Which Cochlear Implant is best?

So, I'm getting a cochlear implant soon. I was against it for two/three years, because I've done many research; my findings showed that the technology didn't really mature. In fact, one show showed that there was a metal part on the back of the head. But it was more, and more people getting cochlear implants on TV, I discovered that the technology got better - smaller, more portable, and easy to "hide" so to speak.

I've been using hearing aids my whole life. In fact, I was born deaf. I was able to hear pretty well from childhood to until probably until I was 27, 28 something like that. I'm now 32.

Anyway, I went to the cochlear implant specialist and we've been talking about this on and off for the past 2/3 years, it intensified because my hearing loss now has a gap. Meaning the loss is now substantial than it was 3/4 years ago. My mom noticed it, and has been bugging me to get cochlear implants. It was seeing the others with cochlear implants that pushed me over the edge.

I am offered a cochlear implant surgery, and 3 different options: Med'El, Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics. I rejected Med'El's technology from the get-go. No interest whatsoever. Now it's a showdown between Cochlear and AB. AB is currently in partnership with Phonak, which is just as old ("legendary") as Cochlear (trademark/company).

The problem with the decision is that both companies are trying to 1up the other through marketing materials. Cochlear says they do 2 times better than AB, and AB says they have better specs than Cochlear. Confusing to say the least.

I want to hear just about everything, as it's intended to be heard. I want to be able to hear my mom, my family, my friends, and my new associates and not misunderstand them. I want to enjoy life as everyone else has.

Every time I ask for more power from my hearing aids, my audiologists would say to each iteration. It's either "you have the best hearing aid out" and the dreaded "your volume's been pushed to the max."

I'm going to leave this until Wednesday night, when I have to go back and say "this company." My choice, ya know.

As a user of Advanced Bionics=Harmony would suggest you consider.

aside: When back almost 7 years- at that point of time. MedEl was not accepted here in Ontario and Cochlear had "problems" which has been fixed- subsequently.
I am quite satisfied with how AB has worked to date.

I suspect other may have a slightly different reaction at different points of time.

Good luck in whatever chioce decided.

You would try N6 or Nadia Ab with swim able and waterproof. I has a N5 for now. I used to be against CI in decade ago. I realized and made mistake for personal against CI. I started to research for CI education in 2004. I joined to AD for CI & HA debate. That was help me to understand from CI users experience. I ignored the misinformation and Misconecption of CI from Deaf extremist. I had right to be decide to get CI for reason. You have a good luck with your CI journey.

My hub chose Cochlear. I dont remember but maybe it relates with upgrades fast and long company than AB. I know AB is good too. My hub said that AB has more frequents/sounds than Cochlear. He likes AB but i dont know why he chose Cochlear.

AB Naida Q70 CI all the way! AB implant has room to improve unlike cochlear implant which is another good thing about AB. (Implant not the processor)

AB has the best technology on the market and the most capability for more upgrades in the internal implant than any of the others. Interesting that you discounted Med-el right away. Of the 3 companies I would but them 2nd behind AB. You just don't have the same potential with Cochlear as you do with AB.

Of course the manufacturers are going to claim they are the best! Look at cochlear implant HELP and see if that helps you any. The site has comparison charts and whatnot on the site, which might be useful for you.

I personally chose AB for myself, as I felt AB has better technology than Cochlear, are more advanced, etc. They consistently come up with new speech processing strategies and are always working hard to improve the technology. I don't know, I was just more impressed with AB and their technology, and the fact that they are teamed with Phonak is just awesome, since I also wear a Phonak hearing aid. I'm quite pleased with my AB device. Really wish I could upgrade to the new Naida CI but won't be able to upgrade for another 3 years (by then, there will be yet a newer processor released). AB has the ClearVoice strategy to help in noisy situations, and even has Phonak's Zoom technology for even more help in noisy situations on the Naida CI; Optima which helps the battery last longer before needing to be replaced, etc. AB's Neptune can be completely waterproof without the need for a waterproof case and is a nice alternative if you don't want all the weight on your ear; and they have a waterproof casing in the works for the Naida CI. I don't know the specs for Cochlear, but they do currently have a waterproof "bag" for their processors, with a case in the works (if you care about being able to hear during water activities).

But either way, you really can't go wrong with either device. It's a matter of which device you think will fit your lifestyle best. Check out the CI Help site, figure out a Pros and Cons list of both AB and Cochlear, etc. Look at what each device has to offer, what their configurations are, look at the processing strategies each has to offer, accessory options.... They both work and get the job done, and that's what's important; beyond that it's just a matter of deciding what "fancy" stuff it is that you want.

Have a read of my blog below in my siggy, I am overdue for a new blog post....hope it helps. I am a cochlear N5 User here.

I received my first cochlear implant from Cochlear Americas 23 years ago and my second cochlear implant (also from Cochlear Americas) 7 years ago.

Not only has my device provided me with tremendous benefit since I received it as a 5-year old, but given that 23 years is a substantial chunk of time in the cochlear implant world, I feel reassured by the reliability (Cochlear's reliability is best on the market) as well as Cochlear's promise to have all external sound processors made to be backwards compatible with the older internal implants. To rephrase, I don't worry about my internal device somehow becoming obsolete. My internal device has been the same for 23 years (and 7 with the second one), but I have been able to upgrade to five new external models as the sleeker, more advanced sound processors have been developed over the last 23 years.

All companies will promote the "headroom" for new developments in their products, but I will note that Cochlear's Research & Development budget is VERY sizable, meaning that innovation and advancements are always at the forefront - hence why they have been the industry leader for the last few decades.

Last, I would encourage you to check out the Cochlear Community, an avenue in which you can read about other people who either have or are considering Cochlear technology. They share their thoughts regarding pre-surgery decisions, surgery itself, post-surgery rehabilitation and lifestyle, etc. It's a very candid forum - here is the link: Cochlear Community

As a disclaimer, I was recently employed by Cochlear Americas 2 months ago, but I speak more from my 23 years of recipient experience, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

I got the surgery done on April 21st (yesterday), and so far... it's nice, but also painful. I didn't get a good sleep.

I went with AB for upgradablilty and compatibility with current hearing aids (with partnership to Phonak).

Agent X : It usually takes about 4 weeks for your skull to heal and if okay set the externals up.
aside My experience back in 2007

Agent X said:

I got the surgery done on April 21st (yesterday), and so far... it's nice, but also painful. I didn't get a good sleep.

I went with AB for upgradablilty and compatibility with current hearing aids (with partnership to Phonak).

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rest up, take it easy, and let your ear heal up!

An interesting footnote to my experieince almost 7 years ago.
I could go swimming 2 weeks after the operation but couldn't lift hand weights over my head for 3 months.
aside: to avoid the possibity of "splitting the stitches". I followed the Doctors' advice.

hi, i have a big problem cuz i am totally deaf and i want a CI but my mom is scared that i wont be able to hear music(wich i cant now anyway) cuz the quality of the notes may be so bad. can somebody please tell me what CI has the best music quality?


Sent from my iPhone using AllDeaf

As I understand the matter: re:" music Hearing" is somewhat contingent on your actual condition of your cochlea etc-not the processor.

This was given to me at Sunnybrook/Toronto cochlear implant section way back in 2007 when I was operated. aside: I hear music fine for the last 7 years.

Hope you "fit" with your actual condition -medfundhelp"

I really want to state that every CI manufacturer is putting out a decent product at this point. No matter what company you end up with, if you have previous hearing experience and were at one point capable of understanding speech without lipreading it is likely you will be able to understand speech without lip reading once again. Music is really coincidental and no implant is really geared towards music. CIs are designed to help people understand primarily speech.

That said, I have an Advanced Bionics implant and I am pleased with how music sounds with it. I chose AB because I felt the technical specifications were a bit better. Not many people have ever had multiple brands of CI implanted and those who have are usually in that situation because the previous implant failed. This means there is no way to directly compare how things sound and anyone who states one is better than another is at most guessing. Such is life.

Keep in mind that CIs require a good deal parts and pieces and you will lose some of them at some point. Try getting in contact with each company and seeing how they treat you. I have had positive experiences with AB's customer support and everything I have ordered has arrived via next-day mail, which is a nice touch versus what I am used to with having to schedule appointments with my audiologist for hearing aid issues. Obviously you will still need to visit an audiologist for things such as mapping (programming) the implant processor but not for things like losing the microphone or a headpiece or clip or whatever.

Also, AB has the only decent waterproof solutions so if you think you might want to do water activities and hear, there is only one manufacturer that actually has a completely submersible processor without a bag or case.

medfundhelp said:

hi, i have a big problem cuz i am totally deaf and i want a CI but my mom is scared that i wont be able to hear music(wich i cant now anyway) cuz the quality of the notes may be so bad. can somebody please tell me what CI has the best music quality?


Sent from my iPhone using AllDeaf

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music may sound bad at first after activation, but as time goes on and as your brain gets used to the new auditory signals from the CI, it should get better. After I got my latest MAPping last month, music sounds a bit more normal than it did before as I can pick up some more of the higher frequencies now. Still not perfect, but not bad either. Auditory rehab, train your brain to recognize the sounds with the CI, and it will get better as time goes on, in addition to regular MAPping appointments to make adjustments to your CI processor.

I'm a Med-El user, you can't deny that their form factor is better than the rest. Smaller implant, smaller BTE processor and of course the all-in-one Rondo (which I have, but really don't like).

Plus the Med-El implant is qualified for 1.5T MRI's, which in recent medical events for myself will become a huge benefit.

I don't see how you could out-right reject the technology of Med-El, but to each their own.

As an AB Naida user I suggest if you want the Naida you wait until they work out all the problems they are experiencing.

CI_Borg said:

As an AB Naida user I suggest if you want the Naida you wait until they work out all the problems they are experiencing.

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not if you sweat like a pig obviously. LOL!!!! (that happens to my dad alot in hot weather)