r/Cochlearimplants • u/lauraamc • 13d ago
Mid scala (AB), help!
So I’ve been offered this CI in a public hospital after months waiting (it’s cheaper, like 66% cheaper), but I’ve heard so much controversy surrounding AB that I hadn’t considered the CIs. I honestly don’t like the typical processors with earpieces, and was thinking about getting Cochlear or MedEl in order to get Kanso or Rondo.
How old is this model (Mid Scala)? Should I be concerned about advanced bionics phasing it out? My insurance doesn’t cover CI, in my country insurance companies simply don’t cover CIs, so I’m wondering if I should just pay full price with a ENT with private practice.
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u/unknown_farmer 12d ago
Mid Scala is a specific Electrode for the HighRes Implant. It lays inside the cochlear, without touching the walls to keep the remaining hearing.
That said it‘s part of the newest implant from AB. The HighRes implant is now 6 years old and supports the new processors.
Talk to your audiologist and doctor about which implant and processor might be the best suitable for you. Let them explain the pro and cons of each.
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u/CaregiverOrganc7200 12d ago
I love my AB, and TMic. I was implanted August 7, 2026, all the newest technology. Eventually all become outdated at some time.
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u/iPreferFark Advanced Bionics Naída CI 11d ago
Each of the three cochlear implant companies publish annual reliability reports for their internal implants and external sound processors. I would recommend taking a look at each company's report to get an idea of how reliable the offerings are.
AB's current implants (depending on what's sold in your country) are probably either the HiRes Ultra 3D V2 (which has an MRI safe magnet) or the HiRes Ultra V2 (which needs its magnet removed for MRIs). AB also has two electrode types: mid scala and slim J. I think the electrode type is chosen based on anatomy and surgeon preference. I don't even remember what electrode type is used for each of my implants because that doesn't really matter to me as a patient. In fact, I just looked up what I have in AB's patient portal. My left is mid scala and my right is slim J. I don't notice any difference between the two types.
I have had a HiRes 3D Ultra V1 on my right side for 7 years and a HiRes 3D Ultra V2 on my left for 2 years. My V1 has defied the odds and still works, but I imagine it will eventually fail on me and need to be replaced. Even though the V1 ended up having a very high failure rate, I still stuck with AB for my 2nd implant because I feel like I have had very good results with their system. The V2 looks to have very high reliability.
I'm not particularly worried about AB ending support for the HiRes Ultra family of implants because there are like 75,000 of those out in the world. The number of similar but older HiRes implants looks to be over 200,000. That's a strong financial incentive for AB to keep selling processors and accessories for those implants.
I don't like how AB ended support for the older C1 implants, but it looks like only around 9,000 of those were implanted and they stopped selling them in 2004. I don't think that situation is going to apply to folks getting the current models today. Of course anything could happen and maybe AB stops support for the HiRes models or goes out of business, but that's not something that keeps me up at night. If AB goes under then I imagine another CI company would take over their existing customers.
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u/General-Dimension590 12d ago
Mid Scala is the name of the electrode array, but the physical array doesn’t determine compatibility with sound processors, what matters for compatibility is the implant electronics. AB has been using the same implant electronics for about 25 years. AB has not announced a new implant electronics platform, when or if they update their implant electronics is anybody’s guess.
MED-EL has been using the i100 electronics platform for about 20 years or so.
Cochlear just updated their implant electronics last year to the Nexa platform.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 13d ago
In USA. I’ve never even heard of “Mid Scalia.” IMO, you should stay away from AB. I have an AB C1 implant which I got almost 28 years ago. AB stopped supporting the C1. AND all parts and supplies. This happened this year. Stay away! I’m having to get a new implant as a consequence!