Cochlear Implants
by Patti Trautwein

20/20 hearing makes it to Hollywood – The importance of knowing your PTA

August 2, 2021
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By Patti Trautwein, MA, AuD, Vice President, Market Access & Reimbursement

What is normal hearing? When I asked that question among family, friends, and colleagues in early 2019 the answer was a sobering “I do not know.”  Yet, most could quickly rattle off measures for normal vision, blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index. 1   

As hearing health professionals, we know how important the sense of hearing is to communicate and engage with others throughout one’s life. The COVID-19 pandemic requiring masking and social distancing has further highlighted the relevance of hearing health.2 Unfortunately, the lack of a common metric for hearing health, limits the understanding of consumers and primary care providers on how to prevent and treat hearing loss.

In a recent JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery publication, Frank Lin, MD, PhD and Nicholas Reed, AuD, suggest that the otolaryngology and audiology community converge on the 4-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) as a universal metric for hearing health.3 Further, the 2021  World Report on Hearing from the World Health Organization defined grades of hearing loss using the PTA. 4

On world hearing day last year, a Hearing 20/20 campaign initiated public education on normal hearing using the PTA as a standard metric.

So, imagine the thrill receiving notes from family, friends and colleagues who recently watched the new movie The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard with Samuel L Jackson, Salma Hayek and Ryan Reynolds where character Michael Bryce played by Ryan Reynolds states,“ I have 20/20 hearing, I can hear you.”

While diagnostically, we need a comprehensive battery to assess hearing function, the PTA as a simple, universal metric can help raise awareness of hearing health in the public vernacular on the big screen and hopefully off!

Read more about Hearing 20/20 here!

Patti

Patricia’s 25 years in the hearing healthcare industry includes roles in research and clinical studies, product management, education and training, sales and marketing. As Cochlear America’s VP of Market Access, Patricia is responsible for the reimbursement strategy of our product and service innovations, value-based evidence and economics, government affairs and related advocacy. Prior to her role in Market Access, Patricia served as the VP of Marketing, where she was responsible for the Marketing Strategy, Communications and Public Relations, Brand Ambassador Program and Product Management.

References:

  1. https://pronews.cochlear.com/what-is-normal-hearing-why-a-simple-and-consistent-answer-is-needed/
  2. https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-loss-pandemic-survey/
  3. Lin FR, Reed NS. The Pure-Tone Average as a Universal Metric-Knowing Your Hearing. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Dec 23. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.4862. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33355634.
  4. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-hearing
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Clinical Quick Tips: Getting ready for splashing into summer with the Aqua+

July 19, 2018

Clinical Quick Tips

By guest author: Natasha McDougald

Natasha

Are your patients getting ready for a wild wet summer?  Share the following tips with your patients for them to HearYourWay™ while getting soaked.

  • For Behind the Ear processors use rechargeable batteries while using the Cochlear™ Aqua+*
  • For Kanso®;  the LR44 battery is required for use with the Aqua+
  • Always remember to use a safety line with your processor when exploring the ocean or river since processors don’t float!
  • Want to hear coach’s instructions clearly during swim club with your Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7, Nucleus® 6 or Kanso? Have them use the MiniMicrophone 2+ while coaching from the deck.

Tips for Optimizing Sensitivity and Volume for Aqua+

  • Many recipients may prefer slightly increased volume and sensitivity while wearing their Aqua+
  • Consider having the patient bring their Aqua+ and optimizing a MAP for sensitivity and volume while they are wearing the Aqua+ to create as a manual program OR encourage recipients to utilize remote controls or the Nucleus Smart App since preferred changes are likely to be minimal and temporary.

Share this instructional video with your patients to help answer their questions about using the Aqua+ with their Nucleus 7 Sound Processor:

About our guest author:

Natasha has worked at Cochlear Americas for almost 7 years partnering with clinicians and surgeons at the University of Miami, UCSF, Stanford, UC Davis and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital of Oakland to bring cochlear implants to pediatric and adult patients.  Extremely passionate, Natasha is professionally and personally invested in the implantable hearing industry and strives to forward the cause of those affected by hearing loss.  She has presented numerous talks and courses on hearing loss, multiple disabilities, advocating skills and cochlear implantation to audiences in the medical-technology, educational, special needs and family support sectors.

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*Nucleus 7 with Aqua+ is water resistant to level IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529. This water protection rating means that the sound processor with the Aqua+ can be continuously submerged under water to a depth of 3 meters (9 feet and 9 inches) for up to 2 hours. This water protection only applies when you use the Aqua+ and LR44 alkaline or nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries. The Kanso Sound Processor with the Aqua+ is water resistant to level IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529. This water protection rating means that the sound processor with the Aqua+ can be continuously submerged under water to a depth of 3 meters (9 feet and 9 inches) for up to 2 hours. This water protection only applies when you use the Aqua+ and LR44 alkaline or nickel metal hydride disposable batteries.
©2018. Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, Made for iPad logo, Made for iPhone logo, Made for iPod logo, iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Kanso 2

Cochlear obtains FDA approval of Kanso 2 Sound Processor, first off-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor with direct smartphone connectivity

July 6, 2020

We are excited to announce that Cochlear has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the new Cochlear™ Nucleus® Kanso® 2 off-the-ear Sound Processor (CP1150). We have also obtained approval to extend our Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor to Nucleus® 22 implant recipients and will be introducing our next generation CI fitting software, Custom Sound® Pro. 

Kanso 2

Kanso® 2: Smart has never been so simple.

Compatible with our Nucleus 24 Implant Series forward~, the Kanso® 2 Sound Processor combines the latest connectivity and proven hearing performance technology1-4 features of our Nucleus 7 Sound Processor in a small, all-in-one, off-the-ear design. The Kanso 2 Sound Processor also introduces a built-in rechargeable battery for all day hearing5*, direct streaming from compatible smartphones# and improved dust and water resistance for added peace of mind.+

Nucleus® 7 for Nucleus® 22 implant recipients: Hearing has never been so smart.

Our Nucleus 22 implant recipients have been part of the Cochlear Family since 1982, and we are delighted to now offer the only behind-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor to offer direct streaming, connectivity and control from a compatible Apple® or Android™ device#.  With this built-in connectivity, patients can answer their smartphone and enjoy direct connection in both ears,‡ conveniently control and monitor their sound processor, improve their hearing in noise6, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being able to locate their sound processor. All of this is available without additional attachments or additional intermediary devices.

Custom Sound® Pro: Designed by clinicians for clinicians.

Alongside these two product approvals, Cochlear is delighted to also introduce Custom Sound® Pro fitting software – our next generation of CI fitting software. With an intuitive new design layout and guided workflows, Custom Sound® Pro has been designed to enhance the fitting process for you and your patients, today and into the future. A new patient dashboard with integrated patient goals promotes additional patient engagement and facilitates more effective tracking of progress between appointments. Additionally, new adjustment screens help support clinical efficiencies while allowing you access to all the same power and flexibility that suits you.

Cochlear family commitment.

Cochlear is always considering the needs of our recipients. We also understand that when we introduce new sound processor technology, there are recently implanted Cochlear recipients who were unable to select this latest technology. As part of our Technology Exchange Program, newly implanted patients who have been activated from FDA approval date forward until the commercial release of the Kanso 2 sound processor are eligible to exchange one of their sound processors in the activation kit for the new Kanso 2 sound processor.  If desired, eligible recipients will be able to begin processing this exchange at commercial launch.

For current Nucleus recipients who have recently qualified for an upgrade, Cochlear will be offering a 90-day return and exchange period on all upgrade orders based upon shipping date. Within this period, upgrades can be returned for full credit, or exchanged for another compatible sound processor.  If you have current recipients who are interested in upgrading their Nucleus device, remember Cochlear is here to support them, and you. Directing recipients to Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Support Center is one way to help alleviate some of the work for your staff. Our team of support specialists are here to support your patients through every step of their hearing journey.

Key Dates:

July 6, 2020 Upgrade Pre-orders availableCochlear will begin processing upgrade pre-orders for the Kanso 2 Sound Processor and Nucleus 7 Sound Processor for Nucleus 22 recipients
August 2020 Custom Sound Pro Software releaseCustom Sound Pro fitting software is required and must be used to program these new sound processor innovations. To schedule a Software Support session, please book time here: https://calendly.com/cochlear-software-support/cs-software-support.

What Should I Do Next?

  • Join us on Wednesday, July 8 at 5pm ET or Tuesday, July 14th at 12 pm ET for a live, in-depth introduction to our latest innovations! Watch the recording here.
  • Read the complete press release here!
  • Contact your local Cochlear representative for more information.

Thank you for helping our recipients Hear Now. and Always

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©Cochlear Limited 2024. All rights reserved. ACE, Advance Off-Stylet, AOS, Ardium, AutoNRT, Autosensitivity, Baha, Baha SoftWear, BCDrive, Beam, Bring Back the Beat, Button, Carina, Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, 코클리어, Cochlear SoftWear, Contour, コントゥア, Contour Advance, Custom Sound, DermaLock, Freedom, Hear now. And always, Hugfit, Human Design, Hybrid, Invisible Hearing, Kanso, LowPro, MET, MP3000, myCochlear, mySmartSound, NRT, Nucleus, Osia, Outcome Focused Fitting, Off-Stylet, Piezo Power, Profile, Slimline, SmartSound, Softip, SoundArc, True Wireless, the elliptical logo, Vistafix, Whisper, WindShield and Xidium are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Cochlear group of companies. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

This material is intended for health professionals. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

 

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