Clinical Quick Tips: How to pair a Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor to compatible Apple® devices

By Natasha McDougald, Product Manager – Bimodal and Hybrid Hearing

Giving patients sound at their fingertips is now easier than ever.

With the introduction of direct streaming and control with compatible Apple^® and Android™ devices and True Wireless™, they don’t need to add an attachment to their sound processor to connect to the world around them.

Users can conveniently use their compatible iPhone® or Android to stream sound, such as phone calls and music, directly to their Nucleus® 7 sound processors using Made for iPhone and Android Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) technology.

Android Streaming

Did you know we created the first cochlear implant sound processor with direct to device control and accessibility for Apple and Android compatibility?

Nucleus Smart App for Apple Watch

This new feature allows for convenient control at your fingertips with a discreet tap. Patients can:

• Change programs
• See battery status
• Adjust volume
• Select audio source

The Apple Watch app also includes controls for ForwardFocus**, which is a feature to aid wearers in challenging listening environments. It’s intelligently designed to attenuate distracting noise from behind the listener, making it easier to enjoy face-to-face conversation and maximizing frontward focus.¹

Using ForwardFocus**, recipients demonstrated statistically significant improvement in both conditions of spatially separated noise².  This can result in an improved and controlled listening experience as rear-facing noise is reduced.

Hear the Difference

The Mini Microphone 2+, Phone Clip and TV Streamer afford patient access to ultimate wireless connectivity.

Stay tuned for more innovations to help you and your patients connect without compromise!

To learn more about wireless connectivity options or how to pair a device please visit our TECH Talks page.

About the 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.

*The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with Apple and Android devices, for compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

**ForwardFocus can only be enabled by a hearing implant specialist. It should only be activated for users 12 years and older who are able to reliably provide feedback on sound quality and understand how to use the feature when moving to different or changing environments. It may be possible to have decreased speech understanding when using ForwardFocus in a quiet environment.

References

1. Cochlear Limited. D1376556.CLTD5709 Acceptance and Performance with the Nucleus 7 Cochlear Implant System with Adult Recipients. 2018 Jan; data on file.
2. Cochlear Limited D1376556 Acceptance and Performance with the Nucleus 7 Cochlear Implant System with Adult Recipients. June 2018, Data on file

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.

Welcome to Cochlear™ Quick Tips.  The purpose behind Quick Tips is to give you “bite-sized” information that you can use when working with our products.  In this first edition, we will discuss Cochlear™ Nucleus® Depth Gauges.

What is a depth gauge?

• Depth gauges are surgical components that utilize the same materials and have the same handling characteristics as “live” electrode arrays

When should a Depth Gauge be considered?

• To aid in assessing the patency of the cochlea lumen if pre-operative imaging is inconclusive or unavailable
• To assess if insertion depth is adequate
• To assist in determining the most appropriate implant model
• During explant/re-implant procedures

What Depth Gauges are available?

• Cochlear has two types of depth gauges: the Contour Advance Depth Gauge and Straight Depth Gauge

• The Contour Advance Depth Gauge is more commonly used of the two depth gauge options. This is due to its benefits in obstruction/fibrosis/ossification, common cavity, incomplete partition, and cochlear hypoplasia cases

Can I see an example of how this can be used?

Anything else I should know?

• Depth gauges are not approved for use as an implant or stent. 
• Monopolar electrocautery should not be performed with a depth gauge in position.
• The Straight Depth Gauge DOES NOT have the same the same dimensions or handling characteristics as the Slim Straight electrode and does not have a smooth lateral surface or basal support​.  Size differential between slim straight and straight electrode arrays may create false-positive or false-negative feedback with use​. 
• For more information, please reach out to your local Cochlear representative or call Cochlear’s Surgical-on-Call at (877) 279-5411.

To learn more about Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implants, visit our website.