What to pick: AB or Cochlear?

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Wise girl

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I have a few days to decide between Cochlear N5 or AB. Help! I'm recently deaf and going bilateral in a few weeks. I'm 35, a new mom, work in an office, and avid runner, skier, and biker.

For Cochlear, I love the N5 processor for size and design and comfort on my tiny ears. Like that an audio cable can be plugged directly in. Like the battery options. Don't like that the Freedom internal would be implanted because of the recall. Have concerns about the internal implant being maxed out for future upgrades.

For AB, seems like their engineering technology is more advanced and capable of future upgrades. I would get one Harmony and one Neptune for each ear. Don't like the bulky BTE processor. The Neptune seems like it would be handy at times for my active lifestyle. But i have a hard time seeing myself wearing the neptune everyday for work because of phone use and finding a good wearing configuration with the cords. Clearvoice seems cool, have mixed feelings about the Tmic. I'm annoyed that AB is planning to come out with a new BTE processor in a year or so but the company won't give vouchers or anything for a trade in. It's hard to say if my insurance will pay for the upgrade in a few years. I think mainly its the bulky BTE that's turning me off to AB.
 
With regards to the freedom internal implant and the N5 one. The only different is the N5 one is thinner and that's it! They are basically the same.

My choice would be Cochear as you don't have to keep changing the ear hooks unlike the AB Harmony and the snugfits are good on the Cochlear.
 
Yes, Cochlear offers sexier and overal better processor for this generation of BTE implants.

But I will say that the Harmony has a better sound system than the N5. In fact, I sometimes really hate N5's mics but I remember that I really loved my Harmony's T-mic.

Check out the links in my sig, it pretty much explains everything that I had to deal with. I was in the same situation as you were.
 
baseballboy, Yes I've read through your history, thats awesome you've had both companies. Whats so great about the Tmic? Is it that you can hold the phone up to your ear?
 
Wise girl said:
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Have concerns about the internal implant being maxed out for future upgrades.
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The internal workings of the last few implants have not changed that much. Most of the changes are in the processor itself, and after 9 years, I can attest to the fact that the newer processors (I have the N5 now) are much, much better and more clear than the old ones, even though I still have the same internal implant.

As for recalls, both AB and Cochlear have had issues, but are limited to a very small number of devices. Just because AB may have had more recalls than Cochlear, it does not mean Cochlear is better.

Your surgeon will tell you which one he/she prefers. I suggest you follow the surgeon's advice.

For AB, seems like their engineering technology is more advanced and capable of future upgrades. I would get one Harmony and one Neptune for each ear. Don't like the bulky BTE processor. The Neptune seems like it would be handy at times for my active lifestyle. But i have a hard time seeing myself wearing the neptune everyday for work because of phone use and finding a good wearing configuration with the cords. Clearvoice seems cool, have mixed feelings about the Tmic. I'm annoyed that AB is planning to come out with a new BTE processor in a year or so but the company won't give vouchers or anything for a trade in. It's hard to say if my insurance will pay for the upgrade in a few years. I think mainly its the bulky BTE that's turning me off to AB.
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I've had body-worn processors and BTE's. Trust me, after many years, the BTE will be your preference. Body-worn processors get in the way of many daily activities. The BTE may seem like a big device on your ear, but you will forget it is there. I don't wear my CI's when I am doing extreme physical activities. Sweat gets into everything and causes erratic results. (Trust me, sweat will get into your processor even if it is 'waterproof') I will wear them if I absolutely have to, such as communicating with hearing people, or needing to hear what happens. I don't wear my CI's while bicycling, boating, or motorcycling. The CI antennae moves around too much. Helmets interfere all the time. Plus, if you don't have replacement insurance, you will have to fork over $7000+ apiece if you damage or lose your processor.

Some individuals must hear 100% of the time, so they feel the need to wear their CI at all times. I can function either way, so I am taking the safer route of not wearing my CI's in certain situations.
 
Wise Girl,

You have received excellent advice! I have to counter Greenie's position on body-worn processors, though. When I was activated I used AB's older Platinum Series Processor for a number of months while waiting to trade the older Auria BTE for the Neptune upon release. I definitely was ready to move on to the Harmony before long, but I also did not have an option to switch between the two as you will. Additonally, the PSP is very bulky and heavy, which added to the hassle. The Neptune is very small and can easily be concealed while wearing in a variety of ways.

I am actually in the process of trying to obtain my own Neptune, currently. I used one for a month on a trial basis, so I know what it is like. I look forward to being able to be around water care-free. I look forward to the absolute ease and discreteness of direct connecting (both brand's BTE's can direct connect, but with an additonal wire hanging from your ear.) It is also really nice to not havie anything on your ear. So despite having experienced some of the frustrations of body-worns the Green has mentioned, I still want the new one. It does make a difference that the Neptune can be worn on a lanyard and keep it out of the way of the rest of your body. Some women wear it in their hair!

I understand your frustration on the new BTE projected to come out next year. Hopefully AB will announce a voucher program to trade in an unopened Harmony soon. I know they are really pushing to get the BTE out! I have been participating in clinical trials related to it. It is definitely going to be a game changer with wireless direct connect very likely! I would suggest leaving your Harmony sealed and communicate that to your audi so that she does not open it in advance of your activation appointment to get it prepared.

The T-mic is awesome! As simple as it is, it is very effective. It is not actually a negative thing to need to swap it out from time to time. Microphones get gummed up with sweat and dust. You'll want to be able to attch fresh mics. The location of the mic does impact sound quality. By being in the bowl of your ear, sound is collected naturally and sounds sharper. It makes using the phone or headphones much easier. T-coils aren't so great. Their sound quality is limited and you will be more sensitive to that with your improved hearing. I used them with my hearing aids and now hate it. Nothing beats direct connect in terms of sheer crystal clear quality. Music is awesome having it piped directly to your brain!
 
I went with AB myself, mostly because I felt they were more advanced technology wise, and with the speech processing strategies they have available as well, I felt were more up to date than Cochlear's strategies. I also like the T-mic option on the Harmony, and the Neptune does come in handy but I don't use it on a daily basis. Only use the Neptune if I'm around wet settings, or if I just need a break from the weight of the Harmony on my ear. I do wish the Harmony was a bit smaller, but just knowing AB is working on a new smaller BTE processor (which should be available by next year or so), that's something to look forward to.

If you want the new BTE from AB and it is indeed released next year, I would keep the Harmony unopened and trade that in for the new BTE. I wish I could do a trade in, but both of my processors have been used so I don't know how that would work. I may just have to wait 4 more years before my insurance will consider upgrading to a new processor. But you'd have to wear the Neptune on a daily basis in the mean time, which may become bothersome for you (it does for me). I don't know if this will make a difference, but AB does have a T-mic accessory for the Neptune. It's not available just yet, but should be soon enough.

But either way, you really can't go wrong with whichever company you choose, they both get the job done.

I notice you're in Colorado. I've been traveling to Colorado (Denver) for my cochlear implant as Wyoming doesn't have any CI centers.
 
This is kind of like asking which is better Ford or Chevy... Of course we all know its Ford..
 
Also ask your CI audi about cochlears new slim straight array because that also should be taken into consideration. I think AB's neptune is also cool and a good option. For myself I've already chosen cochlear
 
Due to the illness I had that caused me to lose all of my hearing overnight, my surgeon felt strongly that Cochlear was better for me. I also have really tiny ears so the Cochlear procssors size was better for me. During surgery, my surgeon shaved off some bone direcfly behind my ear. The processor fits great because of that. So far I am really happy with my decision. I did get a lot of helpful advice here on AD, I wish you the best of luck!!!
 
Angel: I had the same advice from the Cochlear team Sunnybrook/Toronto except Advance Bionics-Harmony was their choice. This all happened 5 years ago.
It seem actual time-when are you getting the implant?- does have a bearing on the actual choice-now.
Could be to be different say a year later. ( somethng was wrong with AB Implants- last year)
I don't have any problem with their choice. aside: my cousin has Med El-last year while Med El was not used 5 years ago-Sunnybrook. Time changes.
 
Wise girl said:
baseballboy, Yes I've read through your history, thats awesome you've had both companies. Whats so great about the Tmic? Is it that you can hold the phone up to your ear?
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The t-mic picks up more sounds since the mic is in the ear canal. Sound is natural going into the canal of the ear, not on top of the ear where the mics are for the N5.

You can use the phone for both, but the t-mic mad it a lot easier to hear than N5. But you can have the N5 t-coil turned on and you can hear pretty well. But with N5 you need to have the phone placed higher on the ear.


soutthpaw said:
This is kind of like asking which is better Ford or Chevy... Of course we all know its Ford..
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Which company is ford for you?
 
I use the phone (iPhone and land phone) in normal manner.

Go with what your heart tells you, think about your life suitation, style.

I had difficulty deciding which one to go for 4 years ago, the cochlear best suited to my lifestyle as I need both kind of batteries, more programs on the processor and the processor seems to be sturdier than AB. I worked at a marine industry where I travelled a lot and get snuck in engine rooms fixing something where mt CI was prone to get hit/dropped or clog up with dirt, it coped remarkably well.

Now I have been upgraded from freedom to n5 it had made a lot difference to my life with the water resistant, I have been swimming number of times with it on as I work with teenagers with autism. They are very playful in the water. Also the clarity is much better since the freedom.

Good luck
 
You have received very good advice, the one thing I would emphasize as it has been stated, it to talk to the audi at your implant center and if possible other audis as to which ones they prefer and why, where have they seen the better results and why.

good luck,
Rick
 
rick48 said:
You have received very good advice, the one thing I would emphasize as it has been stated, it to talk to the audi at your implant center and if possible other audis as to which ones they prefer and why, where have they seen the better results and why.

good luck,
Rick
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Welcome back, Rick!! Nice to see you here :)
 
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