So you’ve decided to get a cochlear implant. That alone can be a very heavy decision! While it’s a fairly common surgery, it’s still a surgery, and not something to take lightly. But that’s another post altogether. Right now I’m past that, and on to the next decision, which seems in some ways like a bigger, more difficult one: which brand to choose.
I’m going to walk through what I’ve done to make this decision, and hopefully some reader, some day, will be able to streamline their decision making process.
Familiarize Yourself with the Brands
First thing first: you need to know what you are even deciding between. There are currently 3 implant manufacturers available in the US. Here is a little about each one:
Cochlear
Cochlear was founded in 1981 in Australia. They are by far the largest of the three, with 55% market share world wide, although I think that’s higher in the US. Their American headquarters is in Denver, incidentally just down the road from my wife’s high school.
Cochlear’s biggest benefit as far as I am concerned is their connectivity. Bluetooth calling and media streaming is all built in from the get go. There is a TV streamer that can plug in to your tv and stream directly to the implants, so you can watch tv at your own volume, independent of the everyone else.
They also have really great customer service, and a very active user community. I’ve met quite a few people who have been really wonderful and helpful, both Cochlear employees and implant recipients and their families.
Med-El
Med-El was founded in Austria in 1990. It is the only one of the three that is privately owned, and is still owned and run by the original founders, Dr Ingeborg Hochmair and Prof Erwin Hochmair. This husband and wife team are both Electrical Engineers, and were among the pioneers of cochlear implant technology, particularly Dr Hochmair’s work on multi channel processing.
While the company wasn’t founded until 1990, their work dates back much further, with their first device implanted in 1977. One thing that resonates with me is the research focus. While all the companies do research, Med-El is research first rather than just to stay competitive.
My biggest complaint comes from their connectivity. Currently it requires another device to go between the processor and your device, which is super annoying. The good news is there is a new accessory coming soon that replaces the battery pack and connects directly, so at least for the over the ear processors that problem will be solved.
The biggest plus for Med-El is the electrode. It’s the longest on the market so it can stimulate more of the cochlea. It also has more electrodes for better coverage. Being able to stimulate more of the cells in the cochlea more precisely should lead to better pitch differentiation, which is a big deal for me and my music.
Advanced Bionics
By far the coolest name. I honestly almost chose this right off the bat for that reason alone. I had already started saying I was getting a bionic ear before I knew this company existed.
AB was founded in 1993 in California, but is now a subsidiary of Sonova, a Swiss company.
To be completely candid, I spent the least time researching them, because my doctor isn’t currently implanting their processors. With that being said, I really like a lot about them. They have a partnership with Phonak for great compatibility with a hearing aid in the other ear. They also have the best color selection.
They do have good connectivity, with an addon to your processor that streams media and calls hands free. They also have their “T mic,” which is a microphone placed right on the tip of the processor inside the ear to mimic the ear’s natural sound collection.
Final Thoughts
At first I was really frustrated because I felt like I couldn’t get many straight answers from people about which was best. As I’ve studied and talked to more and more people I’ve come to realize the reason: they are all really great! The CI community is really amazing! Regardless of which brand you have, there is so much support, and we’re all in it together. Seriously, if you have an implant, or are considering one, go join the Facebook group Cochlear Implant Experiences.
The other thing to keep in mind: it’s the internal part that really matters. Processors will come and go, but that part will be with you for 20+ years. When you’re researching, make sure you understand the internal components, not just the flashy processors that get the bulk of the marketing. Also pay attention to update schedules. I was talking to someone this week who missed the cutoff for the newest processor by only a few weeks. Insurances will usually only pay for an upgrade after about 5 years, so she is kind of stuck with the older model. You won’t always be able to avoid that, but at least pay attention.
So if you have an implant, tell me what you got. Why did you choose it?
