Which CI is the BEST?

S

Sunryze

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Today seen my CI Audi for the final evaluation and I'm in there! Yay! I'm so excited!
But now the big question is, which one should I get? They gave me a huge packet with info for Nucleus Freedom, Med El and Advanced Bionics Harmony.
They all look amazing, I'm stuck... So I figured I'd ask the real pros...:D
 
Sunryze said:
Today seen my CI Audi for the final evaluation and I'm in there! Yay! I'm so excited!
But now the big question is, which one should I get? They gave me a huge packet with info for Nucleus Freedom, Med El and Advanced Bionics Harmony.
They all look amazing, I'm stuck... So I figured I'd ask the real pros...:D
Click to expand...

You should do well with any of them so unless your surgeon has a specific reason to use one in special cases. So it boils down to feature set and the level of support in your area. Some have three to four programs, T-mic, Directional mic, a knob for adjustment, push buttons or display on BTE. Above all make sure it is comfortable on your ear. Your CI audiologist should have demo's of the external units for you to try and check for fit on your ear.
For me the Med El was not a option with my insurance and very few people in my state have them. I took a long hard look at Advanced Bionics and ended up with the Nucleus Freedom and I feel just fine with my choice.
 
Sunryze said:
Today seen my CI Audi for the final evaluation and I'm in there! Yay! I'm so excited!
But now the big question is, which one should I get? They gave me a huge packet with info for Nucleus Freedom, Med El and Advanced Bionics Harmony.
They all look amazing, I'm stuck... So I figured I'd ask the real pros...:D
Click to expand...

Congrats!

Basically do all the research you can. Anyone that tells you which one is the best, and they have it is sort of biased. I'll try to give my best to make it a little bit unbiased, and I'll do the pros and cons


Cochlear
Been around for 20 years
Very good with backward compatibility
Freedom processor:
Has 4 programs
3 microphones for various directional sounds
Has Mini bte style if you want a more discreet look - doesn't accept external accessories (some people pick one mini BTE, and one Full)
Has rechargeable batteries
Can use disposable batteries (consider your lifestyle, if you tend to travel a lot, camping a lot, etc this is where it comes in handy.
Cochlear audiologist pretty much can be found all over the US and the World
(it's a bit harder to find Med El audiologist in America. AB has a lot, but not as much as Cochlear due to worldwide)
Has various colors of coil/processors/microphone covers
22 Electrodes (it doesn't mean more is better)
Soft tip, and curly array which can reduce the trauma on your cochlea, the other companies do not have that yet.
Splash proof and water resistant
Implant itself has titanium housing - strongest.
Cons
BTE can be a bit on the heavy side
There has been some issues with Customer Service
Replacing batteries can be expensive, BUT most insurance companies will pay for them. Medicare/Mediaid pays 100%

Advance Bionics
American company
More selection of colors and funky colors on the coil, has more of metallic look
Currently improving with backward compatibility (8 years old implants are unable to have the new Harmony)
16 electrodes
Titanium housing
Has T-mic (basically it is a microphone that rest near your ear canal, so theoretically you're getting sound "the natural" way), many users swear by this.
Rechargeable batteries - 8 hour and12-18 hours batteries
Good customer service
3 programs
2 microphones
Lighter than Freedom full BTE
Cons
American company - may be hard to find overseas, or audiologists overseas.
Slightly higher failure rate, not as much as it used to be

Med El
More popular in Europe
They just kind of changed their implant to titanium housing, it used to be ceramic (which can crack if hit hard enough)
Better for ears with ossification, but all three companies have different implant systems for ears with ossification, so don't take my word for this.
Smallest BTE and lightest
Has a "NIFFY REMOTE" as SouthFella says all the time
Hard to find in America
12 Electrodes
Cons
Higher failure rates of all three companies

I am not familiar with Med El, but I didn't like it because of what it looked like just a few months ago, hard to find audiologist in my area, and failure rate.

SO - having said this, no matter what company you choose, you will be happy with it, and I always felt that everyone gets the SAME benefit...they can hear again regardless what implant/processor system they use.
Just because i have Freedom implants and processors does not mean I can hear better than someone who has AB Harmony Model.

It pretty much goes down to your own preference, especially when it comes to accessories and features. Want a colorful one? Go for AB. Want battery options regards to rechargeable or disposables? Go for Cochlear. Want a niffy remote? Go for Med El.

I went for Cochlear because I really love my audiologist, and she only does that company. So I'm very happy with my choice. :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks LadySekhmet,
That really helped me, too. I am just waiting on Tricare to find me a specialist that accepts said insurance before I go ahead with a CI. I have been through all the testing with my Military ENT and audiologist. These are the kinds of things I was hoping to find in this forum. I had already been to all three websites, but you have helped me narrow my own choices down. :ty:
 
etalton said:
Thanks LadySekhmet,
That really helped me, too. I am just waiting on Tricare to find me a specialist that accepts said insurance before I go ahead with a CI. I have been through all the testing with my Military ENT and audiologist. These are the kinds of things I was hoping to find in this forum. I had already been to all three websites, but you have helped me narrow my own choices down. :ty:
Click to expand...


You're very welcome! I tried not to make it biased, but all of these information are stuff that I thought should be pointed out for both pros and cons. Hence why one company is not the best. Each ones have pros and cons.

And honestly - websites of the companies are biased to sell their products and say that their implant system is better.
 
Forgot to add more information about the products - I apologize again that I am not too familiar with Med El, so I'm basing some of the information off their website.

Cochlear - Freedom processor
Coil is not enclosed like a button (like Harmony's coil), IMO it's cosmetic
There are three buttons and LCD screen - occasionally it can get a wee bit pain in the ass because you have to press up and down button together for External Accessories or T-Coil
T-Coil is NOT part of one of the 4 programs
Easy to know what Volume and sensitivity you're on by looking at the LCD and numbers
Buttons are below the Coil attachment
Microphone covers are removable and replaceable - great for those who tend to sweat a lot or exposed to water/rain often. There's a trap that traps dirt and sweat. Over time it can ruin the microphone, hence why there's a microphone cover. Cheap to replace, and comes in various colors
Has LED light option - can turn on or off through audiologist to determine whether battery is low, etc. (this is good for kids' CI so their parents can easily tell if battery is dead or whatever)

Advanced Bionics - Harmony
Has LED light as well
Dials for volume - hence why you see people say "12 O'clock, 2 o'clock positions" when it comes to talking about volume
Switch on easy, like a hearing aid
Has no LCD
Coil in shape of a button - with exchangeable covers for those who want to stand out
Volume Dial and switch is above the coil plug
T-Coil takes place for one of the programs - in other words, Harmony only has 3 programs, and if you want T-Coil, then it takes one of the slots, leaving two to play around with

Med El - Opus 2
Everything is done by remote control - you lose it, oh well
Rechargeable
The lightest of all BTE
No color options


Right now, I would just ignore the technical stuff off the websites. They always say things like, "83,000 fast pulses, more than any other implant system", "Unique programming for music", blah blah. Who cares. That's what the MAPPING is for. It adjust to all your liking. It took me a good 7 months to be really happy with the map I got (that's because I got one damn electrode turned off, what a bugger). For others it's sooner. Would it have made a difference if I picked Med-El or Harmony? No. Would I have a better mapping earlier? No. It's all individualized.

Good luck with your choices!
 
LadySekhmet said:
Forgot to add more information about the products - I apologize again that I am not too familiar with Med El, so I'm basing some of the information off their website.

Cochlear - Freedom processor
Coil is not enclosed like a button (like Harmony's coil), IMO it's cosmetic
There are three buttons and LCD screen - occasionally it can get a wee bit pain in the ass because you have to press up and down button together for External Accessories or T-Coil
T-Coil is NOT part of one of the 4 programs
Easy to know what Volume and sensitivity you're on by looking at the LCD and numbers
Buttons are below the Coil attachment
Microphone covers are removable and replaceable - great for those who tend to sweat a lot or exposed to water/rain often. There's a trap that traps dirt and sweat. Over time it can ruin the microphone, hence why there's a microphone cover. Cheap to replace, and comes in various colors
Has LED light option - can turn on or off through audiologist to determine whether battery is low, etc. (this is good for kids' CI so their parents can easily tell if battery is dead or whatever)

Advanced Bionics - Harmony
Has LED light as well
Dials for volume - hence why you see people say "12 O'clock, 2 o'clock positions" when it comes to talking about volume
Switch on easy, like a hearing aid
Has no LCD
Coil in shape of a button - with exchangeable covers for those who want to stand out
Volume Dial and switch is above the coil plug
T-Coil takes place for one of the programs - in other words, Harmony only has 3 programs, and if you want T-Coil, then it takes one of the slots, leaving two to play around with

Med El - Opus 2
Everything is done by remote control - you lose it, oh well
Rechargeable
The lightest of all BTE
No color options


Right now, I would just ignore the technical stuff off the websites. They always say things like, "83,000 fast pulses, more than any other implant system", "Unique programming for music", blah blah. Who cares. That's what the MAPPING is for. It adjust to all your liking. It took me a good 7 months to be really happy with the map I got (that's because I got one damn electrode turned off, what a bugger). For others it's sooner. Would it have made a difference if I picked Med-El or Harmony? No. Would I have a better mapping earlier? No. It's all individualized.

Good luck with your choices!
Click to expand...

LadySekhmet

Good outline. I wanted to point out one change. On the Freedom any of the four programs can be the T-coil without having to press the two buttons at the bottom. In my case, Program 4 automatically goes to t-coil which is my whisper program for maximum T-coil sensitivity. In addition, the microphone is still available by pressing the two bottom buttons at the same time with my thumb. Each time I switch to program 4 it will go the the T-coil with whisper first. Neat isn't it? The latest version of the Cochlear software that your audiologist now has should have that option. In fact, Cochlear fixed a few bugs already with the T-coil program.
 
john57 said:
LadySekhmet

Good outline. I wanted to point out one change. On the Freedom any of the four programs can be the T-coil without having to press the two buttons at the bottom. In my case, Program 4 automatically goes to t-coil which is my whisper program for maximum T-coil sensitivity. In addition, the microphone is still available by pressing the two bottom buttons at the same time with my thumb. Each time I switch to program 4 it will go the the T-coil with whisper first. Neat isn't it? The latest version of the Cochlear software that your audiologist now has should have that option. In fact, Cochlear fixed a few bugs already with the T-coil program.
Click to expand...

Very interesting! :) I have not used t-coil. I don't have a cell phone and I only have a digital phone so it's not compatible with my CI.

Thanks for the extra info!
 
Can i Add something, I think.... Cochlear beeps when battery is low, AB doesn't, Don't know about Med-El (i wasn't interested in it from the start)

AB is very popular as Cochlear in UK.

None of them are the best, it's the choice of the implantees and suitablity of their life style.

I chose Cochlear due to 4 programs, choice between rechargeable and disposable battery, disrect look (i have brown), splash proofness as i work outside alot, and many more. A friend of mine went straight for AB as she liked the colors thats all she's interested in but she would have needed to research bit more about it for the practial side of it but at least she's happy with it.


Good luck
 
overthepond said:
Can i Add something, I think.... Cochlear beeps when battery is low, AB doesn't, Don't know about Med-El (i wasn't interested in it from the start)

AB is very popular as Cochlear in UK.
Good luck
Click to expand...

Oh interesting! I didn't know about the lack of warning beeps for AB. Same goes for AB users in UK. I just thought it was more popular in the US because it's American company.

Cochlear is more popular world wide, Med-EL is more popular in Europe, AB is more popular in America.

Would that be accurate?
 
Yes you are right that AB is american company and is popular in the states, Cochlear is popular worldwide, and mainly popular in Austraila, I wouldn't be sure of Med-el being popular in UK as Cochlear/AB, I guess that Med-eL is still in the infancy and hasn't been round long enough as the other two, i can see in the future it will even out with C and AB.
 
wow, this is exactly what i needed to know! You guys really know your stuff and I knew you'd explain it in plain English, without all the hyped up marketing strategies!
I decided I'm going with the Freedom unless my surgeon has a reason why I should go with something else.

Thank you sooooo much!
 
Oh yeah, keep in mind that all processors are going to be upgraded in the future. So, in a way you should focus on the implant itself as well because that's in your head for the rest of your life.

Good luck!
 
LadySekhmet said:
Very interesting! :) I have not used t-coil. I don't have a cell phone and I only have a digital phone so it's not compatible with my CI.

Thanks for the extra info!
Click to expand...

Since I have been interested in getting a CI, I thought this was a good place to ask about your statement about phones. I still wear HAs and have a cell phone, but I CANNOT hear the person on the other end of it - not because of volume, but all I get is BUZZZZZZZZ; it's so loud it overrides the other person's voice. Is this a problem with CIs ? Also, why are digital phones (is this the same thing as a cell phone?) not compatible with CIs? Thank you so much for any information you can offer on this. :)
 
Sunryze said:
wow, this is exactly what i needed to know! You guys really know your stuff and I knew you'd explain it in plain English, without all the hyped up marketing strategies!
I decided I'm going with the Freedom unless my surgeon has a reason why I should go with something else.

Thank you sooooo much!
Click to expand...

Join the club and i have added your blog on to my blog list ;-)

All the best.
 
AlleyCat said:
Since I have been interested in getting a CI, I thought this was a good place to ask about your statement about phones. I still wear HAs and have a cell phone, but I CANNOT hear the person on the other end of it - not because of volume, but all I get is BUZZZZZZZZ; it's so loud it overrides the other person's voice. Is this a problem with CIs ? Also, why are digital phones (is this the same thing as a cell phone?) not compatible with CIs? Thank you so much for any information you can offer on this. :)
Click to expand...

Does that depend on the phone? I mean with a hearing aid, that is. i used to have an LG and it was so loud and clear. I upgraded to a Razr and it does the buzzing so bad I can't hear out of it either. I looked it up and seen it goes by 'T-Ratings' and 'M-Ratings' It says T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and are likely to be more usable with a hearing devices telecoil. T4 is the best you can get. M Rated phones meet the requirements and are better than phones that aren't labeled, but they're not as good as the T Rated. Mine is a M3 - the lowest of them all, and it generates lots of interference.
I'm curious about the CI's now, too. I just assumed it would be the same as the telecoil in a hearing aid.
 
AlleyCat said:
Since I have been interested in getting a CI, I thought this was a good place to ask about your statement about phones. I still wear HAs and have a cell phone, but I CANNOT hear the person on the other end of it - not because of volume, but all I get is BUZZZZZZZZ; it's so loud it overrides the other person's voice. Is this a problem with CIs ? Also, why are digital phones (is this the same thing as a cell phone?) not compatible with CIs? Thank you so much for any information you can offer on this. :)
Click to expand...


Yes, the tcoil in CI is similar. The reason why you're getting the buzzz is the tcoil is reacting to it. It's not "t-coil friendly". Many of the newer digital phones react like that. I know my Sidekick does that with my HAs AND CI.

There are cell phones that are compatible. You have to find out the M rating for it. Once you do, then it will be fine.

I know there's a website out there that tells what phones are compatible and what are not. Once you find a phone that's compatible, you won't hear the buzzing noise. :-D IN the past, phones were analog, so there was no interference.
 
I wanted to point out that one can determine which program setting they're on with the Freedom by the audio beeps. One beep indicates program 1, two beeps indicates program 2, etc. Good for people who may have difficulty reading the LCD display.
 
In regards to cell phones, most CI users (like myself) report being able to hear better on a cell phone than a landline phone. I'm able to hear quite well on my LG cell phone (which uses CDMA technology) without the use of my T-coil. Of course, YMMV.
 
Hear Again said:
I wanted to point out that one can determine which program setting they're on with the Freedom by the audio beeps. One beep indicates program 1, two beeps indicates program 2, etc. Good for people who may have difficulty reading the LCD display.
Click to expand...

Is that the same for AB and Med El?

I remember when I first was activated, I could NOT hear the beeps at all. Finally, my audiologist turned up the beeping sound. Man it drove me crazy having to keep looking at the LCD!

I DO wish that they would have some sort of indigo light for night time just in case, ya know?
 
Back
Top