Cochlear Implants
by Cochlear Guest Author

New TECH Talk: Early implantation and its impact on language development

June 11, 2020
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In March 2020 the FDA approved the first expansion of pediatric indications in 20 years. Dr. Jace Wolfe, Director of Audiology and Research at the Hearts for Hearing Foundation in Oklahoma City, analyzes the benefits of early implantation and its impact on brain development.

Wolfe highlights Jaime Leigh’s study1 that suggests the need to mitigate delay in implantation. For example, if a young child is implanted, that child can parallel one year of language progress in one calendar year without falling behind their peers.  

On the other hand, if a child with severe to profound hearing loss waits to be implanted, he or she can only make three months of progress for every calendar year without a cochlear implant.

Wolfe continues by addressing the variability in cochlear implant recipient outcomes. According to Leigh, age accounts for 67% in variability of outcomes in children with hearing loss.1 So, implanting as early as possible can be key, especially as pediatric patients reach hearing and language milestones.

Through partnership together we can reach further to give pediatric patients the progress and possibilities that come with early access to sound.

Why wait? Watch now to learn more about earlier implantation!

To learn more about early implantation visit our TECH Talks page or website.

References:

  1. Leigh, J.R., Dettman, S.J., & Dowell, R.C. (2016). Evidence-based guidelines for recommending cochlear implantation for young children: audiological criteria and optimizing age at implantation. International Journal of Audiology, 55, S9-S18.  

In the US, the cochlear implant system is intended for use in children 9 to 24 months of age who have bilateral profound sensorineural deafness and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate binaural hearing aids. Children two years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss bilaterally. In Canada, the cochlear implant system is intended for use in children 12 to 24 months of age who have bilateral profound sensorineural deafness and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate binaural hearing aids. Children two years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss bilaterally.

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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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4 hearing preservation conversations to consider

January 29, 2020

Although hearing preservation may not yet fully be defined, recent research developments have spurred a movement in the cochlear implant industry to more routinely consider the implications of hearing preservation in the hearing implant journey.

Have you joined in the conversation on this hot topic? Check out these 4 hearing preservation discussion resources:

TECH Talk: Improvements in hearing preservation research

Dr. David Friedmann, Neurotologist at NYU, explains how the movement to routinely consider hearing preservation has helped to progress the cochlear implant from solely a communication device to a more holistic, natural auditory experience.  He also discusses the surgical, audiological and patient-oriented perspectives and outcomes associated with the topic.

Cochlear NEXT CI532 Clinical Study Insights – Is hearing preservation possible with CI532?

In Spring 2019, sixty-five otology and audiology professionals came together for Cochlear NEXT, a program focused on learning and discussion regarding Cochlear’s CI532 Clinical Study and the respective implications of this emerging and impactful data. This proceedings summary reviews the primary talking points and output from the day’s third and final topic of hearing preservation.

Read more now!

Cochlear NEXT: Is preservation possible with the CI532 electrode?

Group Product Manager for Cochlear Nucleus® Systems Ryan Lopez explores the clinical data from Cochlear’s multi-center trial on the CI532 as well as recently published data on the CI532 Slim Modiolar electrode. Lopez highlights the various aspects of measurable, structural and functional preservation.

ProNews Blog: Preservation is possible

As we become more confident in cochlear implant outcomes, more patients with residual hearing after surgery are being evaluated for cochlear implant candidacy.  How do we manage these patients? What electrodes should be used to preserve and maximize acoustic hearing after surgery? This blog examines if the Slim Modiolar electrode’s atraumatic design and consistent scala tympani placement impact the ability of Slim Modiolar to preserve residual hearing in some patients.

Learn more!

To stay updated with the latest hearing preservation discussions, subscribe to the ProNews Blog and visit our TECH Talks page.

FDA approves Cochlear’s Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, smaller, smarter, better connected cochlear implant technology

November 1, 2022

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is the world’s first cochlear implant sound processor ready for Bluetooth LE Audio technology

Lone Tree, Colo. (November 1, 2022) — Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the CochlearTM Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is now the smallest and lightest behind-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor available in the industry. 1-3 It is also the world’s first cochlear implant sound processor ready to provide direct audio connectivity to everyday consumer electronics using the next generation LE Audio technology from Bluetooth®.1-3,#

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features Cochlear’s latest and most innovative hearing technology that can sense changes in a person’s environment and automatically adjust their listening settings.4-7* It also includes an enhanced ForwardFocus+ feature, which effectively reduces distracting background noise to make face-to-face conversations clearer, especially in noisy environments.8,^ Cochlear continues its commitment to reduce the size of each processor generation with the new behind-the-ear sound processor being 15 percent smaller and 13 percent lighter than its predecessor.9, ± 

For more on the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, visit www.Cochlear.US/Nucleus8.

“Cochlear’s goal is to help people feel empowered to connect with their world and make it easier to hear and be heard,” said Lisa Aubert, President, Cochlear Americas. “In a restaurant, at work, at school, or spending time with family and friends – life’s full of opportunities to engage with others. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is our smallest, lightest and smartest behind-the-ear sound processor yet and is designed to help people hear conversations more clearly and comfortably, wherever life may take them.”

Smaller, smarter and better connected

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor builds on the direct streaming capabilities available in Cochlear’s latest sound processors. With access to next-generation Bluetooth LE Audio, it will be easier than ever to directly connect to everyday technology in more places and from more devices than ever before.10-12,# People will be able to conveniently connect directly to broadcasts at public venues such as airports, conference centers, sport stadiums and gyms that support Bluetooth’s next generation Auracast™.

“Cochlear continues to lead in innovation that matters most, delivering smaller and smarter sound processors to improve hearing performance that’s comfortable and easy to use,” said Ryan Lopez, Director, Nucleus Product Management & Marketing, Cochlear Americas. “The Bluetooth LE Audio connectivity in the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor will provide those with hearing loss new, more convenient ways to stream audio to their sound processor, including making it easier for children and adults to engage in the world around them. From the classroom to the conference room, we want to help reduce the stress of life’s interactions with the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor.”

In addition to the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, Cochlear is expanding its Connected Care solutions for Nucleus Implant System recipients. Building upon the ability to let cochlear implant recipients adjust their own processor settings and access Remote Care** options from their mobile phone, enhancements to the Nucleus Smart App will enable future improvements to the bimodal control experience and provide access to Remote Firmware updates, so patients can conveniently access the latest technology without a trip to the clinic.   

For those living with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implants are a proven medical treatment option. Cochlear implants are the most appropriate option to treat hearing loss when it has reached the level of severe to profound. However, conservative estimates suggest that only 1 in 20 adults worldwide who could benefit from a cochlear implant has one.13,14 Better hearing can help people reach their full potential.

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor will be commercially available across the United States and Canada by the end of 2022. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor has been approved by Health Canada.

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 700,000 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 4,500 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

References

  1. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.advancedbionics.com/
  2. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.medel.com/
  3. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.oticonmedical.com/
  4. Cochlear Limited D1864200 SCAN-X Design Description. Apr 2022.
  5. Mauger SJ, Warren C, Knight M, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 6 cochlear implant system: performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journey Of Audiology. 2014, Aug; 53(8): 564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  6. Mauger S, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso™ off- the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal Of Audiology. 2017, Jan 9; 1-10. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  7. Wolfe J, Neumann S, Marsh M, Schafer E, Lianos L, Gilden J, O’Neill L, Arkis P, Menapace C, Nel E, Jones M. Benefits of Adaptive Signal Processing in a Commercially Available Cochlear Implant Sound Processor. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Aug;36(7):1181-90. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  8. Cochlear Limited. D1964109 Clinical Investigation Report CLTD5804. Feb 2022.
  9. Cochlear Limited. D1190805, Processor Size Comparison. May 2022.
  10. Hunn N. Introducing Bluetooth® LE Audio [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan]. Available from: https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/recent-enhancements/le-audio/.
  11. Cochlear Limited. D1631375 Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Product Definition.
  12. A Technical Overview of LC3 [Internet]. Bluetooth® Technology Website. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/a-technical-overview-of-lc3.
  13. Sorkin D. Cochlear implantation in the world’s largest medical device market: utilization and awareness of cochlear implants in the United States. Cochlear Implants Int 2013;14(Suppl 1):S1.
  14. De Raeve L. Cochlear implants in Belgium: Prevalence in paediatric and adult cochlear implantation. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2016;133(Suppl 1):S57–60.

Disclaimers

# When the technology becomes available for the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, a firmware update to your sound processor will allow you to connect to Bluetooth LE Audio compatible devices.

* Compared to Nucleus 6 and 7 Sound Processors.

+ 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.

^Compared to Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor with ForwardFocus on.

±Comparison made using the Compact Battery Module for Nucleus 8 Sound Processor and the Compact Rechargeable Battery for Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.

**Remote Check and Remote Assist are intended for ages 6 and older. Remote Check and Remote Assist features are only visible and accessible if they are enabled by a clinician. Clinicians should consider the suitability of the feature before enabling Remote Check and Remote Assist.

The Bluetooth® and AuracastTM word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Cochlear Limited is under license.

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 follow the directions 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.

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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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