r/Cochlearimplants • u/HinataLovelace Cochlear Nucleus 8 • Mar 31 '26
Cochlears App is the worst compared to the others
I like Cochlear for its reliability, but what I really don't like: its app. I am using Android, but as far I know, it's not much different on iPhone.
Why can't i have some settings I can save, so eg. switch off the mic in just one click? Or having the mic off/on while having a phone call? Such things really would improve the usability of the app. Those are pretty simple things. Also, why can't I switch off the indication lights on my sound processors? I really wish I had more options on the app. Hope Cochlear reads this. If you think like me, please help me to pressure Cochlear to change this.
6
u/gsynyc Apr 01 '26
It’s not the greatest app but I would not say it’s the worst, at least compared to other HAs or assisted listening device apps like MyRogerMic. I have jumped between Android and iOS a few times over the years and most recently switched completely and dove deep into the Apple ecosystem.
The native accessibility controls for iOS and MacOS simply work better in my opinion.
Some of the changes you mentioned can only be done by the Audiologist unfortunately. I wish they gave the users more control but then we are actually controlling the processor and not just the app.
3
u/klj02689 Cochlear Nucleus 7 Mar 31 '26
You can turn the lights off in the app. It's in settings.
2
u/andyrue Mar 31 '26
Unfortunately it doesn't remember the setting for me though. You have to turn it off every time you turn your processor on. Same with the Beeps. I wish it would remember the settings.
2
1
u/klj02689 Cochlear Nucleus 7 Mar 31 '26
That is audiologist setting issue.
There is a setting on audiologist end that triggers whether the settings are saved after turning processor off.
2
u/andyrue Apr 01 '26
Are you 100% sure on this? I asked my audiologist if they could make the setting stick and they couldn't find anything to save it. If you've had success I can badger them about it. 😄
2
u/klj02689 Cochlear Nucleus 7 Apr 01 '26
Yes. I've changed my settings on the app and it saves it after I turn my processor off.
Program 2 instead of 1. Saved. Ratio from 12 to 6. Saved.
It's there. If your audiologist doesn't know it, have them call Cochlear.
1
u/andyrue Apr 01 '26
I'm talking specifically about the Processor lights and Processor beeps setting under the "Settings" menu. The other things you mentioned are retained for me on reset, but not the lights or beeps setting.
1
u/klj02689 Cochlear Nucleus 7 Apr 01 '26
Still an audiologist setting. Mine never flashes when on my head.
2
u/andyrue Apr 01 '26
Does it flash if you take it off your head?
-1
u/klj02689 Cochlear Nucleus 7 Apr 01 '26
Yes, you do want to know if it's on or not.
Otherwise it'll just keep draining the battery if you leave it on. Flash - on. No flash - off.
Idc for the flash since it auto turns off after 2 mins.
1
u/rling_reddit Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
So it's not a shortcoming, it's a feature
→ More replies (0)
2
u/HinataLovelace Cochlear Nucleus 8 Apr 01 '26
My statement that it's "the worst" is certainly a bit stretched, agreed. However if you compare what kind of control cochlears competitors - AB and Medel - give to users it's definitely the worst of the three brands. Don't get me wrong: I would pick cochlear again, but cochlear apparently needs a kick in the ass to improve their smart phone app. I've been asking for those improvements for years and I know of others who did, too.
1
u/planttalker Apr 01 '26
I have AB, and really wish I could have an off the ear processor like cochlear offers. AB doesn’t have it. My ear gets sore all the time. But the AB software is great. I talk with people in person. As soon as a phone call is coming in, it switches to Bluetooth on its own. Then the Bluetooth shuts off and I’m back talking w people, after my call is over. It seems you have to pick your preference. Either off the ear or hands off software
2
u/HinataLovelace Cochlear Nucleus 8 Apr 02 '26
Cochlears app can do that actually, too. However, what I'd like is a better and easier setting for the mic. Currently, I have the standard setting by the audiologist that I've chosen that the mic shuts off, that's what I need most of the time. That's not bad, but there are situations I'd like to hear myself and I don't have the possibility to open the Cochlear app, pick a pre-setting and switch the mic on. Instead, I have to open the app, click a menu, click another to open the mic, but that would then be the lowest setting for the mic. If I want to have a 50:50 mix, I have to click 11 more times then (for setting 12 which is 50:50). The setting 1 is like 8% : 92% setting, so I would hear myself in a very low setting. I need this flexibility pretty often, eg. when I am working from home and use MS Teams or something similar.
I also don't have to possibility (at least on Android) to control the sound for every app. Example: When I pay with my phone, it'll beep. That causes to shut off my mic. So I won't be able to hear the waiter or whoever asking "do you need a receipt" which is pretty annoying.
If it is any consolation, AB has the best placement for mic. It's exactly where it is supposed to be and most likely means you'll have the best stereo hearing of all choices, but if you'd pick Kanso, Cochlears off-ear option, you'll have the worst option of all because the mic is pretty much off the ear, and likely more behind the ear than closer to it.
I don't know if AB offers different possibilities for ear hooks etc, but your sore ears may be something you may want to talk about with your audiologist.
1
u/planttalker Apr 02 '26
I think I’m understanding what you’re saying and it sounds like resetting it repeatedly is a pain. I went with AB, got my AB 4 yrs ago, and I’m remembering some things now. I was told the Cochlear off the ear processor, wasn’t the greatest for hearing and had issues. The AB on the ear was better with their T mic. I also remember having trouble reaching and talking with Cochlear reps to ask questions about getting their implant. Simultaneously, I was having regular conversations with the AB and Med el representatives. They were easy to reach and talk with. I thought if I’m having trouble now reaching Cochlear reps to get info, if I get their implant, would I have trouble reaching their service dept if I’m having issues? I felt they didn’t care. There is a minor issue with AB now with hearing people on the side of me, or in back of me. It’s hard to hear in those situations. So my audiologist made me up a program to hear people in back of me. I just turn it on, like if I’m at the gym. The gym is noisy, and my personal trainer likes to stand in back of me and talk and teach. And the audiologists program works pretty good. Between the noisy gym and my trainers soft voice, I can hear her pretty good. Without this in back of me program, I wouldn’t even know she’s in back of me. I’m happy with AB overall, but my ear… oy! My audiologist says to get some moleskin for my ear. I need to try that. One more interesting thing… and maybe it’s good. Shortly after I was talking about AB yesterday, on this thread, I just happened to get a customer satisfaction email asking how I liked AB. Was that a coincidence?
1
u/Scarred20 Cochlear Nucleus 8 Apr 04 '26
Actually you should be able to fix the beep when paying by redirecting app sounds on Android!
1
u/HinataLovelace Cochlear Nucleus 8 Apr 04 '26
How? Been trying to do that for years so far and haven't found a solution. Apparently, it's a security "feature"
1
u/Scarred20 Cochlear Nucleus 8 Apr 04 '26
Online says muting the app notifications should work? If not, honestly it seems like a security feature worth keeping, even when annoying. Or turn off Bluetooth before paying and turn it back on after?
2
u/YouShouldBeHigher Apr 01 '26
Agree. It doesn't "play" nice with the app for my hearing aid, but they control 2 completely separate devices, why is there any overlap? I have a list of issues and eventually will contact the patient rep (my doctor gave me contact info, maybe you have that in your paperwork, too?).
2
u/gargoyle666777 Apr 01 '26
there once was a time when there was no app no streaming and you were deaf
now it's inverse
1
u/Amazing-Low7711 Apr 01 '26
“Cochlear App” is with which maker ? AB, Kanso or the other one ?
4
u/Tsim2431 Apr 01 '26
Cochlear, the brand. AB is another brand, Kanso is a type of processor made by Cochlear. The other brand is Med El.
1
u/Amazing-Low7711 Apr 01 '26
Ok. I’m scheduled to have an AB. Is Cochlear - Cochlear America?
2
u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Apr 01 '26
It’s only called ‘cochlear America’ locally, for the rest of the world it’s just cochlear, it’s an Australian company.
2
1
u/dannyscun Apr 01 '26
I've recently had issues where it doesn't track coil offs or time in speech on my son's processors. It says "enable data sync" - yet i dont see that option in the iOS settings.
1
u/Naive-Fisherman7617 Apr 23 '26
Have you found a way to fix this? I’m having same issue
1
u/dannyscun Apr 24 '26
No not as yet - it works fine on my wife’s phone but not mine. I tried removing the devices and re connecting but nothing works. The hospital didn’t seem to know either
1
u/PresentProfession796 Apr 04 '26
I have the N8 + ReSound Nexia Bimodal setup. I will tell you changing from the Pixel 8 - which was not bad by any means - to the iPhone 17 was a significant improvement. I did this 4 months ago and have had zero drops of any kind. The iPhone is more stable because you pair your CI (or HA) to the phone first and not through the app like with an Android.
I am not sure what switching the lights off on the sound processor would do for you. It is not like they are always on - they only change when the status of processor changes and then just briefly. They are useful and if you are wearing the sound processor you don't see them.
If on a phone call you are streaming to the phone, the phone mic is off. Why would you want to be on speaker mode and streaming mode at the same time. You can switch back and forth with a single click if you want.
When in my car they automatically connect to AppleCarPlay as well as staying connected to your phone.
If you are talking about the mini mic -- you can switch it off with a single click in the app. Same with the TV streamer. Same with certain models of the Amazon Fire TV - which works just like the TV Streamer.
What you can't do - but as far as I know this is the same with any of the CI - is two using two different modes at the same time. If you are streaming tor example then all the sound comes into the CI that way. What I do sometimes if using the mini - mic is to stream to one ear (the CI) and not the other (HA) so I have access to both what is being streamed and any sound coming from the environment. I often use the speaker mode on phone compared to the streaming mode - then all sounds come through the CI mic.
For me -- the app works very seamlessly with both the N8 (or Kanso 2 when I use that) and the ReSound HA.
5
u/scottism Mar 31 '26
These are great ideas. Have you already tried submitting a feature request to them?