Cochlear Implants
by Ryan Lopez

The new Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor is here! Welcome to the future of hearing.

September 7, 2017
Share

 Welcome to the future of hearing.

The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is the first Made for iPhone sound processor.1 This gives recipients access to connect with their technology as well as their loved ones as they stream phone calls, videos, music and entertainment directly to their sound processor(s). 

The Nucleus 7 is also the world’s smallest, lightest behind-the-ear sound processor; at 25 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the Nucleus 6 Sound Processor.2 Thanks to new chip technology, designed for more efficient power transfer, battery life has increased by up to 50 percent when compared to the Nucleus 6.3 The Cochlear Slimline™ Coil of the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is a new ultra-compact all-in-one coil and cable. This coil is lighter and lower profile than previous sound processors, which provides greater comfort – even when wearing a hat or helmet. The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is the most water resistant sound processor4 and with the addition of the Aqua+, it becomes waterproof.5

The Nucleus Smart App, designed specifically for the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, allows your patients to control their own settings. The Nucleus Smart App contains new and exciting features like, adjusting their own volume, treble, bass and sensitivity, automatic data logging and Find my Sound Processor for locating missing or lost devices. The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with a simple Remote Assistant, however with the introduction of the Nucleus Smart App your patient no longer has to carry around an extra device.6 For the first time, patients can take control and stream sound directly to their sound processor(s) from their Apple devices. True Wireless™ accessories are also compatible with Nucleus 7 Sound Processor in order to help patients watch TV, talk on the phone and listen clearly in noisy situations. For added convenience, patients can switch between streaming to different True Wireless accessories all on their iPhone®.

From noisy or windy conditions to quiet conversations, you can be confident your patients are hearing their best. Equipped with Cochlear’s proven SmartSound® iQ with SCAN sound management system,7 the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor constantly optimizes listening in different environments. SmartSound iQ with SCAN automatically analyses and adjusts settings without the need for multiple programs or patient interaction. For patients who may have residual hearing, the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor comes Hybrid™ ready so that they can use Hybrid Hearing. By using an acoustic component to amplify low frequency sounds, your patients can access the benefits of combined acoustic and electric hearing in a single device.8

The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is commercially available now! Click here to see what your patients are learning on our website about the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.

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. Nucleus 7 Sound Processor User Guide. 2017, Jan; Data on file.
5 Cochlear Limited. Nucleus 7 Aqua+ User Guide. 2016, Oct; Data on file
6 D1182081. CLTD 5620 Clinical Evaluation of Nucleus 7 Cochlear Implant System. 2017, Mar; Data on file.
7 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].
8 Cochlear Limited. P130016: Nucleus® Hybrid™ L24 Implant System. 2013, Sep; Available from: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/EarNoseandThroatDevicesPanel/UCM373793.pdf
© Cochlear Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Hear Now And Always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited.
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.
Nucleus 7 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), iPod touch (6th generation) and iPod touch (5th generation) using iOS 10.X or later. Apple, the Apple logo, Made for iPhone, 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.
SNR-WR, WNR and SCAN are approved for use with any recipient ages 6 years and older, who is able to: 1) complete objective speech perception testing in quiet and in noise in order to determine and document performance: and 2) report a preference for different program settings.
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 a Cochlear Standard Rechargable Battery Module or Cochlear Compact Rechargable Battery Module.
The Nucleus® Hybrid™ Implant System is approved in the US for adults 18 and older.
The acoustic component should only be used when behavioral audiometric thresholds can be obtained and the recipient can provide feedback regarding sound quality.
Related Posts

Counseling new indications and the importance of early access to sound

December 1, 2020

By Ryan Lopez, Director, Nucleus® Product Management & Marketing at Cochlear Americas

For 20 years, cochlear implants have been indicated in children no younger than 12 months of age. Earlier this year, Cochlear received FDA approval to lower the age of cochlear implantation from 12 months to 9 months for children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss.* This important approval ensures that children who are born deaf have earlier access to a cochlear implant which can provide them with the hearing capabilities to develop speech and language at a trajectory similar to their hearing peers.1-3­

As clinicians, counseling parents and caregivers though the decision-making process to implant their child can be an emotional journey. Confidence in understanding why early implantation in children is so important can help to reinforce the vitality of the counseling process.

Age at intervention has been shown to be highly correlated with longitudinal outcomes. Receiving a cochlear implant early in a child’s life provides a greater chance of realizing personal best speech, social and language skills.1 Early access to sound can allow a child’s speech and language development to be on par with normal-hearing peers, enabling a life of possibilities.2-3

In addition to other imperative information surrounding cochlear implantation in children, the Pediatric Evidence Summary for Cochlear Implants take a retrospective approach to clinical data focused on the importance of early access to sound.

Read the Pediatric Evidence Summary now!

References:

  1. Ching TYC and Dillon H. Major Findings of the LOCHI study on children at 3 years of age and implications for audiological management. Int J Audiol. (2013 Dec); 52 Suppl 2:S65-8. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2013.866339
  2. Dettman SJ, Dowell RC, Choo D, Arnott W, Abrahams Y, Davis A, Dornan D, Leigh J, Constantinescu G, Cowan R, Briggs RJ. Long-term communication outcomes for children receiving cochlear implants younger than 12 months: A multicenter study. Otol Neurotol. (2016 Feb); 37(2):e82–e95. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000000915. Copyright 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
  3. Geers AE and Nicholas JG. Enduring advantages of earlier cochlear implantation for spoken language development. J Speech Lang Hear Res. (2013 Apr); 56(2):643-55. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2012/11-0347).

*In Canada (for CI500 and CI600 series implants) and the United States, 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.

mom and son smiling

Don’t wait! Consider earlier implantation for your patients

March 7, 2019

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5% of the world’s population, 466 million people, have a disabling hearing loss. They estimate by 2050, this number is expected to rise to over 900 million people or one in every 10 people.1 As the incidence of hearing loss continues to increase, clinical evidence supports early intervention for cochlear implantation. Shortening the duration of hearing loss by implanting before hearing loss progresses to profound within approved indications can maximize outcomes, increase outcome predictability and promote health and quality of life.2 Moreover, as cognitive decline becomes increasingly relevant within our aging population, hearing loss may be shifting from something we cope with and manage to something we recognize and treat.

Many people believe that cochlear implants are only indicated for those with severe to profound hearing loss and only once hearing aid benefit is gone. However, this notion is no longer true due to the expanded adult indications for cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are indicated for treatment of adults with moderate sloping to profound hearing loss. Even the most advanced or best-fit hearing aids may not be enough. In fact, Balkany et. al showed that 20% of hearing aid users are struggling.3 This population may still receive benefit from cochlear implants. Cochlear implants provide an alternative for patients who want to improve their hearing health instead of continuing to struggle with hearing aids or waiting to progress to deafness. For patients who score less than 40% on open-set word tests, there is a high likelihood they will benefit from a CI.4

FactorsCochlear implants can improve quality of life and overall health of recipients. Better hearing with a CI can increase a patient’s overall quality of life, allowing them to regain confidence in social situations. In 19 clinical studies that measured quality of life for adults after cochlear implantation, all reported a significant improvement.5 Hearing health with a cochlear implant could also lead to better overall health. For patients with severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implantation has been associated with reduced anxiety and depression and improved overall health.6

For seniors, considering cochlear implantation treatment for hearing loss is especially important. As we start to better understand the link between disabling hearing loss and cognitive decline, social isolation and depression, there is growing evidence of the superior outcomes of cochlear implants over hearing aids for people with severe hearing loss (>70dB).7 Cochlear implants may also slow age-related cognitive decline with improvements seen in verbal memory after surgery.8

“A lot of people ignore hearing loss because it’s such a slow and insidious process as we age. Even if people feel they are not affected, we are showing that it may well be a more serious problem.”
– Frank Lin, M.D.

For more details on early intervention and cochlear implantation, please download the Don’t Wait: Health Benefits of Earlier Implantation brochure.

Resources:
1. Data source: World Health Organization, www.who.it/deafness/en/
2. Derinsu U, Yüksel M, Geçici CR, Çiprut A, Akdeniz E. Effects of residual speech and auditory deprivation on speech perception of adult cochlear implant recipients.
3. Balkany et al (2007) Nucleus Freedom North American clinical trial. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 136:757-762
4. Gubbels et al (2016) Can routine office-based audiometry predict cochlear implant evaluation results? Laryngoscope, 127:216-222.
5. Gaylor, BA. Raman, G. Chung, M. Cochlear Implantation in Adults. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Mar;139(3):265-72.
6. Manrique-Huarte R et al (2016) Treatment for Hearing Loss Among the Elderly: Auditory outcomes and impact on quality of life. Audiology Neurotology, 21 Suppl 1:29-25.
7. Hoppe U, Hocke T, Hast A, Hornung J. [Longterm Results of a Screening Procedure for Adult Cochlear Implant Candidates]. Laryngo- Rhino- Otologie [serial on the Internet]. (2017, Apr), [cited July 4, 2018]; 96(4): 234-238.
8. Cosetti MK (2016) Neurocognitive Testing and Cochlear Implantation: Insights into performance in older adults. Clin Interv Aging, 11:603-13.
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.

 

Cochlear ProNews is monitored Monday through Friday, excluding some holidays. Questions and inquiries submitted over the weekends or holidays may see a delay in response. For immediate assistance please contact us directly. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other members of our Websites. Cochlear reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor disputes or communications between you and other members of our Websites. For a full list of Cochlear’s terms of use, click here.