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New model swim-proof hearing aids to get test

WASHINGTON — They are not your grandfather's hearing aids.Today's newest models range from the completely invisible — it sits deep in the ear canal for months at a time — to Bluetooth-enabled gadgets that open cell phones and iPods for hearing-aid users.

WASHINGTON — They are not your grandfather's hearing aids.

Today's newest models range from the completely invisible — it sits deep in the ear canal for months at a time — to Bluetooth-enabled gadgets that open cell phones and iPods for hearing-aid users.

Now the maker of that invisible hearing aid is going a step further — attempting a swim-proof version. About 60 swimmers begin testing a next-generation Lyric next month, to see if stronger coatings can withstand at least three swims a week, allowing the device to repel the water that short-circuits regular hearing aids.

If so, expect to see it marketed to active seniors who increasingly find the pool a gentler form of exercise than pounding the pavement.

"It's my preferred exercise," says Kathy Burkhard, 62, who is anxiously awaiting the results. She already swims with her Lyrics, her ears bundled against the water with special earplugs, a water-resistant headband and a racer's cap. "I do it well and I enjoy it and I wasn't ready to give it up."

It's part of a quiet revolution in hearing technology, to increase the usefulness and comfort of devices that too many people still shun.

"Stigma is one of the biggest obstacles we face," says Dr. John P. Weigand, audiology director at the State University of New York's Downstate Medical Center.

Millions of adults have some degree of hearing loss. The National Institutes of Health says most could be treated with hearing aids yet only about one in five people who could benefit uses them.

Why? Many people simply do not know, or accept, that they need one. Hearing loss can come at any age, from disease or genetics or not protecting your ears from loud noise. But it becomes more common with aging; federal statistics show one in three people older than 60 have hearing loss. And it can creep up, as often people first lose the ability to hear higher pitch before they notice wider problems.

Then there's reluctance to try hearing aids because of the appearance — or because of longtime problems with sound quality, particularly the ability to hear well in noisy environments. And there's the cost, which varies around the country but can range from $1,500 per ear for more basic designs, up to $3,300 per ear for premium brands. Only some insurance pays; the government health care programme for the elderly does not.

Enter the newer technology, which hasn't eliminated the sound problems but, specialists say, does improve them for people who pick the right option for their lifestyle and hearing needs:

The Lyric is inserted four millimeters from the eardrum, aiming to funnel sound more naturally. It's not the first deep-in-the-canal hearing aid — others have left the market — but is the only extended-wear version. It stays in the ear for up to 120 days, until the battery wears out. A yearly subscription of $1,650 for each ear covers the fitting and replacements.

Seals protect the Lyric from the moisture of showers and earwax, while maintaining the right pressure to avoid pain in this very delicate ear region, explains Dr. Robert Schindler, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco, and a board member with manufacturer InSound Medical Inc.

Schindler, a pioneer of cochlear implants for the deaf, helped develop the Lyric when his mother asked why he didn't improve her hated hearing aids. But it only works for a fraction of people, those with mild to moderate hearing loss whose ear canals are not too small.