Cochlear processor retention methods

How do I get an earnold for the Nucleus 8 Processor

@boreham I could never find a comfortable position with the snugfit and my N7. It just didn’t work for me. But the huggie and my N8 are a great improvement for me. My processor stays in the correct spot not moving. Admittedly the N8 is a big improvement in shape than the N7.

@semalfarb welcome to the forum. You can buy an attachment from the cochlear store that will take a tube and mould. They are $18 AU for pack of 2. Pic of attachment below with item number in Australia.

I have them. I don’t know how to take a mould to fit on it.

Semalfarb you need a hearing aid tube. The tube attaches to the mould and the processor attachment. Ask your audiologist for help as the tube needs to be the correct length.

@Bimodal_user this is just my thoughts on retention methods with N7 & N8.
With the N7 I had a hybrid attachment. I felt the N7 processor was a very poor shape, mine kept falling off my ear. The hybrid attachment with a dome helped to anchor the N7 in the ear. But for the 15 months I had the hybrid the processor was still very easily dislodged. When my residual dropped off, I tried the mould attachment. This again anchored the N7 into the aural canal but didn’t prevent the N7 processor from falling off of my ear. I also used the snugfit on the N7. This was better again but not perfect.

I upgraded to N8 in January 2022. While the N8 shape is a huge improvement over the N7 it’s still not a perfect shape for my small ears. I understand it has to be one shape fits all though and that’s fair enough. With my N8 kit I got given Hug fit (huggies) This huggie has solved my retention issues. I’ve worn a huggie since I got the N8, and my processor stays put…

Now to solve the thinning skin over the magnet site. Size 2 causes pain around the magnet site, size 1 magnet lets the coil fall off. I’m currently using Baha soft pads to see if this helps. If anyone has suggestions offering ideas they will be gratefully accepted.

@Deaf_piper said:

Now to solve the thinning skin over the magnet site. Size 2 causes pain around the magnet site, size 1 magnet lets the coil fall off. I’m currently using Baha soft pads to see if this helps. If anyone has suggestions offering ideas they will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks for reply. Indeed, N7 has a bit strange hook shape compared to N8, N6 and even N5.

There is a coil spacer, but I don’t know if it is better than a pad.

https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/shop/nucleus-6-coil-spacer-1.5mm/Z327117.html6

@Deaf_piper said:

Now to solve the thinning skin over the magnet site. Size 2 causes pain around the magnet site, size 1 magnet lets the coil fall off. I’m currently using Baha soft pads to see if this helps. If anyone has suggestions offering idea

This is a tuff situation. Have you considered taking the processor off for two three days to give the processor
site a chance to heal. This worked for me once in the past.

Cochlear has moleskins that can be attached to the coil that might help you with the #2 magnet.

Is the coil wire in any strain at all? Maybe the next size longer would allow the the #1 magnet to stay on.

Good luck with this Sheryl.

That’s ingenuity at its best.

Tying at the hook might help the fit.

@Raudrive said:

Tying at the hook might help the fit.

I apologise, I don’t get it. You mean tying that milky silicone cable to the hook? Side-to-side?

@Bimodal_user said:

Do you think Hugfit would be better when wearing mask, like surgical ones or FFP?

I used hugfit all through Covid and compulsory mask wearing. I didn’t have any issues at all using the standard hospital mask with the elastic around the ears.
I had issues with the snug fit though.

My N8 is 3.5 yrs old, yes the silicone does split eventually. I’m now on my 2nd huggie with my N8. I can’t remember exactly when I put the new one on but somewhere between 18-24 months.

With a huggie you ditch the ear hook and it clips snuggly under the processor. There’s no pressure on top of the ear.

@Bimodal_user said:

Does Hugfit is one continuous loop without any disconnection point?

The only disconnection point is to remove battery and ear hook point. There’s a clip that goes between the battery and processor. The ear hook end is a firm connection. Where I’ve marked in red. When I need to change Huggies I need a to use something with a fine sharp point. This is to lever the 2 apart.

I’m currently in Singapore and I carry spares of everything.

@Bimodal_user the part that I’ve marked is made from hard plastic of some sort. The silicone part that started to tear on me was down behind the ear lobe. I have pierced ears, the post from the earring could have put the tear in the silicone.