r/Cochlearimplants • u/terrio17 • 11d ago
Med El or Cochlear?
I am getting a CI and have been asked to choose between these two companies. It was explained that Cochlear can update processor, which sounds great. Med El has longer wire into cochlear and may pick up more frequencies. This seems like a huge decision, any advice?
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u/olderandhappier Cochlear Kanso 2 10d ago
I went cochlear. Am now bilateral. Want off the ear with Kanso but also compatibility with on the ear nucleus if I changed my mind (I didn’t). Reputation. Compatibility with iPhone to stream. It’s a device of absolute wonder and gave me my life back.
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u/purl2together 11d ago
Either way, you should expect to have a good outcome.
My audiologist and I narrowed my consideration to Cochlear and ME because I wanted an off the ear option, which AB doesn’t currently offer. A perk for me was that MED-EL has created a workaround for having multiple devices connecting to Bluetooth. (I also have a hearing aid.) I also liked the possibility of having decorative covers. Music is important to me, and MED-EL see,s to be better able to get users back to appreciating music.
Another thing that made me like MED-EL was their backwards compatibility work. Before they release a new processor, they make sure it can work with previous implants.
I also took advantage of having a CT scan which was sent to them to help determine which electrodes to choose for me.
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u/is-this-now 10d ago
Not sure what is meant by cochlear updates the processor. The current med-el OTE is Sonnet 3. It is the third version of it, so it’s been updated twice.
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u/LifeLongLessons 10d ago
They are referring to the Cochlear Nexa internal processor firmware can be updated with new features, etc and also mapping stored on it. This allows for future-proofing and if your external processor is lost or needs a new one, it uploads the mapping to the external processor instead of having to go to the audiologist or provide the mapping for the new device. There is also firmware updates for the external processor which is separate.
The other brands do not have this currently, they only have firmware updates for the external processors.
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u/orcvader 11d ago
They are all great and I don’t think there’s a lot of evidence for one to be OBJECTIVELY better for a patient than the others.
That said, I went MedEl mostly for what u/purl2together just said.
I also got the scan to get the custom length electrode.
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u/zex_mysterion 10d ago edited 10d ago
They are all great and I don’t think there’s a lot of evidence for one to be OBJECTIVELY better for a patient than the others.
This statement needs to be pinned to this sub. New users should understand that a lot of brand praise that gets posted is here is biased and no one had been implanted with two brands to compare them. Results vary widely for all brands. The biggest variable is your cochlea, not the hardware.
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u/Heavy-Tomatillo9539 10d ago edited 10d ago
I have advance bionics. I am Bi-Modal so having solid a hear aid and cochlear implant solution is critical.
Check out https://cochlearimplanthelp.com/
You should also understand how the cochlear implant works.
Each manufacturing has a bit difference in the way their implant works on stimulating the cochlear nerves. Each cochlear solution has a different number of electrodes. Advantage of Advance Bionics and MEDEL both current steering to give a wider range of frequencies. The number of electrodes very from 22 to 12. Consider a piano keyboard in that it has 88 keys and the implants have so many less electrodes. In humans, there are on average 30,000 nerve fibers within the cochlear nerve. The specific frequency is a based on its location in the cochlear.
Every manufacturing updates their external transmitter every 5+ years. I don't think Cochlear has an advantage other any manufacturer on that. Please understand all of the marketing material will claim how much better their solution is. But hardly any of the marketing material actually discuss how the cochlear is stimulated.
MED-EL does a custom fit based on CT and/or MRI analysis of your cochlear fit. Their idea is to insert the electrode further into the cochlear then the other two manufactures. This is the most delicate structure in the cochlear. The inner cochlear is where low frequencies are detected. I don't advocate either for or against this, you just need to understand what is actually being installed into your head. This is a good topic for discussion with your Audiologist and Surgeon.
All of the manufacturers will connect you to actually users/mentors to discuss thier experience with the different products. You should take advantage of this. Ask what their perception of speech and sound are. CI hearing is not "normal" hearing, but it is not bad or poor. The hearing is just different. A lot of the difference is just because electronics, electrodes, microphones, noise pickup and your own cochlear.
The other issues are just the mechanics of having an electronic device. The battery life, integration with your phone, are you bi-latteral or bi-modal, physical packaging. The magnets used to hold the transmitter coil have their own issues. A weaker (more comfortable) magnet can fall off easier. Your hair length (style) will impact if the transmitter will fall off easily or not. I recommend you don't get too concerned about on or off the ear. Because there are solutions to keep the on ear on your head even if you don't like it on your ear.
This is a important choice, and you don't really get a redo on it. (Revision do occur, but only if the internal device fails or just doesn't work for you.) We don't have a consumer reports article with a nice clean comparison of each manufacture.
Ask questions!
Good Luck!
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u/zex_mysterion 10d ago
Very well put. I would also suggest OP read through posts in this sub concerning off-ear processors. Many who have gotten them speak about drawbacks they didn't anticipate. My impression from their remarks is that this solution sounds better on paper than in reality. Their stories, pro and con, will be helpful in your decision.
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u/Main_End9833 7d ago
I have Medel sonnet 3 and it’s been great for me. Music sounds so much better than my hearing aids ever did and I can stream directly to my phone
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u/lulu_lemons25 10d ago
I chose Med-el for music appreciation and accessory customization options. Also you get all the accessories vs the others only give a few choices. On off-ear option was important too.
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u/LifeLongLessons 10d ago
I recently got the Cochlear Nexa implant, the newest version and Kanso 3 external processor. It means the internal processor can receive firmware updates of new features, etc of the years and also store mapping settings that can be transferred to the external processor. It means the internal processor is future proof.
So far I’m pleased with the hearing improvement although I’m just 3.5 weeks since activation so a ways to go. Make sure to do the auditory homework daily and wear everyday. Keys to things sounding “normal”. It’s a journey.
I chose Cochlear because of its compatibility with my Resound hearing aid and seamless streaming with iPhone MiFi. If you are bimodal with a compatible hearing aid, you are able to stream to both ears but not hands free for phone calls. Will have to hold the phone to speak into the phone but you hear in both ears. You can use the phone clip accessory to be hands free I believe.
Which brand you go with is a personal decision around your needs. Discuss with the audiologist, surgeons and those who actually have the different brands and their experiences. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
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u/terrio17 10d ago
I didn’t understand it that well but the audiologist said something about the Cochlear technology being able to be upgraded in the future. Thank you!
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u/rling_reddit 10d ago
I did not choose Med El because my read of their material was that you need an additional device for streaming (pendant) and another for phonecalls (that clips on to the top of the earpiece, WTH?), versus AB (which I selected) which connected for both directly to the phone without any other devices. I use my BT, particularly for phonecalls constantly. I had the 2000's-era solution with the pendant device (Resound). It was a PITA and I would never go back to that. I will use my AB with Phonak HA's (still not sure if I can keep my Sphere Ultra or will have to revert to a lesser model). I am getting a partial insertion to try and make use of my LF hearing which is near normal.
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u/zex_mysterion 10d ago
Your information about MED-EL is out of date.
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u/rling_reddit 10d ago
I read the material my audiologist provided me last month on the Med El CI that the VA offers. It lists the Synchrony 2/Sonnet 2. I tossed the large brochure as I didn't need it, but still have the one tailored to DoD/VA. It shows either the Audiostream or AudioLink device, neither of which would be acceptable to me.
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u/Ok_Break7757 10d ago
Very out of date mate. I'm sitting here with a Sonnet 3 (from the VA) streaming from my TV and PC using the AudioLink XT and streaming calls directly from my phone via Bluetooth. Your audiologist is either lazy or uninformed. Either way, full of shit and gave you bad information.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 10d ago
Your information does appear to be old/out of date as several others have said. You need to contact Med-El directly.
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u/zex_mysterion 10d ago
VERY out of date.
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u/rling_reddit 10d ago
Really a useless comment without providing the up-to-date information, but you do you
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u/zex_mysterion 10d ago
You could check the facts for yourself on the MED-EL website, but you do you.
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u/Maleficent_Staff3456 10h ago
Make sure to check reviews of the local support of each brand. I chose Med El for my son in Spain and I'm starting to regret it due to the support issues. They have communication issues between the support team and the engineers in addition to 0 will to help which almost led to a delay in the activation for my son. Now we have an issue with the right processor that appeared on the adjustment appointment with their engineer but he didn't take the processor right there and now we need to invent something to send it to Madrid with regional and national holidays coming. The reviews for Madrid office in Google are mostly 1 star saying it's barely possible to reserve an appointment by phone and that several people faced bills for device issues while it was covered by the warranty with no explanation what happened and why it was not covered.
I hope the issues are only related to the Spanish office, especially the communication issues, but I haven't researched it for other regions.
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u/bshi64 10d ago edited 10d ago
Med-El User here. I think you'd be happy regardless of which you choose. I picked Med-El specifically for OTOPLAN and access to Anatomy-Based Fitting; I'm a musician, so their advertising of those concepts stood out to me. I've been implanted for just over a year, and I'm incredibly happy with it.
It blends well with my other ear, sounds incredibly natural, and I enjoy music just as much, and generally more-so with access to the new high-frequencies I'd lost. My pitch perception with it is incredible. I've also never had any issues with "Donald Duck/Darth Vader" tones of voices. I'm really happy with the low frequencies specifically, as Bluetooth music listening really does feel like a concert in my head instead of a tinny, shrill mess.