How Phonak Lyric™ supports tinnitus management and patient care

This article explores the challenges of tinnitus management and highlights how Phonak Lyric, with its 24/7 wear and unique benefits, can support hearing care professionals in providing effective, patient-centered care.

Tinnitus is a condition that many hearing care professionals encounter regularly in their practice, yet it remains one of the most challenging to manage.

With complex symptom presentations, no single underlying cause, and variability in treatment outcomes, tinnitus often requires a multidisciplinary approach that can feel daunting—especially for clinicians who don’t specialize in it. However, with ~80% of tinnitus patients also experiencing hearing loss, these patients are likely to appear in audiology clinics.1 Adopting effective strategies, including the use of hearing aids, can play a significant role in managing tinnitus and its associated challenges.

Why Phonak Lyric stands out for tinnitus relief

Clinicians can feel confident recommending hearing aids for patients who present with tinnitus and hearing loss, as research suggests that increased auditory input from hearing aids can benefit patients with chronic tinnitus.2,3 

While many hearing aids provide relief for tinnitus, Phonak Lyric offers unique benefits. Unlike other hearing aids, Lyric is worn 24/7 for months at a time, ensuring continuous auditory stimulation—even during the often-troublesome nighttime hours for tinnitus sufferers. 

Two studies comparing multiple types of amplification for tinnitus treatment found that Lyric provides faster and more significant relief compared to daily wear hearing aids.4,5 Additionally, Lyric improves sleep quality by delivering consistent auditory stimulation throughout the night. 

With Lyric’s 24/7 wear, patients avoid the cycle of auditory stimulation during the day and no stimulation when hearing aids are removed at night. This consistency eliminates daily reminders of hearing loss or tinnitus, such as when inserting or removing a device, making Lyric a valuable choice for tinnitus management. 

Best practices for clinicians using Lyric

  • Document tinnitus treatment: Record the use of Lyric for tinnitus in the Target fitting software. 
  • Use the mild-fitting formula: For patients with mild or minimal hearing loss, select the mild-fitting formula in Target for a slightly softer sound profile. 
  • Advise against sleep mode: Encourage patients to avoid using sleep mode at night unless necessary (e.g., due to external noise like barking dogs or snoring). 

While candidacy requirements for Lyric still apply, over 90%6 of patients meet these requirements and could benefit from trialing Lyric as part of their tinnitus management program. 

Strategies to support patients and their families

1. Acknowledge and assess all tinnitus complaints.

  • Listen actively to patients’ concerns and ask detailed questions about how tinnitus affects their daily life.
  • Use tools like the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory to gauge severity and its impact on sleep, concentration, and emotional well-being.

2. Utilize referrals to specialized providers, as needed.

  • Refer patients to specialists such as ENTs, psychologists, or neurologists when needed.
  • Build a trusted network of providers offering therapies like Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based techniques.

3. Educate patients about underlying mechanisms of tinnitus and available treatment options.

  • Explain tinnitus in simple terms, such as how hearing loss can trigger it.
  • Highlight treatments like sound therapy, relaxation techniques, and hearing aids with tinnitus features.
  • Correct common misconceptions and reassure patients that effective management is possible.

By integrating effective management techniques and advanced solutions like Phonak Lyric into your practice, you can make a meaningful difference in your patients’ quality of life.

Whether through 24/7 auditory stimulation provided by Lyric, personalized counseling, or multidisciplinary collaboration, you have the resources to address tinnitus with confidence. Together, we can help patients navigate this challenging condition and take steps toward better hearing health and overall well-being.

Visit www.lyrichearing.com to learn more.


References:

1.Heller, L. M., Abel, D. J., & Wichova, H. (2023). Ageing as risk factor for tinnitus and its complex interplay with hearing loss—evidence from online and NHANES data. BMC Medicine, 21(1), 29998. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02998-1.

2. Searchfield GD, Kaur M, Martin WH (2010). Hearing aids as an adjunct to counseling: tinnitus patients who choose amplification do better than those that don’t. Int J Audiol 49(8):574-9.

3. Sweetow RW, Sabes JH (2010). Effects of acoustical stimuli delivered through hearing aids on tinnitus. J Am Acad Audiol 21(7):461-73.

4. Henry, J, et al (2016). Randomized control trial: Extended wear vs conventional vs combination devices for tinnitus. J Am Acad Audiol 00(0),1-16.

5. Biggins, A & Power, D (2021). Reducing tinnitus with hearing aids: Does Phonak Lyric™ offer a more effective option? Phonak Field Study News, retrieved from www.phonakpro.com/evidence.

6. Sanford, M & Jensen, L (2019).  Lyric after 10 years: New data and perspectives from a private practice. Hearing Review 26(6):26-28.