More new stuff coming soon

One of the developments in the last few years has been further miniaturization of hearing instruments. When the lyric came out a few years ago, it brought attention to the fact that there are a lot of people who want an "invisible" hearing solution. The problem with the Lyric is that, because it is not a custom made instrument and fits deep into the ear canal, it does not fit most people. It is also a very expensive long term solution that many cannot afford. The Lyric is also an analog processor that does not utilize the many advantages of having a much smarter digital processor.
Companies like Starkey came out with an IIC(invisible in canal) solution that is custom made and utilizes all of the new digital technology, making it more comfortable and better sounding, especially in background noise. Siemens and Phonak also came out with a mini CIC that is very discreet but not as deep fitting as the Starkey. This year a couple more companies have developed an "invisible" hearing instrument. Oticon and Unitron will be introducing their new products at the AAA convention in Boston later this month. Traditionally, these "invisible" devices have only been available in the top tiers of technology, but Unitron is making it available in all technology levels, making it more accessible to those who can't afford or don't need the upper level technology. Look for other manufacturers to also make theirs available in more affordable technology levels.