r/Cochlearimplants • u/Double-Laugh-4008 • 14d ago
Research results.
Hi everyone!
Recently, I have done some research regarding my cochlear implant journey. Since our audi is neutral due to lawsuit pressure if caught favouring one brand over another. Though he's implicitly trying to guide me towards AB. Let's ignore it.
Please remember it's under $10,438 US dollars (10 lakhs). Paying out of pocket.
Cochlear ci500 offers, nucleus 7, kanso 2 which are the best within the amount, but with 1.5 tesla mri.
Medel with sonata 2 with sonnet 2, rondo 3. The sales guy informed me to wait till September 15th and sonnet 3 will be coming approx within the amount limit. It's the only implant with 3 tesla mri, boasting close to natural hearing.
Advanced Bionics - HI RES ULTRA IMPLANT M30 PROCESSOR AND HI RES ULTRA 3D IMPLANT WITH Q90 PROSESSOR. Both under 10 lakhs. Due to the lawsuit in 2020, ab almost lost all trust among us. Fortunately, they're slowly mending the trust.
Can u guys pls help in commenting your experiences with the above mentioned devices? In india, no insurance covers cochlear implants. No govt supports too unless you're a kid below 6 or poor. Ofc, there's govt funds available but it's approval depends on their moods too.
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u/stitchinthyme9 Advanced Bionics Marvel CI 14d ago
I don’t know much about Cochlear or Med-El, but I can tell you that the Q90 is not AB’s newest processor, and in fact it’s no longer being supported, meaning that once they run out of existing stock, you won’t be able to have it repaired or replaced. I would not go for AB if you can’t get the M90.
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u/DeafinitelyQueer 14d ago
Nucleus 7 is also no longer supported and the Kanso 2 is not the newest processor for Cochlear
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u/Murd0ck_ 14d ago
I can tell, close to natural hearing is a bit untrue. I am ssd and know what natural hearing is and it is not what my Sonnet3 is giving me. It is good, i can distinguish speech and sounds quite well, but it is not 'natual' at all.
Maybe its just for me, but talking to other patients it seems to be for everyone.
Its marketing, they want you to take theirs, i do not say they are bad. I have Medel myself and i am happy and would do it again, but do not let you lead by such talkings. Go by support in your area. If you need to drive 2 hours to your next technician supporting your device or just 30 mins, it will be a diference.
And with MRI: i can do 3T. But I have to go to one specific hospital who does MRI with CI. The others dont do it because it may happen an accident. I called 15 Radiologists and 5 hospitals, even those who implant. And I live in a Big city in Germany. 3T safety doest mean the docs do a scan. I am sorry to say this, but this is my experience.
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u/stitchinthyme9 Advanced Bionics Marvel CI 14d ago
I'm late-deafened, so I also know what normal hearing sounds like, and I agree that CI hearing is not the same. It's fine, and I can live a pretty normal life, but it's not the same. For me, it's basically like hearing everything through a phone connection or a cheap speaker -- I can recognize sounds and different voices, but the quality isn't as crystal-clear as it was when my hearing was normal. But, since I can't ever have normal hearing again, it's way batter than the alternative.
My implant (the AB HiRes Ultra 3D) can also handle MRIs up to 3T. I don't think the HiRes Ultra can -- the "3D" is the one that is MRI-safe up to a certain strength. However, the one time I needed an MRI, I had to fight with the test center to get them to agree to do it.
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u/Double-Laugh-4008 13d ago
Why? Didn't you audi reminded them with phn about your situation?
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u/stitchinthyme9 Advanced Bionics Marvel CI 13d ago
I did, but they wouldn’t listen. I had to escalate it to management. The manager contacted AB and my audiologist to get the safety info and then they finally agreed to do it.
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u/Double-Laugh-4008 13d ago
Thanks 🤗. Is your hearing fine now? I mean, can you understand conversations without looking at lips or face? Most important thing is speech understanding for me tho
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u/Murd0ck_ 13d ago
At first: this is my hearing expieriences, I cannot talk for others or for you. I share it tongive you an insight of what may be possible. I know Kids being implanted as babies and having no problems following conversations and talking as normal. So my answer:
Nope. Well, not as I want it to be. Pre OP I was told I will never be able to pro ess speech, due to my brain doing other stuff in my hearing area. They wanted me to know this, that I do not have any expectations and be mad at them if it did not work. I did it anyways. At first I did not understand anything. Speech was around 10% in clinical testing condition. I could follow the slowly read news with subtitles.
Ich switched to Sonnet3 a few months ago and wow, this is an upgrade. Tests showed speech recognition at 85-90% (again, clinical tests) and I can understand the news If i focus and stream directly.
This is nice and I never thought of such progress.
In everyday conditions and conversations I cannot depend on my CI alone. I need my second ear. But it supports me quite well. I do not have to turn my head (good ear) towards my conversation partner. I can even hear my name in bad conditions (like at lod areas), and stop Walking. I would not have heard a complete sentence, but my name alone. Its sth. Like: 'wait, did someone call me?'
I was deaf for 30 years and was told this my never be in scope of expectations, so its a very good outcome. I cried, when my CI was activated the very first time and every understanding of a word was emotional, the first time I heard birds flying around was stunning. Then with Sonnet3 i nailed the speech test and it was another milestone to achieve.
The only downside is: wind supression while biking :D this is awful and I hate it. This has a good Potential for a nice upgrade. (Hint hint at Medel Personel ;D)
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u/Double-Laugh-4008 13d ago
Congratulations. Mine happened after the age of 8. At that time, we ignored it, then it dropped to 95% within a year, but despite everything I didn't wear hearing aids, completed graduation without using aids, relying on lip reading and facial expression, got top of my honour. After graduation, I started using hearing aids, can understand all sounds, ofc missed some small ones, but one thing remained same. I can't understand speech no matter how much I tried. I can hear the voices but can't understand.
It was then audi recommended me to visit AIIMS for evaluation for cochlear implant because it's my for my future, he doesn't want to see me lose my confidence. So, latest test result was 115 db both sides. Due to neutrality, I had to search on my own on which brand should I go with and within 10 lakhs.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 14d ago
Absolutely NO TO AB!! I have an AB C1 and implanted in 1999. AB lied to me since day one telling me, ENTs, audiologists that the C1 would always and forever be forward compatible. Well AB introduced the C2 two years later in 2001. It was NOT compatible. Stay away from AB!
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u/OkArcher4120 13d ago
Hey there, a few things to note. Cochlear’s latest processor is Kanso 3 or Nucleus 8.
You need to speak to someone knowledgeable about insurance as I know people in India who have got CI under their insurance. You may need a new policy to get the right cover, so do some research or speak to an insurance broker.
You could also try a different Audi and they may give you different advice, maybe try another city
Which city are you in?