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'I Attended the Taylor Swift Eras Tour Wearing Hearing Aids'

Model and real estate specialist Kyra Mahinay let us in on her unique experience of attending a concert in sleek yet powerful Phonak Lumity hearing aids

Article (news)

Kate Paras-Santiago

<p>Hearing impairment—it&#x27;s almost never talked about, or unheard of (pun intended) in topics people choose to talk about. We don&#x27;t think about hearing wellness as much as we do weight loss and other wellbeing themes in general. And when we talk about hearing aids, we have this notion that it&#x27;s only for old people who have completely lost their hearing, and oftentimes, we picture them as big and bulky, not really the kind of gadget we&#x27;d like to be seen wearing out in public. But recently, we had the chance to be educated about the pressing topic at a <strong>Manila Hearing Aid </strong>press junket in Cebu, where leading hearing aid brand <strong>Phonak</strong> introduced their <strong>Lumity Series</strong>—hearing aids and accessories that are super sleek and powerful despite their tiny size. </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>Dr. Liza Abaño-Robles</strong>, <strong>President </strong>of <strong>Manila Hearing Aid </strong>seeks to encapsulate this vision, stating, &#x27;Many Filipinos tend to downplay hearing loss or even consider it as unnoticeable. That’s why our main goal is to send a message that hearing wellness is just as important and should be considered as part of one’s overall health.”&#x27;Our commitment is to provide top-of-the-line, and the most advanced and strategically tech-driven audiological products that enhance the quality of life through improved hearing,&#x27; Abaño-Robles added. </p><div><br/></div><p>We got the chance to chat with <strong>Manila Hearing Aid</strong>&#x27;s ambassador, the statuesque model and real estate specialist <strong>Kyra Mahinay</strong>, and asked her about her personal experience about the product. She shared a personal anecdote about attending the much-talked-about Taylor Swift ERAS Tour in Tokyo, Japan recently, where she didn&#x27;t just have a blast, but had an unforgettable time using her newest Lumity Slim hearing aids. Read on and get inspired!</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fae1a84a-20d0-4baf-99f8-e5e6685f699a_kyra 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kyra Mahinay<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> @kymahinay  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Metro.Style: Tell us briefly about your hearing impairment and when you decided to seek professional help.</strong></div><p><strong>Kyra Mahinay:</strong> I’ve had ear impairment since way back when I was five. It started with an ear infection that caused both my eardrums to burst. So I’ve had holes on my left and my right eardrums, not knowingly that it could heal through time. So my left eardrum healed roughly when I was a teenager, then my right eardrum healed just a few years back. So imagine around 20 years in the making, not doing anything, just doing my lifestyle, from that hole, it became whole again. </p><div><br/></div><p>But then when I checked with my ENT, there was scarring. So I wasn’t using any hearing aids until later last year, until I decided to take a hearing test—why? Because my PWD ID was expired! So with that, I had no idea, my right ear was already moderately severe, then my left ear, moderate. <em>Medyo malala na pala siya</em>. So with all that process, and <em>sumasakto </em>with my job, I’ve had a hard time hearing clients, especially this kind of location (Editor&#x27;s Note: We were at a conference room at the Dusit Thani Cebu), if I remove the hearing aid, I will have a hard time hearing you. And with that, I will need eye contact and lip reading—those were what boosted my confidence before so that I could hear who I was talking to. But setups like this, face-to-face, it was still so hard for me.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/nutrition/common-food-misconceptions-to-debug/36627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eating Right or Eating Myths?</a></div><p>Then it kept happening, I was just shrugging it off. And then the opportunity for <strong>Manila Hearing Aid</strong> came, they saw that I took a hearing test, and for some reason, I posted it on my IG Stories, and then I was seen by the marketing, then wow, it was life-changing. My confidence was boosted because of this little thing [the Phonak Lumity Slim hearing aids], not knowing that it could affect my entire lifestyle. I talk to clients, I meet other people and in a way, not everyone could understand how I was feeling. So I’m very much happy and glad to share what I have experienced because there’s still a lot out there who are unaware and don’t care. Yes, they adjust, they repeat the sentences, and not knowing that through time, it gets worse, because even if both my eardrums were healed, my nerves were actually severed already. My normal hearing won’t come back anymore. </p><div><br/></div><p>There&#x27;s no shame in wearing hearing aids despite the stigma of wearing one still being prevalent in our society. It has actually become an ice breaker, and then I get to share my story, and I could spread awareness. I tell you, get a hearing test and see for yourself. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7a27990c-f77d-4808-a798-f966ad4f4710_kyra lumity.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kyra Mahinay at the Phonak Lumity Slim launch in Cebu</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/37e7ce19-abec-4e71-b6f0-c7511a55017f_kyra lumity 2.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kyra proudly wears the Phonak Lumity Slim—such a sleek and chic hearing aid!</span></span></span></div><div><strong>MS: What experiences have opened up to you since deciding to wear hearing aids and what were the biggest changes once you switched to Phonak Lumity Slim?</strong></div><p><strong>KM: </strong>As I mentioned it had a big impact with my work. It&#x27;s also mostly that I never really experience that much of discomfort especially on planes now. With this [the Phonak Lumity Slim] one, I don’t need to remove them when I’m on a plane. It helps me with all that pressure coming from my ears, usually <em>masakit diba</em>, even for normal people <em>masakit</em>, <em>pero sakin kasi </em>natural <em>siyang ganon</em>, it’s always painful. With this one, it correlates with the pressure, <em>yung mga</em> auto sense, in a different location, <em>mas</em> pressurized <em>ka</em>, <em>walang problema</em>. Growing up, I didn’t care, I had no idea it had that much of an impact. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/44bd7868-c082-46d2-b2ad-8ed35e465920_kyra taylor swift.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kyra Mahinay with Kate Jagdon at the Eras Tour in Tokyo, Japan</span></span></span></div><div><strong>MS: Tell us about your Taylor Swift ERAS in Tokyo experience. Have you always been a Swiftie? What other memorable moments can you share from that trip?</strong></div><p><strong>KM: </strong>Yes, I’ve always been a Swiftie. Being inside the Tokyo Dome with 55,000 people screaming—it didn’t hurt my ears because the hearing aids could balance the noise. I used to have cheaper hearing aids, and one clap would already hurt my ears. So imagine, in a board room, where there are noises all at once, it really hurts my ears. And other than that, when I pass by antennas, it creates static in my ears. So that’s the huge difference of coming from a cheaper hearing aid and now using Phonak&#x27;s Lumity Slim. It’s more expensive, but it’s worth it. Try for yourself—take a hearing test, and then see for yourself! </p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Why Lumity?</strong></div><p>Dubbed as the next generation of lifestyle-centric hearing aids that are designed for all kinds of lifestyles, Phonak&#x27;s Lumity series offers a range of hearing aids and accessories that enhance one&#x27;s life by not just improving hearing, but adjusting to one&#x27;s unique needs and circumstances. As Kyra mentioned in the interview, she finds herself in scenarios like concerts, board room meetings, and client face-to-face consultations, which all require different kinds of adjustments—all of which this line is able to do for her with ease. &#x27;The Lumity series has positioned itself as an all-around hearing care solution by effectively addressing the diverse quality of life needs and varying degrees of hearing loss experienced by consumers.&#x27;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/99dab8af-4110-4dc5-a37f-45926362fea5_ph_pic_slim-l-r_charger-in-the-hand-of-women_1080x1080.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Phonak Lumity Slim Hearing Aids with charger case</span></span></span></div><p>One look at these sleek and chic hearing aids would instantly make one think they&#x27;re simply earbuds or earphones, with its striking design and stylish color range and finish.</p><div><br/></div><p>&#x27;Specifically tailored to navigate the intricate challenges that individuals encounter in their daily lives, Lumity shines with its distinctive feature: an ability to have a much-improved speech understanding, especially in noisy environments. Seamlessly integrating improved hearing into daily activities and conversations is the central ideology of an effortless auditory experience. Whether engaging in meaningful conversations or amidst ambient noise, Phonak Lumity empowers users to concentrate on the sounds that truly matter, contributing significantly to an improved quality of life.&#x27;</p><div><br/></div><p>The hero product from the Lumity line is the <strong>Phonak Slim™ Lumity</strong>, an award-winning hearing aid with a sleek ergonomic design. It earned the prestigious title of Hearing Technology Innovator 2023 in the hearing aid design category as recognized by Hearing Health &amp; Technology Matters (HTTM). The modern and state-of-the-art design of Phonak Slim™ is crafted to naturally match the contour of the ears, serving not only clinical purposes but also as a stylish hearing solution; combining functionality and style in one powerful device. Phonak Slim™ addresses the stigma towards traditional bulky design by bringing in sleek and stylish-looking hearing aids. The Phonak Slim™ is a unique, premium device available in four colors to match individual styles and boost confidence.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c6c91f73-8513-41db-857b-c40af1e00a68_ph_pic_cros-l-r_myphonak.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Phonak Lumity CROS</span></span></span></div><p>As a testament to its commitment to expanding its offering to the ever-changing consumer needs, the Lumity series also introduces the <strong>Phonak Naida Lumity™</strong>, referred to as one of its most powerful hearing aids tailored for moderate to severe hearing loss. With customizable settings for specific listening situations and improved noise cancellation, it promises resilience in virtually every scenario. <strong>Phonak Audéo Life™  Lumity</strong> also stood out as one of the best-selling products from Manila Hearing Aid. It holds the distinction of being the world&#x27;s first waterproof rechargeable hearing aid and pioneering the new SmartSpeech technology. As an addition to the Lumity lineup, the <strong>Phonak CROS Lumity™</strong> is built for individuals facing unaidable hearing loss in one ear. This model seamlessly integrates with compatible Phonak hearing aids, amplifying environmental awareness by transmitting sounds from the unaidable ear to the hearing aid-fitted good ear, resulting in an uninterrupted listening experience.  </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/cb7b676d-52f7-4f85-be8e-3e67eea85540_ph_packshot_lumity-sky-naida-cros_1080x1080.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Phonak Lumity Sky Naida</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Interested in the Lumity Series? Inquire at your nearest <strong>Manila Hearing Aid </strong>branch or book your appointment <a href="manilahearingaid.com.ph/appointment" target="_blank">online</a>. Follow them on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/manilahearingaid1976/" target="_blank">@manilahearingaid1976</a>. For more information, check out their <a href="https://manilahearingaid.shop/" target="_blank">website</a>. </p>