Cochlear Implants
by Cochlear Guest Author

Bimodal benefits: help your patients hear their best in both ears

November 25, 2019
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By Natasha McDougald, Product Manager – Bimodal and Hybrid Hearing

A recent US Multicenter Study demonstrated the hearing performance and quality of life benefits with respect to a bimodal solution.  The study’s implications show that a cochlear implant and hearing aid could work together to give your patients a more natural hearing experience and should be considered within your clinic.

US Multicenter Study Results1

Results from the recent study demonstrated that speech perception significantly improved in both quiet and noise six months after activation in the bimodal condition, including on the telephone.1,2 Additionally, patients reported dramatic changes in their satisfaction with their hearing performance, with 9% reporting satisfaction with their bilateral hearing aid hearing performance, changing to 95% reporting satisfaction with their hearing performance using their bimodal solution.1

Bimodal Benefits

Benefits of a bimodal hearing system include:

  • Greater clarity and improved speech understanding, especially in noise3,4,5,6,7
  • Better determination of where sounds are coming from: localization3
  • Better sound appreciation so your patients can enjoy their favorite music6

The Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implant Systems work with any hearing aid to deliver these life-changing benefits of bimodal hearing. However, the most advanced smart bimodal hearing solution is the result of the partnership between Cochlear and ReSound to enable bimodal users to connect to the people they love and the world around them.

Expanded Connectivity

For the first time, if your patients have a Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor and a compatible ReSound hearing aid, they can stream sound directly to both ears at once from a compatible Apple® or Android™ device.*

With this unique smart bimodal hearing solution, Nucleus 7 recipients using a compatible smartphone can:

  • Connect with others on the phone
  • Rediscover the joy of music
  • Easily control their device settings
  • Use the Nucleus Smart App to find a lost sound processor functionality

To learn more about bimodal benefits please visit our website.

References:

  1. Clinical Evaluation of the Cochlear Nucleus CI532 Cochlear Implants in Adults Investigator Meeting. 2019 Apr.
  2. Wolfe J, Morais M, Schafer Erin. Speech recognition of bimodal cochlear implant recipients using a wireless audio streaming accessory for the telephone. Otol Neurotol. 2016 Feb;37(2):e20-5.
  3. Dorman MF, Gifford RH, Spahr AJ, McKarns SA. The benefits of combining acoustic and electric stimulation for the recognition of speech, voice and melodies. Audiology and Neurotology. 2008;13(2):105-12
  4. Potts LG, Skinner MW, Litovsky RA, Strube MJ, Kuk F. Recognition and localization of speech by adult cochlear implant recipients wearing a digital hearing aid in the nonimplanted ear (bimodal hearing). Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2009 Jun 1;20(6):353-73.
  5. Gottermeier L, De Filippo C, Clark C. Trials of a Contralateral Hearing Aid After Long-Term Unilateral Cochlear Implant Use in Early-Onset Deafness. American journal of audiology. 2016 Jun 1;25(2):85-99.
  6. Sucher CM, McDermott HJ. Bimodal stimulation: benefits for music perception and sound quality. Cochlear Implants International. 2009 Jan 1;10(S1):96-9.
  7. Gifford RH, Dorman MF, McKarns SA, Spahr AJ. Combined electric and contralateral acoustic hearing: Word and sentence recognition with bimodal hearing. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 2007 Aug 1;50(4):835-43.

* The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone SE, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Pro (12.9-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini, iPad (4th generation) and iPod touch (6th generation) using iOS 10.0 or later. The Nucleus Smart App is compatible with iPhone 5 (or later) and iPod 6th generation devices (or later) running iOS 10.0 or later. 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. Information accurate as of July 2017.

**With compatible ReSound hearing aids. A list of compatible hearing aids is available online at: www.Cochlear.com/US/Nucleus7Compatibility.

The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. 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.

Android and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc.

The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For complete smartphone compatibility information, please visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

Author

Cochlear Guest Author

In an effort to keep our content fresh and reflective of a diverse industry, Cochlear Americas features a mix of employees and professional partners to contribute to Cochlear ProNews as Guest Authors.

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FDA approves Cochlear Nucleus Implants for unilateral hearing loss/single-sided deafness

January 11, 2022

Individuals with UHL/SSD can now seek treatment with a cochlear implant from Cochlear to hear with both ears

Lone Tree, Colo. (January 11, 2022) — Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of CochlearTM Nucleus® Implants for the treatment of unilateral hearing loss (UHL)/single-sided deafness (SSD).  

Cochlear implants are already FDA approved for those with moderate to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. With this approval, for the first time Cochlear can expand implantable treatment options for those with UHL/SSD to include cochlear implants.

Cochlear Nucleus System

UHL is classified as hearing loss in one ear and near to near-normal hearing in the opposite ear, and SSD is specific to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss in one ear and normal or near-normal hearing in the other ear. Every year, about 60,000 people in the United States acquire SSD.1

“It is not often that approvals to expand indications and increase awareness about effective treatments for hearing loss come along. Now with this approval, Cochlear is proud to offer the most hearing implant options available to those with unilateral hearing loss/single-sided deafness through our cochlear implant and bone conduction solutions,” said Christine Menapace, MA, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, Cochlear Americas. “It is important that those with this type of hearing loss recognize the impact to their lives and understand there are several options available to them, and we encourage them to talk to their hearing health professional today to find out what would work best for them.”

UHL/SSD can impact an individual’s quality of life, including mental fatigue because of increased listening effort, as well as impacts to understanding speech in noise and localizing where sounds are coming from.2-6 Hearing with both ears is important. Hearing with two ears helps one to identify sounds both near and far, as well as those that occur 360 degrees around the head.7

“Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss has continued to gain greater acceptance in the field as an indication for cochlear implantation,” said Dr. Kevin Brown, Vice Chair, Chief of Neurotology and Executive Director of the Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at the University of North Carolina. “With this approval, it is important my industry colleagues and I ensure appropriate clinical guidance on how to effectively introduce this cochlear implant indication, outline a model for selecting patients that will benefit, and ensure success after implantation.”

Cochlear will now support those with UHL/SSD by offering its cochlear implant, the Cochlear Nucleus System, and bone conduction solutions, the Cochlear Osia® System and the Cochlear Baha® System. Cochlear’s implantable hearing solutions restore access to sound to improve quality of life and meet the lifestyle needs and preferences of each individual recipient.

About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

People have always been Cochlear’s inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 650,000 devices in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life’s opportunities, and welcomes them to the world’s largest hearing implant community.

Cochlear has a global workforce of more than 4,000 people, with a passion for progress, who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$2 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear.

www.cochlear.com/US

###

Register now for the AudiologyOnline course, Considerations in Treating Adults with UHL/SSD, with Kevin Brown, PhD, on January 18th at 5pm ET!

References

  1. Weaver, J. “Single-Sided Deafness: Causes, and Solutions, Take Many Forms.” Hearing Journal 68.3 (2015): 20-24. Web. 28 Apr. 2017. https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2015/03000/Single_Sided_Deafness___Causes,_and_Solutions,.1.aspx
  2. Buss E, Dillon MT, Rooth MA et al. Effects of Cochlear Implantation on Binaural Hearing in Adults With Unilateral Hearing Loss. Trends Hear 2018; 22:2331216518771173.
  3. Firszt JB, Reeder RM, Holden LK, Dwyer NY, Asymmetric Hearing Study T. Results in Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients With Varied Asymmetric Hearing: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Speech Recognition, Localization, and Participant Report. Ear Hear 2018; 39:845-862.
  4. Tavora-Vieira D, Rajan GP, Van de Heyning P, Mertens G. Evaluating the Long-Term Hearing Outcomes of Cochlear Implant Users With Single-Sided Deafness. Otol Neurotol 2019; 40:e575-e580.
  5. Dillon MT, Buss E, Anderson MLet al. Cochlear Implantation in Cases of Unilateral Hearing Loss: Initial Localization Abilities. Ear Hear 2017; 38:611-619.
  6. Dillon MT, Buss E, Rooth MA et al. Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Quality of Life in Adults with Unilateral Hearing Loss. Audiol Neurootol 2017; 22:259-271.
  7. Wazen JJ, Spitzer JB, Ghossaini SN, Fayad JN, Niparko JK, Cox K, et al. Transcranial contralateral cochlear stimulation in unilateral deafness. Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery 2003;129(3):248-54.

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.

© Cochlear Limited 2022. All rights reserved.

boy eating ice cream

Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor: the smallest and lightest cochlear implant sound processor coil

May 9, 2018

wearyourway

The Nucleus® 7 is the world’s only Made for iPhone1 cochlear implant sound processor. In fact, it is 25 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the previous generation Nucleus 6 Sound Processor.2 Making the Nucleus 7 the smallest and lightest cochlear implant sound processor available. In many cases, a smaller device can have a negative impact on battery life; however, we have incorporated a more power efficient chip so the smaller than ever Nucleus 7 actually improves battery life by up to 50%.3

N7 smallest and lightest CI coilThe Nucleus 7 Sound Processor features the Cochlear Slimline™ Coil, a new ultra-compact all-in-one coil and cable. This coil is lighter and offers a lower profile than previous sound processors, which is designed to provide greater comfort – especially when wearing a hat or helmet. In a recent clinical trial, 86 percent of users rated the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor more comfortable than their previous or current sound processor.4

 

Download the Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor User Guide .

Cochlear logo

References:
  1. Apple Inc. Use Made for iPhone hearing aids [Internet]. Apple support. 2017 [cited 24 February 2017]. Available from: https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201466 (Subject to change at time of launch).
  2. Cochlear Limited. D1190805. CP1000 Processor Size Comparison. 2017, Mar; Data on file.
  3. Cochlear Limited. D1140877. Battery Life and Power Consumption Comparison between CP1000, CP900 Series and CP810 Sound Processors. 2017, Mar; Data on file.
  4. Cochlear Limited. D1182081. CLTD 5620 Clinical Evaluation of Nucleus 7 Cochlear Implant System. 2017, Mar; Data on file.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone,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.
The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone SE, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Pro (12.9-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini, iPad (4th generation) and iPod touch (6th generation) using iOS 10.0 or later.

 

Cochlear logo - white

©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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