent choice for cosmetics and function. It is not the least expensive thing on the market, but it is difficult to find a hearing aid that is invisible, good and cheap.

In the software industry, the old saw is: you can have it cheap, fast and good; pick two. It can be fast and good, but not cheap, etc. With hearing aids, the line would be: you can have it small, good and cheap, pick two.

A Completely In the Canal (CIC) fitting is a better choice for someone can't accommodate deep canal fittings. More popular is the Receiver In the Canal (RIC) products from Starkey hearing technologies offer a wide array of technologies.

Included is reasonable cosmetics, a huge fitting range, and good battery life. The RIC products are now available in systems that couple directly to the TV for vastly improved TV enjoyment and still offer a range of prices (directly related to function) for all budgets.

Lyric Suggestions to Help with Hearing Loss

Beware of looking only at PRICE. Patients should more concerned with VALUE. Seek the best value for your money, not the lowest price. If you buy a 50 cent product for $1, you have gotten a poor value.

If you pay $10 for a product that is worth $15, you have a good value. Price and Value, do not mean the same thing. After many years in the industry, I would point to the idea that the hearing amplifier as a commodity and the pursuit of the lowest priced technology as the greatest reasons for patient dissatisfaction.

Followed closely by the expertise of the dispenser. Seek a reasonable price on a quality product from a capable dispenser and you will be happy.

HearingReviews.com
Hearing Reviews is oldest hearing aid guide online, helping thousands of visitors each month learn about hearing loss products and services. Since 2014 we have worked hard to provide objective advice to help you make more informed choices.
Join Our Newsletter
All Content Belongs to HearingReviews.com
Hearing Reviews does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
Site Map