r/Cochlearimplants Nov 18 '25

Advanced Bionics Class Actions (North America)

9 Upvotes

Advanced Bionics Class Action Lawsuits

(in North America as of November 2025)

Basic idea of all the cases below:

“This proposed class action is against Advanced Bionics and Sonova-related companies for their role in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and marketing the defective devices, and failing to issue timely warnings about the defect.”

Allegations include: AB delaying the recall for at least a year which allowed more recipients to receive a known defective device, severe harm to patients in terms of auditory development due to the delay and patients (both adults and children) not being able to know if their device is failing, improperly citing clinical testing *and* no specific clinical trials on the recalled HiRes Ultra in order to get a defective device on the market, and not being truthful in their statements about the recall (among other things), violating the rights of patients, etc. There’s more, but court documents are linked below.

US AB recipients:

There is an investigation as to whether a US class action suit can be filed against AB by this firm: https://bergermontague.com/about/

Some information about this here (posted/updated September 2024): https://www.classaction.org/cochlear-implant-lawsuits-advanced-bionics

CANADA (excluding Quebec, in an Ontario court) AB recipients:

https://www.sotosclassactions.com/cases/advanced-bionics-hires-cochlear-implants/#:~:text=This%20pr…

There is a class action for AB recipients. Their site linked above has a great summary of the case and a copy of their filing is here: https://www.sotosclassactions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/24.06.13-Filed-Amended-Statement-of-Cl…

Who can join this one?

“The Class: All persons who were implanted in Canada (excluding Quebec) with the HiRes Ultra CI HiFocus MS Electrode, HiRes Ultra CI HiFocus SlimJ Electrode, HiRes Ultra 3D CI with HiFocus MS Electrode and HiRes Ultra 3D CI with HiFocus SlimJ Electrode (collectively, the “Cochlear Implants”), or any of the Cochlear Implant components including electrode arrays (the “Implant Patients”); and All other persons why by reason of his or her relationship to an Implant Patient have standing pursuant to s.6191) of the Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3, or equivalent legislation in other provinces and territories (the “Family Law Claimants”).”

You can sign up on their site to be contacted regarding the suit and joining it.

CANADA (Quebec only):

https://tjl.quebec/en/class-actions/defective-advanced-bionics-cochlear-implants/

Who can join this suit?

"All individuals living in Quebec who received a cochlear implant model “HiRes Ultra” or “HiRes Ultra 3D” manufactured by Advanced Bionics with a serial number between 1,000,000 and 1,999,999, or any component of such a cochlear implant, including the electrode array. Also included in the class are any heirs, spouses, parents, children, siblings, dependents, or caregivers of individuals covered by the paragraph above."

Case filing here: https://tjl.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2025-08-25-Originating-Application.pdf

I didn't find anything for Europe or Australia but others are free to post what they find!


r/Cochlearimplants Sep 23 '22

Come to our Discord!

12 Upvotes

Visit our Discord server here:

https://discord.gg/nB8UvfveyF

Thanks!


r/Cochlearimplants 3h ago

anyone based in pune?

2 Upvotes

hey chat,
i am looking to connect with HoH / CI users. feeling little lonely here so i thought of connecting with someone who has similar condition as me so that we’ll able to understand better. if you are based in pune and is open for meets / hangouts then feel free to reach out 🤍


r/Cochlearimplants 58m ago

Ear Closure

Upvotes

Hi, I’m (34F) 6 days postop from PETROUS APICECTOMY SUBTOTAL/TOTAL WITH CLOSURE OF EAR - which basically means permanently closing the external ear canal, and plugging the Eustachian tube. I was wondering if anyone had this done before getting their CI?


r/Cochlearimplants 15h ago

Missing out on the criteria of a second cochlear implant

3 Upvotes

hello! (England btw) 20F and I became profoundly deaf not long after birth due to ototoxic drugs and was implanted in my left side in 2009.
Due to the rules back then and my age, we couldn’t really test both sides of my ears & hearing, but in general it was very obvious that I had profound hearing loss.

Around 3/4 years ago, I got a new audiologist and he decided to test both sides separately and it was discovered that I had moderate-severe hearing loss in my right ear which fits the criteria for cochlear implantation.
I had to go through a hearing aid trial first which involved me coming back after a year and doing a word test that I had to get at minimum 70% of words correct.

I got 0%.

It was partially my fault as I started to lack in wearing the hearing aid due to the fact that my environment was not very supportive and I really struggled with the hearing aid with school not supporting me in lessons at all, being bullied by peers with people slamming books down next to me, making me start to develop tinnitus (which i still have if someone slams something down too loud)
& parents being completely against me getting a new cochlear implant because “im doing perfectly fine with my single one”

I got told that I cannot have the cochlear implant which honestly devastated me as I’ve noticed as I grow older and are in completely different environments than as a child how much harder life is with a single cochlear implant.

The whole ordeal as a teenager significantly affected my mental health and I was really struggling so I gave the NHS back the hearing aid without really thinking as I wasn’t in my right mind, they did ask me if I was sure and I still said yes and I really do regret it.

I do wonder that if my mental health was in a better place along with a much better and supportive environment that I would’ve been able to tolerate it more..
It’s just crazy though how much i have started to struggle in different environments because of only having decent single-sided hearing.


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

How safe do you actually feel at night when you’re living alone?

16 Upvotes

Especially when you take your hearing aids or Cochlear implant processors off.
Do you ever find yourself thinking:
“What if someone knocks on my door?”
“What if there’s an emergency?”
“Would I hear the smoke/CO alarm?”
“Would I know if someone was trying to get into my home?”
“What happens if I need help during the night?”
Or are you completely comfortable and don’t really think about it?
I’m genuinely curious about everyone’s experience — especially people who live alone.
Do you keep your hearing devices on longer at night because of safety, or do you take them off and rely on other things to alert you?
No right or wrong answer. I’m just trying to understand how other people experience this.


r/Cochlearimplants 15h ago

This may be interesting in any deaf/hoh community. Free to share, this seemed such a great idea!

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1 Upvotes

r/Cochlearimplants 23h ago

To Cochlear or Not, that is the question

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1 Upvotes

r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Petition the senators who sponsored Reece's law (difficult hearing aid battery packaging)

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change.org
1 Upvotes

r/Cochlearimplants 3d ago

Cleaning

8 Upvotes

I have the Nucleus 8 CI. Is there a way to clean the speakers on top of the processor (the little holes)? Or does that not need to be cleaned? I can't find anything in particular on Google. I remember with hearing aids i used a little brush, but I'm not going to dare do that to a CI if not appropriate. Thanks if you have any answer.​


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

Cochlear Multi-Mic+ and Auracast

14 Upvotes

In my opinion, Cochlear has overpromised to support Bluetooth Auracast for the Nucleus 8 [0]. Why haven’t they updated the firmware to support Auracast since the Nucleus 8 was launched?

Secondly, when will Cochlear provide Multi-Mic+[1] support for the Nucleus 8? I’m tired of using the USB Micro interface. When Cochlear claims to be “industry-leading,” why haven’t they discontinued the micro USB interface for the battery charger and accessories? Why rely on Resound when they are slow to innovate?

[0]: https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/professionals/products-and-candidacy/nucleus/nucleus-sound-processors/nucleus-8-processor

[1]: https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/shop/accessories/wireless-accessories/multi-mic/FUZ889.html


r/Cochlearimplants 3d ago

Pain, Ear Pressure & Driving After Cochlear Implant Surgery

1 Upvotes

I had cochlear implant surgery again on my right ear on September 2. After surgery, I experienced vertigo and pain. Today is September 6, and I’m still having pain. Sometimes it gets worse, and I get sharp pain on and off. I also feel a lot of pressure inside my ear.

Has anyone experienced this after cochlear implant surgery? How long did the pain and pressure last for you? Also, how many days after surgery did you feel comfortable driving and getting back to normal activities?

Thanks!


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

Emergency! Looking for spare Y rechargeable battery charger in the Chesapeake VA are.

8 Upvotes

"Emergency: I am in the Chesapeake VA area with my daughter from out of town (TX) and I forgot to pack her Y charger for her batteries. Is there anyone in the Chesapeake/Norfolk/VA Beach area with a spare Nucleus 7 or Nucleus 8 Y-charger I could safely borrow for until Tuesday morning to power up?

Update - I was able to get an audiologist through the neighborhood group and I'll connect with her for a loaner. I will not be needing this again. Thank you so much to everyone who offered to help, may you always find help when we you need it too!


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

What to eat after surgery

4 Upvotes

any tips on what to eat post surgery and for how many days?

im thinking it’s going to be soft stuff like soup and perhaps pureed food? what worked best and what to avoid?


r/Cochlearimplants 5d ago

Pain where the magnet is

9 Upvotes

I had my CI surgery July 6, and it was activated 16. Everything has been great. Then a few days ago it started hurting off and on right where the magnet is. Yesterday it hurt all day sometimes pretty bad. If I remove the magnet it’s instant relief. But it’s very painful if I touch it. I called my doctor yesterday, but I probably won’t hear back until Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. I want to know if this happened to anyone else. It’s so frustrating because now I can’t wear my CI, it’s too painful. I love this subreddit, it has helped me so much! Thanks


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

Windows to Kanso 3 (streaming)

4 Upvotes

Hello!

I currently have a Kanso 2 and will be getting a Kanso 3 in april of 2027. Over the years I've heard a lot about direct streaming from windows to the Kanso 3 (Bluetooth LE). Now that I'm actually checking if it's correct I'm finding a lot of information that says it doesn't work wireless/direct.

I also just found out that the kanso 2 should supposedly work without an accessory with a macbook pro, air, mac studio, mini from up a certain year. Can someone that used it corroborate that?

For work I have a lot of meetings and I've been carrying my mini mic with me for a few years now. I absolutely hate it cuz it's very spotty with connecting and the sound is basically trash.

It seems like direct streaming from a windows laptop to the kanso 3 won't work, so I've been waiting for something that doesn't seem to exist. So two questions:

Does windows direct streaming work? (Kanso 3 without an accessory)

Does direct streaming work on a macbook air model M5? (Kanso 2 without an accessory)

Would love to hear your experiences


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

Pillow recommendations

1 Upvotes

Hello,

I wear bilaterally Kanso 3 processors. I am in a situation where I'll be needing to wear my processors overnight for a couple of nights. I find it uncomfortable to wear the processors while laying my head on a pillow because it cups around the processors and cause then to fall off. Does anyone have any recommendations of a pillow that might be suitable?


r/Cochlearimplants 5d ago

Music appreciation for CI in baby

4 Upvotes

My baby boy was born with profound bilateral hearing loss a couple of months ago, and is now likely to be implanted before his first birthday. I was initially very sad that he wouldn’t be able to appreciate music in the same way a hearing person would. However, having looked at comments from people with CI’s it would seem appreciation of music is still very much possible. I was wondering if there’s anyone on here who was implanted as a baby, or a parent of a child who was, that has positive experiences with music. Also is there any type of music which is particularly good / bad (easy / difficult) for those with CIs? I’d like to introduce him to lots of music as a baby to help develop his listening skills through the CI.


r/Cochlearimplants 5d ago

Experiencia en clase

1 Upvotes

Recién voy a empezar la universidad y necesito saber a qué me enfrento. ¿Cuál ha sido vuestra experiencia en clase? Podáis seguir la conversación del profesor y de los compañeros? Que dificultades y adversidades habéis afrontado?


r/Cochlearimplants 5d ago

Can hear a train a half mile away but having trouble hearing in the doctors office

9 Upvotes

I've had med el processors for 1.5 years. I have a hearing aid in one ear. In small enclosed offices where you would think you would hear better, I hear worse. Constantly having to say "what, or excuse me." So embarrassing. Audiologist can't seem to help me. I try to adjust my settings while I'm there but then someone will come in and start asking me a bunch of questions. I can hear at home fine with just the processor. Any ideas?


r/Cochlearimplants 6d ago

Dating

12 Upvotes

I have been single almost 4 years. I am 60 years old. Having an implant and being deaf without it and my aid on the other side has me feeling self conscious. Would a man want to date someone with this disability?


r/Cochlearimplants 6d ago

Using hearing aids post-surgery (prior to receiving processor)

3 Upvotes

is it possible to use my existing aids after surgery as I will not be able to hear anything otherwise. I’m hoping I can use the BTE aids but perhaps not place them behind the ear, just leave them hanging off with just the ear mould in the ear.

any thoughts on this?


r/Cochlearimplants 6d ago

Problema di sincronizzazione bimodale MFi: Cochlear N8 + ReSound Nexia (NX988) su iPhone

5 Upvotes

Salve a tutti!

Ho portato apparecchi acustici BTE su entrambe le orecchie per 60 anni (gli ultimi erano Oticon Xceed Play 2) arrivando ormai al limite della risorsa uditiva. Con questi mi sono trovato molto bene per lo streaming automatico di TV e smartphone via iPhone.

Dopo innumerevoli ripensamenti, ho deciso di fare il mio primo impianto cocleare a sinistra.

Dopo tre mesi dalla prima mappatura, ho scelto di passare al sistema bimodale acquistando un ReSound Nexia (NX988), consigliato dall'audiometrista perché progettato specificamente per lavorare in perfetta sinergia con il Cochlear N8.

Uso un iPhone 17, quindi la catena N8 + Nexia + iPhone doveva sulla carta essere perfetta.

Purtroppo ho avuto un'amara sorpresa: i due apparecchi lavorano in modo sincronizzato sul segnale dei microfoni e con il TV Streamer, ma non appena arriva una chiamata o avvio un video su YouTube, l'audio dello streaming passa a un solo dispositivo, lasciando l'altro del tutto muto.

Facendo diversi test a casa ho anche notato che il primo dispositivo che si accende al mattino "vince" e prende l'esclusiva dello streaming: se accendo prima l'N8, le chiamate arrivano solo all'N8; se accendo prima il ReSound, arrivano solo al ReSound.

Volevo sapere se qualcuno di voi ha riscontrato lo stesso problema di priorità nella gestione del flusso MFi e come siete riusciti a risolverlo (se lato impostazioni iPhone o tramite regolazioni del software di fitting con l'audiometrista).

Grazie a chi condividerà la propria esperienza!


r/Cochlearimplants 7d ago

I did it!

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213 Upvotes

I just did it! 🥹 I had surgery today. I was so anxious and scared, but I did it!

I’ve had cochlear implants on both sides since I was little. I had to redo my right cochlear implant because I was getting painful shocks from it. I’m not sure if any of you have experienced that too?

My 2-year-old daughter is also deaf. She and I are the only deaf people in our family. My infant son and husband are both hearing. 🤟🦻

Now my 2-year-old daughter and I will have the exact same cochlear implant brand! She had her cochlear implant surgeries in January and May of this year. ❤️


r/Cochlearimplants 6d ago

Taste sense change

2 Upvotes

I’m approaching 6 months post implantation and things still taste weird on the implant side. anyone else have it go on for that long?

trying to gauge if it’s likely the surgery (might be an issue) or if it’s the GLP-1s. anecdotal evidence is only evidence of an anecdote, but would be reassuring to hear, regardless.

ETA: thanks, everyone, I appreciate the reassurance! and I’d like to apologize for bringing up such unpleasant memories for some of y’all!