I have the Cochlear CI512 implant. Not sure how many channels it has (14?), but IIRC at this point increasing the number of channels doesn't have a significant difference in outcomes. Implants are designed to be simple and reliable so that they last for life. The real smarts are in the external processor, which is custom programmed or "mapped" for each recipient.
I recently upgraded to the Nucleus 7 processor, but it sounds identical to my previous Nucleus 6 processor. Main benefit is that the Nucleus 7 is smaller and lighter and the batteries last longer.
Keep in mind though that cochlear implants are generally a last resort since implanting them will usually remove any residual hearing you might have left. AFAIK your ear has to be "profoundly" or totally deaf before doctors will recommend implant surgery. Preferred treatment is to augment whatever hearing you still have with hearing aids before recommending implants. In my case my left ear is almost normal up to 1500Hz so it has a hearing aid that does some frequency transposition for higher frequencies. Implant is in my right ear which was almost totally deaf.
Thank you, yes, this helps very much. A friend has had one since birth many years ago now, I'm wondering if an 'upgrade' would be worth it for them, I will read up on this and your comment prompted me to update how far this tech has come in the last years. Thank you very much.
I recently upgraded to the Nucleus 7 processor, but it sounds identical to my previous Nucleus 6 processor. Main benefit is that the Nucleus 7 is smaller and lighter and the batteries last longer.
Keep in mind though that cochlear implants are generally a last resort since implanting them will usually remove any residual hearing you might have left. AFAIK your ear has to be "profoundly" or totally deaf before doctors will recommend implant surgery. Preferred treatment is to augment whatever hearing you still have with hearing aids before recommending implants. In my case my left ear is almost normal up to 1500Hz so it has a hearing aid that does some frequency transposition for higher frequencies. Implant is in my right ear which was almost totally deaf.
Hope that helps.