Advanced Bionics (AB) and Phonak announce the introduction of the new Naída bimodal hearing solution featuring the Phonak Naída™ Link, the world’s first hearing aid offering full-bandwidth, bidirectional audio streaming with the Naída CI sound processor from AB. Using shared technology co-developed by AB and Phonak, the Naída devices are able to communicate with each other in a way no other hearing aid and cochlear implant combination can match.

Bimodal features may include functions such as DuoPhone, in which you hold the phone up to one ear, and hear the sound in both ears. The direct communication between the cochlear implant processor and the hearing aid may also allow you to change program or volume on both instruments by pressing a button on either one of them. Currently these types of functionality are only available for bilateral Advanced Bionics cochlear implant users, or bilateral Phonak hearing aid users.  About half of all cochlear implant users are bimodal, meaning one cochlear implant and one hearing aid. These users will be able to take advantage of features previously available only to those with two cochlear implants or two hearing aids.

For more information, see the press release.