I’m a long time forum user. My hearing aid journey began after I lost complete hearing in my right ear folowing brain surgery nearly 20 years ago. It was my perfect ear so did not need hearing aids at that point for my childhood sensioneural loss. I currently wear Oticon More1 with CROS and after my last visit to audi to explore new technology in HAs, she suggested I be evaluated for CI as my hearing continues to decline and at some point ha’s won’t help that much. Result is that both ears qualify but after research and studying my Mris, my ENT does not feel it is worth the attempt on my dead right ear since we have no idea if the hearing nerve is intact nor if it will work if stimulated. So I have decided to be brave and just implant the left ear. He feels it is a strong candidate for a great outcome provided I do my part with all the therapy required. I will and now I have to choose which manufacturer and am looking for advice from all the experienced CI users here. I have read all 3 manufacturers books thru once and will a second time to organize my list of questions, pros and cons of each for my situation and call to talk to each manufacturer. AB is only one with a CROS option for now so that is a consideration but AB is also the only manufacturer without disc only receiver which I would prefer as I wear glasses, headband with long hair and play tennis in the heat a lot so not having a device behind my ear would be preferable. My ENT has one manufacturer he sort of prefers but was open in that its only because he’s worked with them the most. He mentioned one of the 3 has the longest electrode array? I think he said that could be helpful for my loss. I use iphone 15 and am used to direct streaming via bluetooth from my phone for calls and listening to news, podcasts, etc. I use the connect clip occasionally in class situations and use the tv adapter so Im most interested in keeping those situations similar and as handsfree as possible. I have a month to decide so I know I have my research time cut out for me. If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my long post. Any advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Carole
How exciting! I have had my AB CI for two years and took the plunge on the early side. There is some research that indicates doing it while you still have some hearing leads to a better/faster positive outcome. Good for you for being brave! And the good news is, if you do well with the “good” ear, you might have nothing to lose by implanting the dead ear!
About brands. I did a lot of research and asked a lot of questions. I believe the one with longest array is Med El. I would look closely at this before choosing - I don’t think they (and this may have changed recently) have truly hands free phone calling and streaming. With my AB, my phone rings, I answer by pressing my HA button and just talk. The mic in the CI picks up my voice, so no holding the phone at all. I can leave it across the room and have a conversation easily. Same with streaming. If you are used to having it, as you said, you will surely miss it. And with regard to longer electrode length = better, I would say the research is still unclear on this. Some inner cochleas are not long enough to handle the longer array. The Med El reps will say it is clear and produce their research, but other studies don’t seem to replicate - yet. You may want to zoom with reps from each brand - I will say that Cochlear and Med El reps tended to dis AB and the AB reps did not dis the others - this is echoed by others on various user facegroup book groups. Don’t take my word for it, however, - it’s just based on my personal conversations with the companies. I don’t use it, but I believe the Roger is the device used in class situations, groups, etc.
As for disc only on your head - yes, that is one factor to be considered. For me, I decided that the best hearing seems to be with the processor on the ear using the ABf “t-mic” feature. I wear glasses, am active and don’t have any issue with keeping my processor on. I just put my ball cap/headband/beanie right over it. AB has an “activity battery” that allows you to put the processor itself inside a waterproof case and clip that to a collar, sleeve, whatever. You use a longer cable to attach the magnet to your head. I use that for swimming mostly - and sometimes if I am taking a longer bike ride - I find the processor on ear does press into my head a little wearing a bike helmet, but not until about an hour in. There are others on the forum using the other brands. I’m sure they will weigh in! Happy to answer any questions or even arrange a zoom chat.
I made my CI decision based on my surgeon’s recommendation. He was adamant that one company had the best product and support.
I believe all three companies can help you hear better equally. Each has little differences that might be better for you than another.
Which company will support you best where you live. This turned out to be the most important issue for me.
Hands free phone calls with AB is super nice. I wore Phonaks for many years and love them. This feature should be available with all CI companies very soon with LE Audio. Looking forward to it.
@Carebear I’m assuming you are in the USA. A lot of CI clinics in the US offer 2 processors with surgery. If your surgeons clinic does this you could get 2 processors. Eg Cochlear N8 BTE processor and the Kanzo2 OTE processor.
I’m unsure if AB has an OTE processor though.
@Raudrive has both Kanzo & N7. Rick how are you finding the Kanzo? Are you still having issues with it falling off?
Carebear something to be aware of is the OTE processor can easily be dislodged with any form of activity.
I have the R ear N8 and Resound HA in L ear. I love being bimodal, everything streams to both ears, books, music, podcasts, phone calls etc. I agree with your surgeon rehab is so important, not just to hear and understand speech but music as well. Getting music appreciation with a CI was hard for me. It took hours of streaming music from Spotify, now I just listen to it from my Sonos speaker.
I have strictly worn the K2 processors for the past 2 to 2.5 years. At this time I use the #4 magnets without issues of falling off. I am active so they do hold well. They can get knocked off but so did the on the ear N7’s. I really like the off the ear processors, very comfortable and tend to forget they are on. We are almost due for the K3 processors upgrade. Coming up on 5 years with the K2’s.
I use Android phones without any intermediate device needed. Just got the Pixel 9 pro, really nice phone. I have noticed the Bluetooth to be near perfect with the K2 processors.
This is interesting. When you say “active”, what do you mean?
I use Nucleus 7 (Cochlear brand) processors, the ones with the magnet disc on the head and a wire connected to the behind the ear processor. When I do anything active, I worry about the magnet falling off so I use a cap or a helmet. In fact, the magnet does fall off if I run without a cap. For the processor, I attach a device that clamps it around the ear to make it more secure. But, if I snag the wire on a tree branch while running, the whole thing still falls off.
Generally, it’s fairly secure through mountain bike riding, off road electric unicycling, squash, orienteering on and off trail. The other day, I took a fall in the forest while running off trail and ended up with a commando roll situation, with the system still staying in place. I would not trust a full off the ear device like the Kanso to withstand this sort of treatment.
At almost 70 I do not play sports anymore but getting up everyday and working around the property. This involves running tractors, mowers, saws, auto maintenance and a side by side at speeds up to 45 mph.
Typically the K2’s stay on fine but I do hit stuff with my head and knock the processors off. When I wore the N7’s this happened too. When sound stops you know to stop immediately and find that processor. The K’2 processors are durable. They can bounce on a hard floor without damage unlike the N7’s for example.
Thank you, thank you all for all this wonderful input and ideas to add to my thought processes. You all have added to the exact concerns and questions Ive thought of that will help me with the choice. I plan to make a pro/con type of sheet to help me see on paper the differences and I’ll post it here. I recognize most of your screennames from reading through all the threads on the forum that pop up when I search CI. Just want to say that reading through those threads definitely helped make me brave enough to make the decision to go for it. Especially all the ones preparing for and post op updates and advice and encouragement from everyone when @db4art got implanted.
Yes, I am in US, South Carolina, and am very fortunate in that I believe I have easy access to any of the 3. I turn 65 next month and while Im still doing fine with my current aids, both my audi (not connected with the ent practice) and the ent surgeon she referred me to feel that it’s just a matter of time and that in 5 years I will wish I had done it sooner. My surgeon does seem to want me to want me to thoroughly explore all 3 and decide myself. I believe he prefers Cochlear from a comfort and experience standpoint, but he mentioned the idea that MedEl’s is longer and that could potentially be a benefit due to my high frequency loss and my brain not having to work quite as hard. I dont fully understand that and @joanhawsey’s input on that is very helpful. I will explore that further. He also said the fact that oniy AB has the CROS option for me is another consideration. As well as the OTE processor availability. Active for me means playing tennis, walking amd recreational bike riding. None are extreme contact sports but I hadnt even thought about the OTE falling off. Ultimately for me the choice will come downto which will works best with iphone and handsfree communication I’m used to. I plan to take my CROS out and go about my day and see how much I even notice it missing. I will ask AB to understand better but I’m assumung the CROS is the same device that is used with the Phonak regular aid. From what I think I’ve read though the AB CI works with the Marvel HA line only and I know those are older technology so I need to learn more about that.
This is a bit overwhelming but your input is making me feel so much more confident in doing my analysis. Thank you again!
It’s a big decision! Although I am an audiologist, I don’t work with cochlear implants; however, there is an ENT who has cochlear implants and he has a website that may help provide some information: Cochlear Implants | Dr. Chad Ruffin
Thank you! Watched one video and am exploring Dr Ruffin’s site. A weath of information. I’ve researched much and talked to actual implantees thanks to my original post asking for help and have decided to go with the AB implant. Preserving hearing on my left and only ear is extremely important for me so from this link I’m wondering if I need to be sure my surgeon is comfortable with this soft insertion technique Dr Ruffin describes. Or if I should postpone surgery a bit until this becomes common practice. I understand from the audiologist who will be doing my CI activation that he will be using the AB’s mid scala electrode array as opposed to the slimj and want really understanding the difference. After reading Dr Ruffin’s “preserving hearing” post I feel I should ask for more explanation and be sure I understand it completely and that we are on the same page that preservation is the most importantly goal. Or if it’s not then I should understand why. My audiogram is posted and I realize I don’t have much usable hearing but something as opposed to be completely deaf during the recovery would be preferable. My surgery is scheduled for 2/24 and I hope he will be happy Im asking so many questions.
If you have questions, you need to ask them! If they can’t answer, you need to find another surgeon. It’s a big decision and I’m glad you are able to do some investigating yourself
I hope it feels good to have made that brand decision and now focus on the next set of surgery questions. I agree with Speedy - ask questions. AB has Cochlear Implant Consumer Specialists to help you get context that might not be familiar to your surgeon. I can help connect you if that would be helpful. You want to feel like you understand the reasoning and procedure enough to minimize “I wish I had asked” thoughts after the fact. As recipients - we don’t know what we don’t know. Such as maybe the surgeon is just more comfortable with a certain method - not a bad reason, but nice to know. Or, maybe research and tech have changed some since Ruffin’s video.
