Hearing aid recommendation for Profound Hearing Loss

Thanks @Bimodal_user I’ll take all that into consideration. Only few users had the chance to use more than one brand and even then their experiences are unique to their needs so I take everything with a grain of salt.

I am glad you are looking into CI.

Looking at your audiogram I question if you really hear and understand speech from about 1000 hertz up.

Something not mentioned is cochlear implant recalls and failures. Each CI manufacturer has issues but some are worse.

As far as technology goes Cochlear Nexa implants have a large advantage for the future having updatable software in the implant itself. This is special IMO.

As far as all three CI brands they will all give very similar results in hearing. Your choice of bimodal or bilateral could also play a part on which brand you choose. Off the ear and on the ear processors might be important to you too. Also having good support for things that break or get lost. Where you live and manufacturer support is very important.

Good luck with this. This forum has members who are knowledgeable and helpful.

Hi @Raudrive Nexa greatest selling point has been the upgradeable firmware. However, seems like it’s not the only one able to do that. In the past 25 years AB upgraded their firmware 6 times (backward compatible):

• HiResolution

• Hi Res Fidelity 120

• ClearVoice

• HiResOptima

• Softvoice

• Span

I’m aware of the catastrophic AB recall of 2020 and how they handled the end of support for C1 users. I’m weighing those cons too.

Off the ear and aqua kits are not important for me. Bimodal feature is high in my list, not just double streaming. Synchronised programs like “speech in noise” changing setting on both devices at same time. And you’re right, after care and customer services are so very important. I’ll be enquiring about that. Remote programming will be crucial too if I move to a different area.

so there’s a lot to think about… I’m still at the very beginning and there’s a long waiting list in UK. I will be able to see new processors being launched and gather more information until I decide.

Thanks a lot for your support 🙂

@MayaL said:

In the past 25 years AB upgraded their firmware 6 times (backward compatible):

This comment is about the processors, not the implant. Like their implant, AB's processors are very out dated. I have read they are coming out with new updated processors, that's great news.

FYI, I wore and self programmed Phonak aids for many years. When I went with CI's I wanted to go with AB/Phonak but my surgeon talked me out of it due to reliability and support. He has many years of experience with CI. All my reading and learning about CI was minor. I trusted his education and experience. It has proven well so far.

You are doing your research, you are the one that will make the ultimate decision. Unless NHS does that for you.