Is earlens covered by insurance

Audiologist Laurel Brewer is excited to bring a new hearing solution to Ogden Clinic called Earlens. Most hearing aids do a decent job of amplifying mid-tones but struggle with the highs and lows, resulting flat or dull sound. Rather than operating with a speaker, Earlens uses a custom light lens to gently move the eardrum, mimicking normal hearing. The result? A rich sound with crisp highs and full lows across a broader bandwidth—including the higher frequencies that contribute to speech clarity and understanding.

Here’s more about the Earlens Hearing System now at Ogden Clinic.

How does Earlens differ from a conventional hearing aid?

Unlike conventional hearing aids, Earlens directly vibrates the eardrum instead of relying on speakers to amplify sound. “It’s kind of like a contact lens, but for your ear,” remarks Dr. Brewer. This process more closely replicates the ear’s natural hearing process allowing for a broader, clear spectrum of sound.

How is Earlens inserted and worn?

There are two pieces of the hearing system. The Earlens is a custom silicone mold of the eardrum. During an office visit, an ENT physician places the Earlens in front of the eardrum where it will naturally conform to the shape of the client’s eardrum. This is not a surgical procedure so there’s no anesthesia required.

Patients will also wear a behind-the-ear processor that captures sound information and converts it into pulses of energy sent into the ear canal.

What have patients been saying about Earlens?

Users report that Earlens delivers a unique sound described as rich and natural. In a clinical study, 3 out of 4 users reported Earlens improved their hearing in noisy environments vs. their prior hearing aids. Time Magazine recognized Earlens as a Top 100 Invention of 2020.

How does Earlens operate?

The Earlens processor (behind the ear) has an internal rechargeable battery. Each night, you’ll dock the processor in the included charger. The lens inside your ear is powered by the energy emitted by the ear tip, and does not require a battery.

About smartphone compatibility

Currently, Earlens is compatible with iPhone. You can take calls and stream music with your iPhone through your Earlens.

Am I a candidate for the Earlens hearing system? Is it covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans do not cover hearing aids, including Earlens. Earlens is more expensive than traditional hearing aids since it provides an unparalleled hearing experience. If you are in Northern Utah and seeking clearer sound with better speech clarity, please make an appointment with Dr. Laurel Brewer. During a free consultation, she will discuss your hearing needs and walk you through how to get started with this custom hearing solution. Check with your healthcare insurance provided or a certified Earlens Provider to find out if your plan covers Earlens.

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Dr. Laurel Brewer has been a board-certified Audiologist at Ogden Clinic’s Professional Center North for over 20 years. She provides a full range of audiology services including pediatric and adult diagnostic testing, dizziness and balance evaluation, and selection and fitting of hearing aids.

MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA — The Earlens® Contact Hearing Solution was named among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2020. The 2020 list from the influential news and current affairs publication recognizes 100 ground-breaking inventions that are “changing the way we live”. 

“Most hearing aids do a decent job of amplifying mid tones but struggle with the highs and lows, resulting in sound that is flat and dull. That makes it hard to follow conversations in a crowd—the so-called cocktail-­party effect. Earlens ($6,000 per ear) upends the process, nixing the amplifier entirely and instead using a tiny lens that sits next to the eardrum. A microphone housed in the device’s over-the-ear processor picks up sounds, which an algorithm converts into vibrations that are transmitted to the eardrum. Put another way: rather than turning up the sound, Earlens actually re-creates the effect of the sound waves.” 

—Marjorie Korn, TIME Magazine

About Earlens

Earlens is a privately held medical technology company committed to transforming the hearing experience for millions of people who suffer from hearing loss. The company has developed the Earlens® Contact Hearing Solution, which directly activates the hearing system, delivering the broadest bandwidth available today and superior sound quality. This revolutionary, nonsurgical hearing solution uses a small lens to vibrate the eardrum, replicating the natural hearing process. The Earlens® Contact Hearing Solution received FDA clearance in 2019 for a second generation of the Earlens technology