InSound Medical

InSound Medical, Inc. operated as a medical device company, establishing its position by developing and manufacturing advanced hearing aid solutions. Founded in 1998 by medical device entrepreneur Adnan Shennib and Dr. Robert Schindler, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, the company sought to address a primary barrier to hearing aid adoption: the stigma associated with visibility. Shennib, a serial inventor with experience at firms like ReSound, guided the company as Chairman, President, and CEO until 2003, leveraging his background in biomedical engineering and his experience in developing novel medical technologies.

The company's flagship product, the Lyric®, represented a significant development in the hearing aid market as the first 100% invisible, extended-wear hearing device. Engineered over a decade, the Lyric is designed to be placed deep within the ear canal, just millimeters from the eardrum, by a certified hearing professional without surgery. This deep placement utilizes the natural anatomy of the ear to funnel sound, which provides a more natural listening experience and helps to reduce background noise and feedback. The device is constructed from a soft, biocompatible foam and is engineered to be worn continuously, 24/7, for months at a time—even during activities like showering, exercising, and sleeping. This removes the daily maintenance tasks associated with traditional hearing aids, such as changing batteries or daily insertion and removal.

InSound Medical's business model was centered on selling the Lyric device through a network of authorized audiologists and hearing healthcare practices. After commercially launching in the U.S. in 2008, the company saw strong sales growth. This success culminated in its acquisition by Sonova Holding AG, a global leader in hearing systems, on January 6, 2010. The transaction consisted of an initial $75 million cash payment, with subsequent earn-out payments tied to financial performance, which were later settled for a one-off payment of $94 million to fully integrate InSound Medical's distribution. Following the acquisition, InSound Medical was set to operate as an independent business unit, leveraging Sonova's resources to expand distribution and further innovate on the Lyric platform, which has since been updated with newer versions by Sonova's brand, Phonak.

Keywords: InSound Medical, Lyric hearing aid, extended wear hearing device, invisible hearing aid, Adnan Shennib, Sonova acquisition, Phonak, hearing healthcare, medical device, audiology, deep ear canal placement, hearing loss solution, biocompatible foam, 24/7 hearing, natural sound quality, hearing technology, continuous wear hearing aid, non-surgical hearing device, hearing aid innovation, tinnitus relief