Is it time to upgrade your sound processor? Our recipients and medical studies both suggest it could be a wonderful decision.

Another Cochlear innovation has arrived! One of the most exciting things about Cochlear technology is our continuous innovation that provides new benefits to recipients who upgrade their sound processors. Next-generation sound processors are designed to deliver improved hearing performance and new connectivity capabilities without additional surgery.

Are you thinking about upgrading your sound processor for next-generation technology?

Congratulations! Over 650,000 people around the world have chosen Cochlear for their hearing implant due to our commitment to ongoing innovation. Our research and development team works hard to bring our implant recipients the best in the latest technology – everything from better hearing in noise, better streaming capability, improved comfort, or battery life.

Are you curious what other cochlear implant recipients have to say? Our Hear & Now blog features many articles about recipients who have upgraded their sound processor technology many times over the years. Upgrading sound processors throughout the years has helped Taryn gain confidence as she went through college and established herself in her career. Pat has had six upgrades in the 40 years she has had her Cochlear implant, and Steven was able to leap forward after 30 years.

Are you someone who loves listening to music?  When teen recipient Soli upgraded to the Cochlear™ Kanso® 2 Sound Processor in 2021, she was thrilled to have the sound processor off of her ear, to hear more with less effort and to be able to stream music! James said that by upgrading his sound processor and being able to stream “turbocharged my ability to hear music.” He started listening to music so much that it improved his listening ability helping him play guitar better!

Each individual has different goals and hearing experiences. Upgrading your sound processor might be the boost you need to reach a little higher.

Are you someone who does their research and wants more information before you make a decision?

Here is a list of studies done by leading medical researchers to get you started! The research is clear: over the years, studies have indicated that people who upgrade to a new sound processor experience improved hearing outcomes and report improved hearing satisfaction.

• Even recipients who have had their implant for more than 20 years may experience significant performance improvements today by accessing latest-generation sound processing technology.¹²
• With each new generation of Nucleus® Sound Processors, hearing benefits are observed. Improved hearing performance, through features like ForwardFocus³, is a key reason to upgrade to next generation technology.⁴
• By upgrading to a sound processor and using ForwardFocus, recipients can improve their communication and connection to the world around them, particularly in noisy environments.⁵
• Upgrading to newer sound processors can offer hearing performance improvements through automation advancements, such as SCAN⁶, making it easier for recipients to continue listening well as they move between different sound environments.⁷
• Regardless of when they were first implanted, recipients of all ages report the difference a new sound processor has made to their well-being and everyday experience of life.⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹
• Most recipients who have upgraded to the latest sound processors are likely to prefer, and gain significant benefit from, the newer sound processor technology and experience improvements in overall satisfaction with everyday life.¹²
• Long term users of Nucleus® sound processors experienced less hearing difficulties following an upgrade to newer sound processor technology, which helps provide recipients with confidence to engage with the world around them.¹³
• Mobile connectivity¹⁴, usability and comfort available in the Nucleus® sound processors may improve recipient satisfaction across multiple listening situations and perceived listening effort.¹⁵

Learn more about the benefits to upgrading a sound processor, when to upgrade, and how to upgrade.

1. Mosnier I, Sterkers O, Nguyen Y, Lahlou G. Benefits in noise from sound processor upgrade in thirty-three cochlear implant users for more than 20 years. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2021 Mar;278(3):827-31.
2. Pinheiro MM, Mancini PC, Soares AD, Ribas Â, Lima DP, Cavadas M, Banhara MR, da Silva Carvalho SA, Buzo BC. Comparison of Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Users with Different Speech Processors. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2021 Jul;32(07):469-76.
3. ForwardFocus can only be enabled by a hearing implant specialist. It should only be activated for users 12 years and older who are able to reliably provide feedback on sound quality and understand how to use the feature when moving to different or changing environments.  It may be possible to have decreased speech understanding when using ForwardFocus in a quiet environment.
4. Hey M, Böhnke B, Mewes A, Munder P, Mauger SJ, Hocke T. Speech comprehension across multiple CI processor generations: Scene dependent signal processing. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. 2021 Aug;6(4):807-15.
5. Go­ -Gomez MV, Muniz L, Wiemes G, Onuki LC, Calonga L, Osterne FJ, Kós MI, Caldas FF, Cardoso C, Cagnacci B. Contribution of noise reduction pre-processing and microphone directionality strategies in the speech recognition in noise in adult cochlear implant users. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2021 Aug;278(8):2823-8.
6. SNR-NR, WNR and SCAN are approved for use with any recipient ages 6 years and older who is able to 1) complete objective speech perception testing in quiet and in noise in order to determine and document performance 2) report a preference for different program settings.
7. Mauger SJ, Warren CD, Knight MR, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus® 6 cochlear implant system: Performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journal of Audiology. 2014 Aug 1;53(8):564-76.
8. Biever A, Gilden J, Zwolan T, Mears M, Beiter A. Upgrade to Nucleus® 6 in Previous Generation Cochlear™ sound processor patients. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2018 Oct;29(09):802-13.
9. Mauger SJ, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso™ off-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal of Audiology. 2017 Apr 3;56(4):267-76.
10. Mosnier I, Marx M, Venail F, Loundon N, Roux-Vaillard S, Sterkers O. Benefits from upgrade to the CP810™ sound processor for Nucleus® 24 cochlear implant patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 271:49–57.
11. Warren CD, Nel E, Boyd PJ. Controlled comparative clinical trial of hearing benefit outcomes for users of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor with mobile connectivity. Cochlear Implants International. 2019 May 4;20(3):116-26.
12. Biever A, Gilden J, Zwolan T, Mears M, Beiter A. Upgrade to Nucleus® 6 in Previous Generation Cochlear™ sound processor patients. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2018 Oct;29(09):802-13.
13. Mosnier I, Marx M, Venail F, Loundon N, Roux-Vaillard S, Sterkers O. Benefits from upgrade to the CP810™ sound processor for Nucleus® 24 cochlear implant patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 271:49–57.
14. The Cochlear Kanso 2 Sound Processor and the Cochlear Nucleus 8 are compatible with Apple and Android devices, for compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility. The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.
15. Warren CD, Nel E, Boyd PJ. Controlled comparative clinical trial of hearing benefit outcomes for users of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor with mobile connectivity. Cochlear Implants International. 2019 May 4;20(3):116-26.

• Cochlear implants

Jen Schulz

Jen Schulz is an Associate Marketing Manager and has worked for Cochlear since 2016. She is responsible for creating and publishing recipient services content and communications. Jen was born and raised in New York but now calls Colorado home. She enjoys baking in her spare time and spending time with her husband and 2 dogs.