Cochlear Implants
by Cochlear Guest Author
July 6, 2020
We are excited to announce that Cochlear has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the new Cochlear™ Nucleus® Kanso® 2 off-the-ear Sound Processor (CP1150). We have also obtained approval to extend our Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor to Nucleus® 22 implant recipients and will be introducing our next generation CI fitting software, Custom Sound® Pro.
Kanso® 2: Smart has never been so simple.
Compatible with our Nucleus 24 Implant Series forward~, the Kanso® 2 Sound Processor combines the latest connectivity and proven hearing performance technology1-4 features of our Nucleus 7 Sound Processor in a small, all-in-one, off-the-ear design. The Kanso 2 Sound Processor also introduces a built-in rechargeable battery for all day hearing5*, direct streaming from compatible smartphones# and improved dust and water resistance for added peace of mind.+
Nucleus® 7 for Nucleus® 22 implant recipients: Hearing has never been so smart.
Our Nucleus 22 implant recipients have been part of the Cochlear Family since 1982, and we are delighted to now offer the only behind-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor to offer direct streaming, connectivity and control from a compatible Apple® or Android™ device#. With this built-in connectivity, patients can answer their smartphone and enjoy direct connection in both ears,‡ conveniently control and monitor their sound processor, improve their hearing in noise6, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being able to locate their sound processor. All of this is available without additional attachments or additional intermediary devices.
Custom Sound® Pro: Designed by clinicians for clinicians.
Alongside these two product approvals, Cochlear is delighted to also introduce Custom Sound® Pro fitting software – our next generation of CI fitting software. With an intuitive new design layout and guided workflows, Custom Sound® Pro has been designed to enhance the fitting process for you and your patients, today and into the future. A new patient dashboard with integrated patient goals promotes additional patient engagement and facilitates more effective tracking of progress between appointments. Additionally, new adjustment screens help support clinical efficiencies while allowing you access to all the same power and flexibility that suits you.
Cochlear family commitment.
Cochlear is always considering the needs of our recipients. We also understand that when we introduce new sound processor technology, there are recently implanted Cochlear recipients who were unable to select this latest technology. As part of our Technology Exchange Program, newly implanted patients who have been activated from FDA approval date forward until the commercial release of the Kanso 2 sound processor are eligible to exchange one of their sound processors in the activation kit for the new Kanso 2 sound processor. If desired, eligible recipients will be able to begin processing this exchange at commercial launch.
For current Nucleus recipients who have recently qualified for an upgrade, Cochlear will be offering a 90-day return and exchange period on all upgrade orders based upon shipping date. Within this period, upgrades can be returned for full credit, or exchanged for another compatible sound processor. If you have current recipients who are interested in upgrading their Nucleus device, remember Cochlear is here to support them, and you. Directing recipients to Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Support Center is one way to help alleviate some of the work for your staff. Our team of support specialists are here to support your patients through every step of their hearing journey.
Key Dates:
| July 6, 2020 Upgrade Pre-orders available | Cochlear will begin processing upgrade pre-orders for the Kanso 2 Sound Processor and Nucleus 7 Sound Processor for Nucleus 22 recipients |
| August 2020 Custom Sound Pro Software release | Custom Sound Pro fitting software is required and must be used to program these new sound processor innovations. To schedule a Software Support session, please book time here: https://calendly.com/cochlear-software-support/cs-software-support. |
What Should I Do Next?
- Join us on Wednesday, July 8 at 5pm ET or Tuesday, July 14th at 12 pm ET for a live, in-depth introduction to our latest innovations! Watch the recording here.
- Read the complete press release here!
- Contact your local Cochlear representative for more information.
Thank you for helping our recipients Hear Now. and Always
Cochlear ImplantCustom Sound ProFDA approvalhearing lossKanso 2smartphonesound processor
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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Including AuD students in MAPping appointments
March 9, 2022
By Wilder Roberts, Au.D., CCC-A
Background
Emerging clinicians need experience MAPping cochlear implants as much as they need experience programming and fitting hearing aids.This includes candidacy evaluations, pre-implant counseling, activations, MAPping appointments, counseling, rehabilitation and device pairing/accessory.
The average age of today’s audiologist is 42 years, which means these audiologists did have cochlear implant classes in graduate school and have seen the evolution of cochlear implant technology. These audiologists might have been trained by the manufacturers at the manufacturer’s facility or in regional training. Today’s students are more savvy to technology and their courses in graduate school are more in depth.
The textbooks for teaching are also improved and the course objectives directly address ASHA Standards II-A (Foundations of Practice), II-B (Prevention & Screening), II-C (Audiologic Evaluation), II-D (Counseling), II-E (Audiologic Rehabilitation Across the Lifespan) and II-F (Pediatric Audiologic (Re)habilitation). Topics specifically addressing cochlear implants range from candidacy and outcomes, to coding strategies and programming. As with all AuD programs, course content provides the foundation and clinical opportunities provide the ability to apply course content and truly learn the software and live programming.
What opportunities are students seeking?
Students are requesting hands-on opportunities – they want to watch and observe initially and ask questions if needed. Students have a strong desire to learn, serve patients well and feel confident in services they are providing.
How can you involve students?
If you’re not currently supervising any AuD doctoral students, I urge you to consider this! You have much to offer our budding colleagues. Obviously, the level of involvement will depend on the clinical experience your student has had. Feel free to ask them what they’ve seen, protocols with which they are familiar (they usually have copies of them) and their comfort level with cochlear implants in general.
Sample ways to include students:
- Students are able to prepare equipment, check it in and get your supplies ready for an appointment.
- Students are able to connect sound processors to cables or Wireless Programming Pods, open patient files in Custom Sound® Pro and follow a general MAPping flow. If the student is working in the software, you’re able to counsel and guide both the patient and the student seamlessly. If there’s time, allow them to practice in ‘Training Mode’.
- Students are great scribes, so if you’re making MAPping changes, allow them to note this for you for easy reference and documentation.
- Students can spend the time showing patients how to use their battery chargers, connect sound processors to smartphones, and how to connect to the Cochlear apps.
Resources
These tasks seem simple, but if we don’t give students the opportunity to practice these skills, we can’t expect them to be able to do this independently. Feel free to assign them tutorial videos prior to attempting these skills.
To assist with this, on the myCochlear website, under “CPN resources,” there is a CPN Initial activation Checklist and the student can review this. You can choose which part the student can cover – start slow and then add to it.
If you do not use Cochlear Link, show students how to download MAPs or upload MAPs. Allow them to work with your clinic stock or better yet, have them organize and inventory your clinic stock to familiarize themselves with your system and identify parts of the sound processors.
The Bottom Line
University clinics offer background knowledge and some clinical experience. Off-campus preceptors are invaluable to the future of our profession in helping create colleagues who you are comfortable working with and referring patients. We have to pass the baton at some point, and we all want competent professionals serving our patients. Students can be an asset in your clinic and are eager to learn from your expertise.
To read more from peers, subscribe to Cochlear ProNews.
About the author: Dr. Wilder Roberts is an Assistant Professor and Cochlear Implant Program Director at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. She received her undergraduate in Deaf Education at the University of Montevallo, her Master of Science in Audiology at the University of Montevallo and her doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida. She has been working with cochlear implants for over 20 years in both pediatric and adult populations. She has training in Auditory-Verbal Techniques and is a state champion for Alabama in the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA). She has also completed Advanced Cochlear Implant Training through the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training. Dr. Roberts is passionate about cochlear implants and increasing candidacy awareness. Dr. Roberts is from Mobile, AL, is married and has two sons.
For compatibility information visitwww.cochlear.com/compatibility
Three days lost at sea: a Recipient/Audiologist recounts his decision to become a bilateral cochlear implant user
November 28, 2017
After three days lost somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, Mark Campbell-Foster (AuD. and bilateral Cochlear™ Nucleus® recipient) and his Nucleus® 7 were reunited, thanks to a stranger with an underwater metal detector.
Vacationing with his mother, Denise, in Aruba recently, Mark’s Nucleus 7 and its Aqua+ spent three days underwater* covered by the island’s white sand which made it impossible for Mark or his mom to locate the lost sound processor. Luckily, Mark was wearing his Kanso® sound processor on the opposite ear and still had one ear to hear! Relying on one ear reminded Mark of his decision to become a bilateral Nucleus® cochlear implant (CI) recipient and he shared this story…
As a university junior, Mark Campbell-Foster made the decision to receive his first cochlear implant. That decision was driven, in large part, by his inability to hear his mom over the television one evening. Mark and his mom, Denise, have always been close and it was her voice that he says, “his brain remembered the most.” When he could no longer clearly understand her, he made the decision to receive his first Nucleus cochlear implant. Denied by insurance, Mark’s parents offered to pay for the device out-of-pocket – luckily, a second insurance request was approved and Mark could be implanted during the next school break.
As a young man faced with the choice between two CI brands, Mark says that he chose Nucleus for what he felts was an “edge on design and the availability of a small headpiece coil.” Today, he is thankful for the ability to continually upgrade to new technology and, as you read earlier, he is glad that Cochlear now offers the Aqua+ to keep his sound processor dry!
After pursuing an Audiology degree at Northeastern University, Mark made the decision to become a bilateral cochlear implant recipient because he felt he would be more successful on the telephone. At that time, Mark was working at a fast pace clinic, and often had to use the telephone with his cochlear implant. This meant relying on the contralateral hearing aid in the opposite ear whenever someone would speak to him when he was on hold. This made listening challenging. However, Mark feels that the decision to go bilateral was actually made harder for him as an audiologist since he felt his hearing aid provided a qualitative aspect to his hearing that he finds hard to pinpoint in words.
Once implanted, Mark’s friends and family noticed improvements in his ability to communicate, reporting to Mark subtle improvements in the clarity of his speech. From his perspective, Mark felt that the first CI was “the cake” and the second CI became “the icing on the cake.” This allows him to walk into the clinic’s waiting room without worrying whether his next patient was seated on the left or the right side of the room because he knew he would hear them no matter where they were seated.
Able to speak from a point of authority both as a recipient and as an audiologist, Mark routinely works with CI clinics on the east coast and often finds himself counseling patients about the decision to receive a cochlear implant. Mark was recently recognized as Cochlear’s field team member of the year.
* The Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor is water resistant to level IP54 of the International Standard IEC60529. The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor with the Aqua+ is water resistant to level IP68 of the International Standard when used with LR44 alkaline or nickel metal hydride disposable batteries.
Journal Club - Slim, Modiolar Cochlear Implant Electrode: Melbourne Experience and Comparison With the Contour Perimodiolar Electrodeby Wade Colburn / July 14, 2020
FAQs
What is the price of Kanso 2? ›
Buy KANSO 2 CP1150 HOME CHARGER Online for Rs 10,200.
When did Kanso 2 come out? ›AudiologyOnline: What does the FDA's new approval of Cochlear's technology include? Natasha McDougald: On July 2, 2020 the FDA granted approval to Cochlear Americas for the first off-the-ear sound processor with smartphone compatibility and direct streaming - the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Kanso® 2.
What is the newest cochlear implant 2022? ›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.
Which cochlear implants are FDA approved? ›(January 11, 2022) — Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implants for the treatment of unilateral hearing loss (UHL)/single-sided deafness (SSD).
Can you swim with kanso 2? ›Add the security of the Cochlear™ Aqua+ and your Kanso 2 Sound Processor becomes waterproof*, so you can confidently wear your sound processor while enjoying your favorite water activities.
How long does Kanso 2 battery last? ›Did you know that the battery life of the integrated rechargeable battery on the Kanso 2 Sound Processor is up 18 hours?
What is the price of cochlear Kanso processor? ›Nucleus® 8 and Kanso® 2 Sound Processors
The average cost of a cochlear implant sound processor upgrade is $1,800-$3,000, depending on your health plan.
The simplicity of the Kanso 2 Sound Processor is spectacular! The recipient can just tap the processor three times to turn it off and twice to turn it on. I love that it has become so incredible easy for recipients to use.
What is the difference between Kanso 2 and nucleus 8? ›The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features an additional USB charging option, allowing you to charge from a PC, or in the car. The Kanso 2 Sound Processor uses a new all-in-one Home Charger that charges, stores and dries your device at the same time. A Portable Charger is also available.
What is the oldest age to get a cochlear implant? ›“People always ask me, 'Am I too old for a cochlear implant?,' and my response to that is that you're never too old to hear – to be a part of the world,” says Dr. David Kelsall. Dr. Kelsall, otologist from Rocky Mountain Ear Center located in Denver, Colorado, has personally implanted a patient who is 96 years old.
What is the best age to get a cochlear implant? ›
Children can receive a cochlear implant beginning at 10 to 12 months of age. For a child hoping to receive a cochlear implant at this age, evaluations should start around 3 to 4 months of age. A congenitally deaf child should have cochlear implant surgery before 3 years old, earlier if possible.
What is the age limit for a cochlear implant? ›In the United States, the Cochlear Nucleus 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.
What cell phones are compatible with cochlear implants? ›- Google Pixel 6.
- Google Pixel 5.
- Google Pixel 4.
- Google Pixel 3.
- Google Pixel.
- Samsung Galaxy S21.
- Samsung Galaxy S20.
- Samsung Galaxy S10.
Exclusionary Conditions. Children with inner ear abnormality (for example, Michel malformation in which the cochlea does not develop, or complete absence of the cochlear nerve) cannot receive cochlear implants.
Are you still deaf if you have a cochlear implant? ›Cochlear implants allow deaf people to receive and process sounds and speech. However, these devices do not restore normal hearing. They are tools that allow sound and speech to be processed and sent to the brain.
Can you use headphones with a cochlear implant? ›The good news about headphones is that you can generally use them in a normal manner. If you have two implants, just put a pair of headphones on! If you have one implant, you can still wear headphones, but of course you will only hear the sound on your implant side.
Does kanso 2 have Bluetooth? ›You can stream calls and entertainment wirelessly to your Kanso 2 from any Bluetooth®-enabled phone using the Cochlear Wireless Phone Clip.
Can you scuba dive with cochlear implants? ›Based on our experience with cochlear implants in SCUBA divers, along with those reported in the literature, we recommend caution in patients with cochlear implants who SCUBA dive regularly and strict adherence to the recommended safety limits. Level of evidence: 4 129:2760-2764, 2019.
How long do cochlear batteries last? ›An average Cochlear Implant rechargeable battery lasts up to 19 hours (for small batteries) and up to 40 hours for bigger batteries per charge. Disposable batteries have a battery life of at least 48 hours. The lifespan of a rechargeable battery is somewhere around 365 to 500 cycles.
What is the average life of a hearing aid battery? ›Standard hearing aid batteries last anywhere from 3 to 22 days, depending on the type of hearing aid, the battery type and capacity, how often the hearing aid is used, and how much streaming you do.
What is the lifespan of a rechargeable hearing aid battery? ›
If your rechargeable hearing aid doesn't have a battery door, it contains a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. These batteries take about 3-4 hours to fully charge and will power your hearing aids for about 24 hours per charge. The battery itself should last for the entire life of the hearing aid, typically 4-5 years.
How much does a cochlear implant in one ear cost? ›How much does a cochlear implant cost? Without insurance, a cochlear implant can cost between $30,000 and $50,000 on average. Most major insurance providers such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and the Department of Veterans Affairs cover the cost of cochlear implants, or at least a portion of them.
What is the top rated cochlear implant? ›Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implants are the most reliable in the industry. Along with hearing performance, that's a key reason why Cochlear is the most chosen1-4 hearing implant company. With more than 475,000 implants worldwide,1 no other company can match our record for implant reliability.
How much does a cochlear implant cost in USA? ›Cochlear implants are more expensive than hearing aids. The average cost of cochlear implants can range from $30,000 to $50,000 without insurance. Most major insurance agencies and federal insurance programs provide coverage for cochlear implants.
What is the tiniest cochlear implant? ›Nucleus® Kanso® 2 Sound Processor is the world's smallest off-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor with proven hearing performance technologies.
Is there a new cochlear implant coming out? ›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.
What are the smallest cochlear implants? ›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. Making the Nucleus 7 the smallest and lightest cochlear implant sound processor available.
How do I connect my cochlear to my Android? ›When you have downloaded the app, you'll have to create a Cochlear account or login using your existing account. Once you've logged into the app use the 'Pair your processor' screen and follow the prompts in the app, as well as the instructions in this video, to pair your sound processor with your Android device.
Should a 90 year old get a cochlear implant? ›Surgeons say age may not be a factor. Some older patients do well with cochlear implants, experts say. Is there an age limit to getting a cochlear implant? I asked this question of several cochlear implant surgeons around the country, and they all answered the same way: Age, per se, is not a disqualifying factor.
How much hearing loss do you need for a cochlear implant? ›Severe to profound mid to high-frequency hearing loss (threshold average of 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz ≥75 dB HL) in the ear to be implanted.
What level of hearing loss qualifies for cochlear implant? ›
Therefore, patients with hearing losses greater than or equal to 60 dB HL (pure tone average 0.5, 1k, 2kHz) and speech understanding less than or equal to 60%,8 should be considered for a referral for a cochlear implant evaluation.
Can an 80 year old get a cochlear implant? ›Cochlear implant Outcomes in Older Adults: There are no “age limits” for cochlear implantation in older adults. Cochlear implants support cognitive health and have been shown to improve quality of life in people of all ages.
What can you not do with a cochlear implant? ›- Diving from a diving board – this can cause trauma and put the internal implant at risk.
- Rides involving high speeds / extreme forces as this may dislodge the internal implant.
- Martial arts involving throwing.
- Must not touch Van der Graaf generator in school science lessons.
These include: bleeding, infection, device malfunction, facial nerve weakness, ringing in the ear, dizziness, and poor hearing result. One long-term risk of a cochlear implant is meningitis (infection of the fluid around the brain).
Does cochlear implant stop tinnitus? ›Recent findings: Cochlear implantation in SSD suppresses tinnitus in most of the cases. Some studies even demonstrate complete tinnitus suppression after implantation. No tinnitus worsening is reported in any of the cases.
Can you get disability with a cochlear implant? ›You are automatically eligible for SSDI benefits if you have cochlear implants in one or both ears for one year after they were implanted. This is true whether or not your hearing improves.
How long does it take to recover from cochlear implant surgery? ›Cochlear implantation is performed as outpatient surgery under general anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts about two hours. Only the internal component will be placed during surgery. You may go home the same day, and recovery time is usually one to two weeks.
Can magnets damage cochlear implants? ›In general, it appears that static magnets should be avoided - because they can interfere with the magnets used to attach the external receiver - and anything that injects currents in the head should be avoided because of the risk of damaging the implant.
Can you watch TV with a cochlear implant? ›If you use hearing technology, be it hearing aids or cochlear implants, you can often stream audio straight from your TV to your device. That way, you can watch TV at a volume that's comfortable and personalized just for you.
What are two negatives limitations of a cochlear implant? ›- May hear sounds differently. ...
- May lose residual hearing. ...
- May have unknown and uncertain effects. ...
- May not hear as well as others who have had successful outcomes with their implants.
- May not be able to understand language well.
Why don t cochlear implants work for everyone? ›
However, some people cannot benefit from cochlear implantation. In order for a cochlear implant to work, the auditory nerves must be intact. Cochlear implants cannot help when deafness is caused by the injury or absence of the auditory nerve fibers.
What type of hearing loss do cochlear implants not help? ›When the auditory nerve is damaged or missing, this is known as a neural hearing loss. Hearing aids and cochlear implants cannot help because the nerve is not able to pass on sound information to the brain.
Can cochlear implants cause tinnitus? ›Tinnitus is experienced by up to 86% of adult cochlear implant candidates, but is not universal and is only troublesome in a small proportion (reported as 27% in one study). Electrode insertion may induce tinnitus in a small (up to 4%) number of patients, but this is rare.
What happens if you get an MRI with a cochlear implant? ›The strong magnetic field of an MRI scanner can affect medical implants that contain metal or magnets. When this happens, the implant may move or twist inside of the patient's body, causing discomfort, pain, or injury.
Can you sleep with cochlear implant? ›Can I wear a cochlear implant processor while sleeping? No. The outer part of the device implant is likely to come off during sleep and could be damaged, so you should remove the external portion before going to bed. If you live alone, additional assistive listening devices can help alert you to emergencies.
Is a cochlear implant better than a hearing aid? ›Hearing aids do not require surgery and are best suited for people with less severe hearing loss and fair speech understanding. Cochlear implants require surgery and are best suited for people with more severe hearing loss in one or both ears and poor speech understanding.
What is the difference between nucleus 8 and Kanso 2? ›The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features an additional USB charging option, allowing you to charge from a PC, or in the car. The Kanso 2 Sound Processor uses a new all-in-one Home Charger that charges, stores and dries your device at the same time. A Portable Charger is also available.
Is Kanso 2 rechargeable battery? ›The Kanso 2 Sound Processor is the smallest and lightest5,6 off-the-ear sound processor available, with a built-in rechargeable battery and improved dust and water resistance* so you can hear comfortably all day with confidence.
Does Kanso 2 have telecoil? ›What's included. *The Kanso 2 Sound Processor does not have an integrated telecoil but it can be connected to assistive listening devices utilising the telecoil functionality of the Mini Microphone 2+. The telecoil of the Mini Microphone 2+ is optimised for room loop use.
What is the difference between cochlear n7 and n6? ›The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is 25 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the previous generation Nucleus 6 Sound Processor. It also features Cochlear's industry-leading SmartSound® iQ with SCAN** and dual microphone technology, helping people to hear more clearly in any environment.
Is there an invisible cochlear implant? ›
The COCHLEAR™ CARINA®
The Carina Middle Ear Implant is a totally implantable hearing device. This means there is nothing on the outside. The microphone, battery and speech processor are all under the skin, so the device is not visible.