Best Cochlear Implant

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Anyone have any info or info sources for CI comparison?

I have to choose between Cochlear and AB, and am very undecided.

I want to want Cochlear due to size and remote...

But AB users are so down on Cochlear it scares me.

I just need the best word and number comprehension I can get...for work

Appreciate any help in decision.:wave:
 
Cochlear's comparison

Advanced Bionics' comparison

I haven't seen independent comparisons of the latest technologies available yet.

What we looked at when deciding between the products in 2007 and again in 2008: I think there are strong arguments for the technology / functionality of both products, and there's a HUGE amount of marketing chatter to wade through (do more electrodes or pulses really matter if the 'software' isn't utilizing them in a functional way? Is there really more 'music appreciation' if research on subjects doesn't back that up? Does having more or earlier patents matter?).

So, torn between the products on a technology/functionality basis, we looked at the surgical aspect as one deciding factor: our hospital's success rate, our surgeon's experience and found that two of the products were far more familiar to our hospital (from AB and Cochlear) and our surgeon had extensive experience implanting one in particular (Cochlear). At our hospital, there had been several re-implantations required on the AB side due to device failure (although I'm certain that was due to a limited issue that is no longer a problem, so frankly, that didn't impact our decision). Surgeon experience weighed most heavily.

Also important: market penetration. I know this seems superficial, but we wanted to know which company was more firmly established, might be around longer, and had the support base we'd need in the years to come: the market of CI wearers who who need clinic/audi/surgical/product support and expertise. Specifically, we looked at which products were our cochlear clinic's audiologists more familiar with, with which did they have more training? Those mappings are critical, for a very long time. This was close between AB and Cochlear, and although they reported that they had more toddlers getting Cochlear, more teenagers were choosing AB because AB external equipment looked very much cooler and were riding the PC/Mac marketing alignment AB was promoting (this was pre-N5, of course, and I too thought the AB looked a lot more cool!). Li-Li was in diapers, though, so coolness was a lost cause. But streamlining that processor is critical to keeping it on the child's head, so the size/shape/coolness of a processor is nothing to sneeze at. But overall, the market our clinic supports was and is predominantly Cochlear.

So, we chose Cochlear, but it was so close that we considered an AB for the second side a year later, to provide all possible benefits. Surgeon experience and concern that the different strategies employed by the two processors might conflict led us back to Cochlear, though.
 
I too looked closely at all three units but went with Cochlear Due to length of time in business, small size,ability to control either directly on/with unit or from remote,reliability, and now with the newer re-chargeable batteries can be warn in the shower and swimming. They do not recommend underwater or strong stream of water on them but say if you drop it in the pool, just pull it out and wipe it off and go for it. Research is another thing, If information I've found/heard so far is correct, Cochlear spends more on research than the other two manufacturers combined? Anyway, I'm happy with my choice and if I had it to do over again I would go the same way.
 
I am with rampratt this is why I chose cochlear as the company for my implant. They have been in business the longest and after holding and seeing the implant up close and its comfort on my ear was a major factor in me deciding. I also liked the option for the remote. I got lucky being implanted right after the new rechargeable batterys comming out.
 
When it came time to choose my implant I was also torn between AB and Cochlear. At the time AB was saying theirs was better for music and Cochlear had more people with their implants. I chose cochlear because the freedom was more comfortable for my ear. I am going bilateral later this year and I am going to stick with Cochlear.

Whatever device people get they seem to love them no matter what company.
 
I have an Advanced Bionics Harmony Atria which was chosen by Sunnybrook implant team for me.They do use all 3 but which goes to which patient-much discussion based on their 18 year experience. I never heard of it before or Med El either as the only one I knew was Cochlear Corporation-had a patients insert advising of their product. I had it for 3 years now and no complaint from me.Personally would have found difficult to evaluate the difference between the 3 different companies products. I had rechargeable batteries right from the start.
Advanced Bionics Harmony Atria activated Aug/07.
 
I have ab in both ears...
first one put in my right ear 11 years ago just had my left ear done this past tuesday so far everything has been GREAT!! I have never had any problems what so ever in right ear the reason I went with the ab is my doctor and audiologist had more experience with it. I absolutely can't wait til I get mapped in the left ear I'm sooo excited!! Also since my surgery tuesday i can feel my voice vibrations which i think is really cool...I have never felt my own vibrations so I'm hoping this is a good thing!!
 
There has been a "independent" studies done in Germany, at the largest implant center. AB came out on top.

Bevilacqua et al. Auditory and Language Abilities in Children: Comparison of Two Different Cochlear Implant Systems. Presentation at the 10th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Auditory Technologies, San Diego, CA, April 10-12, 2008.

Wolfe J, Mears A. Effect of Input Dynamic Range on Speech Recognition and Music Enjoyment. Poster presentation at the 10th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Auditory Technologies, San Diego, CA, April 10–12, 2008.

Quick A, Koch DB, Osberger MJ. HiResolution with Fidelity 120 Sound Processing: Listening Benefits in CII and HiRes 90K Implant Users. Poster Presentation at the Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses, Lake Tahoe, CA, July 15–20, 2007.
 
I chose AB for my daughter because of the HiFidelity 120 programming, the fact that each electrode has an individual power sourse, so they can fire at the same time, instead of only one being stimulated at a time (that is why they can do the 120) , because it has the largest dynamic range available, and the T-mic.

I sat on the phone for 2 hours with an AB rep and then a Cochlear. I asked all the same questions, and then the questions that the other brand had sparked. AB sent me over TONS of technical data so that I could read through it. Cochlear was more "friendly" oriented, but AB was all about the tech stuff. I felt like they were more "cutting edge".

I also never liked the remote with Med-El or Cochlear. AB just has a switch, for 3 programs.

I couldn't be happier with the customer service with AB either. We needed to swap out a broken headpiece, we got the new one the next day, and then sent the broken one. It took nothing more than a phone call.

Also, with the T-mic, Miss Kat and hear on a cell phone, without any kind of adjustments or assistive device.
 
faire_jour said:
I chose AB for my daughter because of the HiFidelity 120 programming, the fact that each electrode has an individual power sourse, so they can fire at the same time, instead of only one being stimulated at a time (that is why they can do the 120) , because it has the largest dynamic range available, and the T-mic.

I sat on the phone for 2 hours with an AB rep and then a Cochlear. I asked all the same questions, and then the questions that the other brand had sparked. AB sent me over TONS of technical data so that I could read through it. Cochlear was more "friendly" oriented, but AB was all about the tech stuff. I felt like they were more "cutting edge".

I also never liked the remote with Med-El or Cochlear. AB just has a switch, for 3 programs.

I couldn't be happier with the customer service with AB either. We needed to swap out a broken headpiece, we got the new one the next day, and then sent the broken one. It took nothing more than a phone call.

Also, with the T-mic, Miss Kat and hear on a cell phone, without any kind of adjustments or assistive device.
Click to expand...

What kind of assistive devices would there have been without the T-mic? Just curious as I researched getting a CI 1.5 years ago (I opted not to get one, for now.) With my HAs I had to use the "T" function (but I gave up on the phone years ago so that "T" never gets used! :giggle:) so is that what the T-mic does?
 
AlleyCat said:
What kind of assistive devices would there have been without the T-mic? Just curious as I researched getting a CI 1.5 years ago (I opted not to get one, for now.) With my HAs I had to use the "T" function (but I gave up on the phone years ago so that "T" never gets used! :giggle:) so is that what the T-mic does?
Click to expand...

Lots of people use the t-coil to talk on the phone or I've heard of using an fm system, or Cochlear has a direct connect cable. AB has the t-mic which is a microphone on the end of the earhook (instead of the top of the ear like a hearing aid and other CI's) so she can hear using the handset.
 
It seems to me a Cochlear Implant is a highly technical device of which most of us don't understand the specifics-thus I would defer to experts- the Sunnybrook team as to which is most suitable for ME. Which I did. My opinion hasn't changed over the 3 years of use-to date. Advanced Bionics replaced the "problem processor" last year within days. Again, no complaints from me. Again the strange irony- having patients insert from Cochlear Corp and getting Advanced Bionics.
Advanced Bionics-Harmony Atria activated Aug/07.
 
I, myself, am going with Advanced Bionics (whenever I can get the implant, in a couple of years), I really like what AB has to offer for processing strategies. I'm sure Cochlear is also a great implant, as is the Med-El. It's a very personal decision. All you can do is research the manufacturers, compare them and just decide which one you think would work best for you. What's each implant's pros and cons, etc.
 
More thoughts from my ongoing journey to understand Cochlear Implants. I have read a book by Michael Chorost-Rebirth. He had hearing problems almost from birth-hearing aids for many years till complete deafness, His book is also a history of the implant especially of Cochlear Corporation and their ongoing improvements especially being able to incorporate "lap top technology" into Implants. Surprise-he uses an Advanced Bionics model!
I disagree from Chorost's position that the "hardware" is similar to that of a cyborg- thus now one is "different" than prior to fitting a Cochlear Implant. He really believe that the hardware has "created a new person"!
Does this seem to what everyone here with an Implant experiences?
Strange no mention of his recent book-here.

Advanced Bionics Harmony Atria activated Aug/07.
 
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