Phonak announced the appointment of fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson as a Lyric Ambassador for his role in raising awareness of the link between hearing health and total wellness during Men’s Health Month. Peterson wears Phonak Lyric, “the world’s only 100% invisible extended-wear hearing aid that can be worn 24/7 for months at a time,”1 according to Phonak. He credits the device for enabling him to improve his relationships at home and at work, where he trains celebrities, professional athletes, and everyday people from his gym in Beverly Hills, Calif. Peterson is also the Los Angeles Lakers’ Director of Strength and Endurance and is said to be recognized as an expert in functional training and innovative fitness techniques.
“We are thrilled to have Gunnar on board as a Lyric ambassador, especially during Men’s Health Month,” said Barb VanSomeren, Vice President of Marketing at Phonak US. “We know that men are more likely to experience hearing loss compared to women primarily because men are more likely to work in occupations and engage in activities that expose them to excessive noise levels. Gunnar’s story is a reminder why proactively addressing your hearing health is key to living well.”
In 2018, a large, comparative multi-country study on hearing loss and hearing aid use found men represented the clear majority of people affected by mild-to-moderate hearing loss.2 Furthermore, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that untreated hearing loss is closely associated with quality of life issues like sadness, depression, social isolation, and anxiety.3
“I’ve dedicated my life and career to helping people look and feel better through exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” said Peterson. “I’m proud to be working with the amazing team at Phonak to make hearing health a core component of total-body wellness, and to remind everyone of the importance of getting your hearing tested and taking action if you have hearing loss. Don’t just do it for your own benefit, but for your family and for all those around you.”
For more information, visit www.TryLyric.com or click here to watch a video of Peterson speaking about his personal experience with hearing loss and how he overcame it. For more information about Peterson, please visit: www.gunnarpeterson.com.
In the June 2019 edition of Hearing Review, a retrospective review of Lyric and its use in a private practice is offered by audiologist Mark Sanford and Lizz Jensen.
1 Individual replacement needs may vary. Duration of battery life varies by patient and is subject to individual ear conditions.
2 EHIMA—European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association. Hearing aids improve hearing and a LOT more—Trends derived from the EuroTrak databases 2009-2018. Published March 2019.
3 Seniors Research Group and The National Council on the Aging. The Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss in Older Persons. https://www.ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOA-Study-1999.pdf. Published May 1999. Accessed May 30, 2019.
Source: Phonak
Images: Phonak