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Researching first cochlear implant - wanting to stream to both CI and hearing aid (bimodal?) - Cochlear + Resound

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I have had hearing aids for 6+ years, first pair broke after 6 years, and early this year I got a second pair, Sennheiser Sonite, from Costco. My left ear has degraded enough now that the left hearing aid doesn't help much, so have been referred to get a cochlear implant in that ear, and to get a new compatible hearing aid in my right ear.

I am very used to streaming music, audiobooks and podcasts to my hearing aids, as well as answering phone calls. I love being able to tap my ears to play/pause.

I'm doing research to make sure that whatever model I get I don't go backwards in technology. I'd be happy to wait for a year or more if it means technology catches up.

I'm pretty new to researching all of this, and a bit confused about the options available, so hopefully this forum will help.

My pick at the moment for the cochlear implant is the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor, behind the ear as I'm not sure the Kanso off the ear will be good for me if I drop it or lose it. I also use a Sennheiser tv headphones, so I figure it would still fit over the top of an on-ear .

If that is my choice, then the audiologist says that the matching hearing aid for my right side would be the ReSound Nexia 9 rechargeable. He says that depending on my phone that it can be configured for simulaneous streaming. I have a Google Pixel 9 Pro, from the forum I can see some problems with Pixels, but it's old enough that I would be ok to change phones if needed - happy to go with an iPhone if that's the best.

I'd love to have the ability to use , though it wouldn't be a very common use for me. The audiologist says that the hearing aid is Auracast enabled, but the Cochlear is "Auracast ready" but not enabled yet, that it would be a later software upgrade.

He also says that hands free calling isn't available with the cochlear, that I'd still need to use the mic on my phone. I'm not sure if the ReSound Nexia 9 can do the hands-free on it's own. This isn't a deal-breaker, but if the next models coming out in the next year or so will have this, then I'd rather wait.

On the Resound website they also have Sensia and Enzo IA Bimodal models listed - but my audiologist hasn't offered these - I'm not sure if they are new and just not available yet (I see that the Sensia was only announced in August 2026)? Or if they don't have the ability that I need? I'm not sure what questions to ask the audiologist.

I'm in Australia, so I think I'd prefer to go with Cochlear (company), but am open to Med-El as an alternative. I don't want Advanced Bionics.

If I've used any incorrect terminology, please let me know as I'm very new to this.

8 people in this conversation17 min readJump to latest

My hunch is Cochlear will be enabled soon. I am looking forward to hands free phone calls myself.

I feel like Cochlear is a step ahead of the others with the Nexa system. I use a Pixel 9 Pro with K2's with an excellent Bluetooth experience.

MedEl has stepped up partnership with Starkey for no extra devices in your pocket or around your neck to stream Bluetooth. I believe they are Apple iOS only for this, no android.

is supposed to have a new processor out in the near future. It just might have Sphere technology?? AB/Phonak are hands free and have been for years with classic Bluetooth.

@Deaf_piper is in Oz and went with Cochlear.

Edited

Hi Chelle welcome to the forum. What part of this great country do you reside in? I’m in Melbourne, I’m & Cochlear N8. You need to get your to send off a referral for an evaluation. That’s 2 hours of thorough testing of your ears both with HA’s and without HA’s.

Firstly are you a pensioner with any type of Centerlink card? If you are you will get a free suitable hearing aid from Hearing Australia, and life long supply of spare parts all just for $38 a year through Hearing Australia. Most Resound hearing aids are suitable, you don’t need a special Resound aid. I’ve got an Enzo 3D it’s a very old platform roughly 12 or more years old but it works perfectly for me.. If you’re not a Centerlink client and you’re under 65 start looking into NDIS and all there paperwork. When you have your surgery date you can then lodge the paperwork. You will be able to get a HA and spare parts and processor upgrades through NDIS.

Cochlear bulk bill all appointments. When I was making enquiries & Med El didn’t. I would have had a lot of out of pocket expenses if I had gone with either of these 2. I’m not knocking them at all it’s just that I’m a pensioner and budget matters. Especially as the CI is a life long necessity for spare parts and they are expensive.

If and when you go ahead and do get a CI you will be going to a different audiology clinic, one that only deals with CI’s

My devices stream bilaterally, I don’t have to hold the phone to talk. I generally have my phone sitting on the arm of the armchair. The person on the other end can hear me clearly. Your HA, CI and phone are all paired together. This lets you stream music, books, podcasts, answer your phone and anything else you want to stream.

@Raudrive uses a pixel phone with great success, I believe.

If you have private health insurance you need to check with them if you’re covered and how many years you have to wait for processor upgrades. I’m with MBP and can get upgrades every 3 years. If your a public patient Medicare will cover your initial processor then your on your own for upgrades. If you apply for NDIS they allow upgrades every 5 years.

That’s a lot more info than you asked for. Send me a private message if you need anything clarified.

Sheryl.

Hi Chelle,

I’m at exactly the same point as you. Doing my research on which and hearing aid combo will give me the technology access and features I am used to.

I can choose between a Med-el or Cochlear CI. I have an iPhone, and use Phonak Paradise R90/.

I have completed all the testing and am on the public hospital waitlist for surgery early/mid 2027.

As part of my research I asked my local audiologist of I could trial one Starkey Omega (for the Med-el) and then one Resound Sensia (for the Cochlear) to see what they sounded like. Obviously hearing experience would be different if paired with a CI, but I think good info know anyway.

I’ve had the Starkey for 6 weeks. Pros- TV streaming works well, phone calls clear, general sound quality is good, battery life awesome, app is good. Cons - tap control does not work, audio does not auto unmute when Auracast paused, Bluetooth to iPhone seems to need line of sight (??) or it breaks up, AI settings for speech/noise didn’t make a noticeable difference to me.

I am going to swap for the Resound Sensia shortly. From the detailed technical specs online, I already know that many features (such as tap control) will not be available in the Sensia . Fine print 😢

Another option is a Cochlear CI and a Phonak Eon, but the compromise is needing a bridging device (phone clip/mini mic) from Cochlear to make everything work together for phone calls, and podcasts. But as both can connect to Auracast, this will help with TV streaming and other inputs. And I know from experience Phonak AI and advanced features work well with one aid, plus I like the sound. So not seamlessly BiModal, but doable.

Meanwhile, looking into NDIS eligibility as soon as possible is good advice, as the application processing takes quite a while.

Yes, thanks for that link. I had seen it before a while ago, but lost it! A really good summary.

For reference…this is the detailed specification for the Resound Sensia with *** fine print as mentioned in my post :

Resound Sensia2

I see you don't want . It's a shame, it does exactly what you want. For many years, I had an AB implant on one side, and the Phonak (sister company) Link on the other. They work well together. Stream to BOTH sides. When you are on the phone, you don't even need your phone close by (it uses the mic in your ear as a mike for the call). And the noise reduction is superb.

Now I have two implants, as the hearing on the "good" ear finally gave way.

In reply to @astrohip

@astrohip said:

For many years, I had an AB implant on one side, and the Phonak (sister company) Link HA on the other. They work well together. Stream to BOTH sides. When you are on the phone, you don't even need your phone close by (it uses the mic in your ear as a mike for the call).

I wore Phonaks prior to , loved the hands free calls.

/ will also bring hands free calls. Looking forward to this.

I have to add my mapping update. I was implanted in May. I went Cochlear Nucleus 8 Nexa. I stayed with the on-ear processor. Kanso was noticeably thicker and didn't stick as well and the hair clip thing was difficult to get on my short old-guy hair. I have on-ear and backup on-ear. YMMV on that.

I think, at least in the opinion of my Audi, put the thought of getting, switching etc aids right now with new out of mind, as the learning process with the CI will be extensive. Also, the aid technology right now that works them is older and really not ready or introduced yet. I have and had Spheres going in, and wear the right one one with the left CI. Audi suggests keeping it that way right now.

I am back to having just the CI on alone 2+ hours a day reading to self, streaming Ibooks, Hearoes, co-pilot practice per day. Plan on it. I did have some personal situations interrupting this.

Maybe you can wait a few months on the bimodal aid, but make a choice on the CI and pull the trigger - you will be training-practicing for at least a few months before worrying about the aid. And the practice journey is really ongoing - not just months. Technology is fast and all of the big 3 are supposed to have new stuff soon.

As far as I know

Bionics - uses the same implant that they have used for a decade or two. In like 2017, they came out with processor and added in the Link then or shortly after. The Link is definitely Marvel technology which is 10 years old but is fully bimodal with the system only. Phonak/Sonova is slow on updating and Aurcast - still doesn't have it yet. It Will update some day but is supposed to be solid - working. Apple only, I think.

Cochlear - The new Nucleus Nexa 8 is a new implant and new processor AFIK 1-2 years. It is Aurcast ready but not activated and it's bimodal-like HA's are Resound and also older technology and cannot do what the AB and link can. They are also supposed to have a new aid soon, and Cochlear CI was my choice and wait and hope there is a new fully Bimodal aid soon. Not happened yet.

Med El. I don't know much about them and it was not a choice with my insurance. Heard that they have partnered with Starkey. May be worth further look.

 

Bottom line, and my two cents, is that if you go AB, wait it out but not too long - others have been very successful with AB and Phonak Link. Cochlear already has an updated implant and processor - some day, some manufacturer will make an updated aid. Med El is a big question mark to me.

This was the thinking in my choice ,and my two cents. There are others on this board with WAY more knowledge and experience than me. Right now, WR and sentence recognition have improved but not drastic. It is gonna take work, but it is better than pre-surgery already. I would not want to go back and have no regrets with my choice.

Agree that actively working to get the best result with the will be the priority for the next few years.

My CI audiologist also said any brand/CI brand/phone combination can be made to work, but sometimes you just need to use accessories.

I just want to make sure I understand what is possible, what is available, how it sounds to me, and plan for the best overall solution to suit my lifestyle.

In reply to @Deaf_piper

Thanks for this. I've already done the tests with the audiologist who would be supporting me after the .

I'm near Toowoomba, and my surgeon would be Dr Andrew Chang in Brisbane. I'm not a pensioner but I do have Gold private health insurance, which will cover all but $1000 or so of my operation and device (gap fees for surgeon and anethetist), and $1200 for the audiologist for lifetime support (need to double check all this with the insurance but they need me to decide the devices first to get them to say yes they'll cover everything, so annoying).

It's interesting that you have a 12 year old hearing aid and it streams bilaterally? I thought from my readings that it was a fairly new thing in the last few years. Good to know!

In reply to @Steph

Thanks. I didn't know you could test out devices, I'll definitely ask about that.

And I definitely don't want to wear another device to do the controls and have a mic. I'd rather pull my phone out and hold it. But I really want to tap to play/pause as I'm so used to it. I'll read the fine print for everything!

In reply to @smeltjr

I'm starting to learn how different we all are in our hearing levels! My right ear with the current hearing aid does ok with my current life and daily activities (though I have over time adjusted things that I do to avoid loud spaces). My left doesn't do a lot but it does do something - the times I've taken it out I have definitely noticed the difference. So I'm not heading into this completely deaf on my left ear, and I wonder how different the getting used to the on the left will be as compared to someone with no hearing at all on the CI side? Will I still need to do so much training as you're describing?

My audiologist didn't tell me anything about this, just said we'd turn it on bit by bit for several weeks after the operation. And that listening to audiobooks/music a lot would be very helpful.

In reply to @chelle

Yes, tap control is amazing. I really missed it with the Starkey. I often am streaming something and people don’t know. Tapping is quicker and easier than finding phone to turn off the stream and asking them to repeat themselves.

This is why fine print and trial is so important.

I cannot tap on the Starkey Omega I am wearing right now (may change if paired with a second aid or but my Audi can’t confirm). I am using an IPhone so that may be a factor.

The new Resound Sensia BImodal explicitly says this feature is not available. Many high end Sensia features will not be available. I am meeting the GN Rep on Thursday and will ask.

Phonak Infineo Sphere single aid and iPhone definitely has tap. Eon info indicates it is the same.

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