Category Archives: Blog

Cochlear Kanso 2 Processor Review

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Iraida Franceschi

Cochlear Kanso 2

As a child, I had allergic reactions to everything and anything that grows under the sun, (i.e., grass and tree pollen, dust, mold, etc.)  So I commonly experienced recurrent ear infections.  Therefore, I was always given antibiotics or antihistamines, and ironically, it was also said that the medications I was taking affected my hearing loss as well.  Either way, I was one of those people that thought hearing-aids were always going to be part of my life.  Never imagined that hearing-aids were no longer going to be sufficient for me.  Yet, during a hearing evaluation, my audiologist told me I should consider cochlear implants, and I went home feeling overwhelmed.  Fast forward to 2011, and after being told I qualified, I started to research more and more about cochlear implants all the while asking questions in social media.  It was all a little daunting but having most of my worrisome questions answered by my doctor and by other cochlear recipients slowly gave me confidence to go forward with the process.

Now you see it – now you don’t!

In 2012, I decided to get a cochlear implant – and it was a success!  Having had such a great experience with my first, I decided to go for my second a year later, becoming bilateral in 2013.  At that time, I received the Nucleus 5 processors (for both sides), and I continued enjoying the journey for approximately 8-9 years until it was time to think about an upgrade.  Cochlear Americas had just released their newest processor:  Kanso 2.  So, I knew that all I needed to do to get the upgrade process started was to email or call Cochlear, as they now have a Reimbursement and Insurance Services department to help with the process. Cochlear Americas also takes care of contacting my Audiologist and ENT Surgeon to obtain the letter of medical necessity and other information pertaining to the upgrade. Consequently, I am happy to announce that my upgrade was successfully approved, and that I have had the Kanso 2’s since November 2020. 

My Kanso 2s with safety line hair clips

Key Features of the Kanso 2

Built-in Rechargeable Battery: The rechargeable battery is non-removable, and internally settled (built-in) inside the Kanso 2.  This means I do not need to worry about putting on or taking off the rechargeable battery, because the Kanso 2 is a one-piece unit processor.  This is also known as an Off-The-Ear (OTE) processor.

Easy on and off functionality: I can turn it on by placing it on my implant and turn it off by taking it off.  Or I can tap twice to turn on and tap three times to turn it off while it’s still on my implant.

SmartSound iQ with Scan Technology: The scan technology is automatically listening to the surrounding sounds, and it adapts or changes the settings depending on the environment.  There are six scenes in total: Quiet, Speech, Speech in Noise, Noise, Music, and Wind.

Direct connectivity to a smartphone: Connecting to a smartphone (Android or iPhone) to stream and enjoy music, movies, videos, phone calls and video calls.

Nucleus Smart App: The app can help control the sound settings, track hearing data, and battery level.  It is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

Dual microphones: This is important to help filter out background noise and enhance the hearing experience.

Once I received the processors, I called my audiologist to make a mapping appointment.  This was necessary because the Kanso 2’s I had received are the latest and newest processors available – and were completely different from the processors that I was using.

In comparison, the Nucleus 5 is a behind the ear (BTE) processor, whereas the Kanso 2 is an off the ear (OTE) processor.  This allowed me to free my ear for wearing glasses or sunglasses — and masks which are required now due to the pandemic.

With an Off-the-Ear processor, I won’t need to worry about the coil or the cable, as the Kanso 2 is a one-piece unit.  Moreover, the Kanso 2 has a built-in rechargeable battery in it that is non-removable.  This means that when I am done for the day, I can simply place my processors in the charger/dryer box and close the lid to allow it to automatically begin charging wirelessly.  It takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to charge in full.  However, because most of us sleep 6-8 hours at night, it has been said we can leave them safely drying overnight, the technology is smart, and the charger/dryer won’t overcharge the processors.

Once I go about my daily routine, and if I am attending online meetings that day, I know I can use the Mini-Mic 2+ to stream directly into the Kanso 2’s.  All I have to do is plug one end of an audio cable into the headset port on my computer, and the other into the Mini Mic 2+.  Then I select the audio input on the Mini Mic 2+ by pressing its mode-selector button three times to set it to the music icon. The Mini Mic 2+ streams sound wirelessly to both Kanso 2 processors, and its mic picks up my voice.  This, to me, is a game changer!  The sound quality is impressive, and I can follow conversations with my colleagues via Zoom.  Just to be able to listen and chime in with constructive feedback, is all worth it.

The Mini Mic 2+, ready to stream from my computer

I am also excited to share that working out with my Kanso 2’s has been easier.  Plus, I found out that the Kanso 2’s have a water resistance rating of IP68, which means that the sound processor can withstand sweat much more than my Nucleus 5’s did as these had an IP57 rating.  I could also get rained on or splashed and not have to worry about damaging my Kanso 2’s.  In fact, I have been reading about the IP68 rating, and it has been said that the Kanso 2’s can be submerged underwater (to a maximum depth of 1.5m) for up to thirty minutes without any damage.

After I am done teleworking, I am usually using my iPhone, listening to music, or browsing TED Talks videos to listen to as that is now part of my daily audio rehab.  With the iPhone, I don’t need any other intermediary devices, as the Kanso 2’s are able to stream sound directly to my implants.  As a matter of fact, this is probably the easiest thing to do, to make calls or receive FaceTime calls from my daughters, because once the iPhone is paired, I really do not need to press any buttons.  It just rings and streams without delay.

I can scroll down the timeline in social media and if I click on a video, it will instantly stream the sound to my Kanso 2’s.  If I get interrupted with a call or a FaceTime call from my daughter, the call will take over and instantly connect.  Then when I hang up, the video that I was watching resumes playing.  It surely is as easy as I am making it sound!

Nucleus Smart App screen shot

The Kanso 2’s can also be used with the Nucleus Smart App, which is a free app that can be downloaded from the Apple Store – or Google Play (for Android).  Once downloaded and paired, I can check my settings, such as volume, sensitivity, treble and bass – or I can change programs or leave it on Scan, which is a special program that listens to the surrounding sounds near me, making adjustments depending on whether there is noise or quiet, speech, music or even wind.

There is also a Hearing Tracker feature, which displays Time in Speech (per day) in which I can tell it to “set a goal” depending on the number of hours I wish to achieve and it will highlight the days I have met the goal.  The other feature in the Hearing Tracker is the Coil-Offs for tracking the number of times the coil was disconnected from the implant each day. 

If I ever misplace my Kanso 2’s, I can tap the “Find my Processor” button to show me the location of my Kanso 2’s to help me find them.  So, there are quite a lot of features in the app that are useful.  But the feature I use the most is the “status” of the batteries, as the Nucleus Smart App can display the amount of charging power remaining in the rechargeables, and it does so by displaying the percentage.  This is a very convenient feature.

Selecting Scan and Forward Focus

I also tested the “Forward Focus” feature, which is also a very effective setting for when I wish to drown out any noise behind me.  So, I placed my back behind the TV, which was playing really loudly, and I had told my spouse to read a paragraph or two out of a book I had grabbed. He read out loud and I started to notice that his voice was in focus while the TV noise was reduced to some degree – but noticeable enough for me to enjoy this feature.

Now, in regards to the Kanso 2’s SmartSound iQ with Scan Technology, I was surprised that I didn’t notice much difference.  I have tested this program by playing loud music from my Amazon Echo to make the Scan recognize music and change settings, and it certainly did so.  Then I would walk away to the dining room and start a conversation with my husband, and the Scan program would automatically change to the Speech setting.  All these changes were happening as I expected them to, but in a very subtle and unnoticeable way.  In fact, the only way I could tell it was changing was because I was looking at the Nucleus Smart app and watching the changes.  Perhaps I should give more time to the Scan feature or bring it to the attention of my Audiologist for enhancement.

Now let me bring up a different aspect about the built-in rechargeables. As mentioned, the rechargeable battery is part of the Kanso 2 — which brought up concerns (to me) about whether or not it would last me all day long.  This is because I didn’t want to have to take off my Kanso 2’s in the middle of the day, or during a meeting, or even late at night while watching a movie.  The difference is that the Kanso 2 would need to be removed to be charged, and I would be left without sound.  However, after doing all the testing, I have come to realize that I am able to wear my processors for 2 days without charging them every single night.  That’s how much power there is in the Kanso 2’s (with my Scan and Mapping programs).  In the case of a power outage or when going camping, I can use the Portable Charger that was included in the upgrade kit.  The portable charger will charge similar to the charger/dryer unit for approximately 3-4 hours, which would give me another 2 days to wear my Kanso 2’s.  If, however, I were to go camping for a whole week, or if the power outage were to last much longer, my back up plan is to use my AC outlet portable power station.  This can be purchased online and is available at outdoors sporting stores.  

Either way, I can tell that the new Kanso 2’s are going to be my new connection to life.  I plan to explore the new features and enjoy the new experiences my Kanso 2’s bring me.  After all, this is the technology I have always dreamed of having, and I couldn’t feel any more grateful to be able to do so.

About the Author

Iraida Franceschi is a boricua wife, mother of two adult daughters, and one of the five Admins of Cochlear Town USA, a closed-group on Facebook.  She mentors and corresponds with other candidates during her spare time.

GalaPro Review

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Mike Marzalek

GalaPro1

I have a CI and my wife is normal hearing.  A week ago we saw the stage production of Hamilton in San Francisco.  The play has a lot of fast dialog,  jazz, hip hop, and rap singing.  Prior to our performance date, the theater announced availability of a new app for smart phones and tablets called GalaPro. You download the app from your App Store prior to going to the theater.  Once in the theater, you put your device on airplane mode (so as not to make noise during the performance), connect to the theater’s Wi-Fi, and launch the app.  “Real time” captions appeared on our devices, in sync with what was happening on stage.  The captions are a dark red font on a black background, so it doesn’t distract others.  But it’s easily readable.  When I looked over at my wife’s phone, I could hardly tell she was looking at captions.  The performance was SO much more enjoyable for both of us.

How does it work?  It’s not 100% clear.  The GalaPro web site says that it uses real time speech recognition and can translate to any target language in real time.  Our assumption is that the captions (which were perfect) have been created ahead of time, and someone is either “backstage” or “listening in” and paging through them in time with what’s happening on stage.  The captions also had the name of the person speaking or singing – which would not happen if it was pure speech recognition.

On occasion the captions would lag or get ahead as if someone backstage was hitting “next page” while distracted looking at Facebook.  Theater captions are currently only available for certain cities and certain shows (New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Berkeley, Costa Mesa, Pittsburgh, Melbourne, Buffalo, London, Sarasota are cities currently listed).

The GalaPro website says that they are also in the process of bringing this to movie theaters so you’d use your smart phone or tablet to get captions instead of using the clumsy (but appreciated) devices that sit in your cup holder – and that you will be able to walk into a comedy improv (where the dialog is unpredictable) and get real time captions.  They may not be there yet.

GalaPro was a great experience for us.  We’ll be watching to see if GalaPro becomes more widely available and usable for different types of productions.

About the Authors

Suzy and Mike MarzalekSuzy & Mike live an hour north of San Francisco.  Mike is a retired telecommunications engineer from Hewlett Packard.  He is an adjunct professor at Arizona State University in the Speech and Hearing Sciences, and works with both the ASU and UCSF CI teams trying to improve low frequencies and music for CIs using his hand-built speech processor.

 

Mike's hand-built processor

iOS 13 Streaming with Cochlear Nucleus 7 Processors Update

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Information for users of direct MFi streaming sound processors:

Since updating to iOS 13, some users of hearing devices with MFi (Made for iPhone) connectivity may be experiencing issues with the connection between their hearing device and their Apple device as well as with streaming quality.

NUCLEUS® 7 OR BAHA® 5 SOUND PROCESSOR USERS

Nucleus® 7 or Baha® 5 Sound Processor users, who have recently updated to iOS 13 (released 20 September 2019) and subsequent updates through to iOS 13.1.2 (released 1 October 2019) may experience the following issues:

  • Issue: The Apple device is not streaming audio to the sound processor.
    We recommend you turn the sound processor off and back on again. If this does not resolve the issue, try unpairing and re-pairing the sound processor to the Apple device.
  • Issue: Various MFi pairing and unpairing issues.
    We recommend unpairing and re-pairing the sound processor. If this does not resolve the issue, try restarting the Apple device and then pair your sound processor.
  • Issue: When using an iPhone, the Keyboard ‘click’ and other device sounds are being streamed to the sound processor. In addition, there is a reduction in the sound processor’s microphone volume.
    We recommend you set the ringer/mute switch on the iPhone to silent while streaming. This stops the device sounds from streaming. Don’t forget to turn the ringer/mute back to audible after you finish streaming.
    or
    Go to Settings> Sounds & Haptics> Keyboard Clicks. Turning this off will stop the keyboard sounds. Repeat this process to turn the keyboard sounds back on again.

Cochlear is working with Apple to resolve these issues. Apple have requested that Cochlear customers report their issues directly to them by sending an email:  accessibility@apple.com

AudioLink and SONNET Benefits for new MED-EL Recipients

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MED-EL USA announces two programs for new recipients in the USA or Canada.

  • You will receive a voucher for the AudioLink handsfree wireless technology interface (Bluetooth gateway device) that is expected to be available in Fall 2019.
  • A new SONNET Swap program where new US recipients with an unopened  SONNET EAS audio processor can exchange it for the next generation SONNET (already known as SONNET 2 in other markets) once it becomes available, also expected late 2019.

Read the full press release here.

Phonak Roger Component Overview

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by Allan Larson

After using my Resound MultiMic, I realized what a difference remote microphones could make. I wanted to use multiple microphones at once in several different situations, and found that the Phonak Roger system could do that.  I started looking into Phonak Roger and trying several different components.  I found that getting information on what was available was a little difficult, so I wanted to put a quick reference out for anyone else who may need it. The information below comes from my own research, so if you find something that is incorrect please let me know.

Phonak Roger is Not FM

Many people confuse Phonak Roger with the older FM systems, but Roger is actually completely new technology.  Older FM systems transmitted an analog signal on FM frequencies (72.025 to 75.975 MHz and 216 to 217 MHz), and only transmitted on one channel at a time making it prone to interference, range problems, and eavesdropping. Phonak Roger transmits at 2.4GHz (ISM band) using digital transmission and frequency hopping technology to decrease dead spots, improve sound quality, and secure the transmission. For more information on the Phonak Roger wireless technology, click this link.

Roger Microphones

With most of the microphones below, you can link multiple devices together, and even mix and match microphones (like a Roger Pen and 2 clip-on mics).  There are some limitations to this. For example, when you have multiple Roger Pens linked, only one can be in conference mode, and the rest can be in neck-worn mode.  When the microphones are linked, they do not all transmit at once.  The microphone that picks up speech first will transmit until it no longer hears speech.  At that point the system will switch to the next microphone that detects speech.

Roger Pen

Roger Easy PenThe Phonak Roger Pen has three different microphone operating modes. Conference mode (when laying on a table), Interview mode (when held at an angle), and neck-worn. The Roger Pen can automatically switch microphone modes based on its position, or you can manually select the mode.  In Conference mode it will pick up audio from all around.  In Interview mode the microphone will become directional and pick up the voice of whoever it is pointing at, while blocking out noise from around the pen.  In neck-worn mode it will become highly directional with a shorter pick-up range in order to just pick up whoever is talking directly above it. The Roger pen also has Bluetooth connectivity for connecting to cellular phones and other Bluetooth devices.  Using an included cable, you can also connect the Roger Pen to other audio sources like a TV or headphone jack on a computer.

Roger EasyPen

Roger Easy PenThe Roger EasyPen has the same three microphone modes as the Roger Pen.  With the Roger EasyPen you cannot manually select the microphone modes, and it does not have Bluetooth.  Like the RogerPen, the Roger EasyPen can be connected to an audio source using a cable.

Roger Clip-On Mic

Roger Clip-on MicThe roger clip-on mic is made to be worn clipped to a shirt or lanyard.  It picks up speech from directly above it.  The Clip-On Mic can also be used to stream audio from another source using the included cable.

 

 

Roger Table Mic

Roger Table Mic.pngThe Roger Table Mic is specifically designed to be used in meetings.  It picks up audio from all around while filtering out background noise like projector fans, coughs, etc…  For large meetings (15+) people, you can use multiple Table Mics to pick up sound from all around the room.  The Table Mic can also be connected to other audio sources, and has a remote control that can be used to mute/un-mute the microphone.

Roger Touchscreen Mic and Roger Pass-around

Roger Touchscreen Mic Pass-aroundThe Roger Touchscreen Mic and Roger Pass-around are geared for educational use.  The Roger Touchscreen Mic is worn by a teacher and the Pass-around is passed to other students to allow them to talk on the system as well. Multiple Touchscreen Mics and Pass-arounds can be used together in a network.  The Touchscreen Mic and Pass-around only work with the newer Roger receivers, they are not backwards compatible to older FM systems.

Roger Inspiro and Roger DynaMic

Roger Inspiro Pass-around.pngThe Roger Inspiro and Roger DynaMic are also geared toward educational use and have similar functionality as the Roger Touchscreen Mic and Roger Pass-around.  The Inspiro and DynaMic will work with Phonak Roger and older FM systems.

Roger Receivers

The Phonak Roger system has several different receivers that enable the system to be used with almost any hearing aid, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), or cochlear implant.

Roger design-integrated receivers

The design integrated receivers are made to blend in with the design of Phonak hearing aids as well as some Cochlear implants from Cochlear and Advanced Bionics.  The design integrated receivers will work with the full line of Roger microphones including the Touchscreen Mic and Inspiro.

Roger X

The Roger X receiver uses a Direct Audio Input connection (DAI, a.k.a Europlug) and can be used on many hearing aids (with a DAI boot), cochlear implants, and neck-worn streamers such as the Phonak ComPilot.  The Roger X comes in two different versions.  One is a lower cost type 3 (03) that works with the Roger Pen, EasyPen, Clip-On Mic, and Table Mic.  The other is the type 2 (02) which costs a little more, but adds support for the educational based mics (TouchScreen and Inspiro), as well as some settings that can be made using the Inspiro, and compatibility with more Roger devices. For more information on the differences between the 02 and 03 Roger X receivers, click this link.

Roger MyLink

The Roger MyLink is a neck-worn streamer that works with hearing aids that contain a TeleCoil (T-Coil).  The Mylink also has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack that allows it to be plugged in to other devices like sound systems, or hearing aid streamers with a 3.5mm input.

Roger Focus

The Roger Focus is a behind-the-ear receiver made for people with normal hearing, but that have attention related issues.  It is intended to limit distractions by bringing the teacher’s voice directly in to the persons ear to help with focus and understanding.  The Roger Focus is not a hearing aid, it is simply a receiver for Roger microphones.

About the Author

Allan LarsonI have been a hearing aid user for over 20 years, since receiving my first aid at age 20. As my hearing loss has progressed, I’ve come to rely on various Assistive Listening Devices. My career in IT requires many fast paced meetings. Without remote mics I wouldn’t be able to keep up and contribute. In January of 2018 I was approved for a cochlear implant, and look forward to the next phase of my journey. I hope to not need wireless microphones once I get adjusted to hearing with a CI, but it’s nice to have them available if needed.

Allan lives in Illinois with his wife and 4 kids.

Naída Link CROS Review

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By Deb McClendon Deitz

Advanced Bionics Naida Link CROS

The Naída Link CROS is a wireless behind-the-ear microphone you can pair with your Advanced Bionics Naída Q90 or Q70 sound processor. You wear the CROS in a similar way to how you would wear a very small behind-the-ear hearing aid. You wear it on the non-CI ear. It comes with a small earhook, and also a plastic tube that that can anchor the CROS in the ear canal if desired.

After trying the plastic tubing to secure the CROS, I decided it would be more comfortable to wear it with a small piece of double-sided toupee tape. I am not used to having anything that small behind my ear and could see myself knocking it off easily. I am also not used to having anything in my ear canal. The toupee tape can be purchased on Amazon or at a local beauty supply store. Just cut a small piece, put it on the CROS on the side you want to stick to your skin.

The CROS is also backwards compatible with the previous generation processor, the Naída Q70. It uses a single size 13 disposable hearing aid battery. The battery lasts about 4 days for me on average. Advanced Bionics recommends PowerOne size 13 batteries, and estimates 3-5 days of life.  My 4-day battery life is right on target!

Batteries are available in local pharmacies as well as on line. The Naída Link CROS does not beep when the battery dies. At first, I didn’t necessarily notice when the battery died. After a couple of weeks, I would notice that something was missing and then discover that the CROS battery needed to be replaced.

The CROS doesn’t have a T-mic, but it does have two mics that work wirelessly to complement your programs on the CI side. Everything you do on the CI side is duplicated on the CROS side. It’s automatic and very seamless. You power it on and off by opening and closing the battery case. There aren’t any buttons to press, so it is simple and easy to use. Once you close the battery case, the power is on. When you put it on your ear, it automatically pairs to your cochlear implant processor. There is a mute button you can press that will turn off the CROS.

Who can use it?

  • Current single-sided AB Naída CI Q90 or Q70 users with no benefit from hearing in the opposite ear
  • Cochlear implant candidates with no benefit from hearing aids in either ear, who will receive only one implant

The audiologist pairs the Naída Link CROS to your cochlear implant processor. All you need to do is install a size 13 battery and put it on your ear. Everything is controlled by the Naída CI Q90 or Q70 processor. Change programs or volume with the buttons on the processor, the AB MyPilot, or the ComPilot, and the Naída Link CROS follows in lock step.

The UltraZoom program on my Naída CI Q90 works beautifully with the CROS! It’s super nice in restaurants and loud places knowing that I can hear from both sides and am zoomed in to the max to the person in front of me. I feel more relaxed and no longer need to sit and position myself with my better ear facing people talking. I can pick up the conversation on both sides equally!

StereoZoom is another program that uses sound from both devices to make a super-tight focus directly in front of you. This is probably best for extremely noisy situations, even noisier UltraZoom can handle.  I don’t have StereoZoom as one of my options, but I will be sure to ask the audiologist for it next time!

Because the Naída Link CROS always streams sound from one side to the other, there are no separate DuoPhone or ZoomControl programs.

Real-Life Impressions

Listening to music with the CROS is interesting for sure! It’s not quite “bilateral” or stereo, but it’s nice to feel that the music is coming from all directions rather than just one side. Music coming in from all sides is more satisfying in a surround sound type of way.

I am very fortunate to have great music with my CI, so that is carrying over to the right ear now with the CROS.

The CROS is SUPER lightweight! I have to remember to remove it when I take off my CI. I cannot feel it on my right ear at all.

I first tried the CROS in the audiologist’s office. An Advanced Bionics Clinical Specialist and one of the AB research audiologists were spending the day at my clinic. My audiologist sat on my non-CI side first. We did a little experiment with my hearing using only the CI on my left side. Naturally as expected, given the “head shadow effect,” her voice came in softer when she was on my right. I could understand her, but I wanted to turn my head to hear her better.

Then she put the CROS on me, sat in the same chair, and started talking. I was stunned! She came in loud and clear, as well as if she had been sitting on my CI side.

Next, I was tested in noise. The audiologist played speech babble over speakers in the room. She started talking again on the CROS side and I was able to carry on a normal conversation without looking at her or leaning over to get closer.

The AB Clinical Specialist asked if it seemed strange to hear on the right side but have it processed by the left CI. I had to think about it, and it didn’t seem at all strange. I felt balanced and I also felt I was hearing on both sides as I should be hearing. There is less stress hearing on both sides. I felt more relaxed with two ears picking up sounds!

My cochlear implant situation is a little different than most people who may be interested in the CROS. I do have a working CI on the right side. However, due to damage in my cochlea from a 1985 CI, I am missing some important speech frequencies. The right side only gives me bass sounds. That’s all great for music, but not for everyday listening.

Listening to music with the CROS is interesting. Music sounds the same – it is, after all, being controlled by my usual CI programs. I have very very good music with my left CI and am super grateful to Advanced Bionics for giving me the extra pitches that bring out the melodies and harmonies. With the CROS, I was picking up the SAME good music I have on both sides. It was double the pleasure for sure!

I do have the option of wearing both of my cochlear implant processors when listening to music, and that does have an additive bass effect. However, the binaural CROS option gives me a nice sound quality, so I am going to have to listen to a lot more music before I can decide which I prefer.

In listening around the house and at a restaurant, it is so easy to hear sounds from both sides. It’s definitely more relaxing, less work, and much more natural when things come from both sides.

I don’t know if insurance will pay for the CROS – it’s supposed to be an option for new AB users in the processor kit. Each clinic is going to set their own price for the CROS. My price will be different than yours.

Bilateral cochlear implants are probably a better solution if that is an option. If you have a CI on only one side, or if you are like me and one of your bilateral implants doesn’t do particularly well, you may want to consider a Naída Link CROS!

About the author

Deb Deitz.jpg

I have been an AB CI user for over 15 years. I lost my hearing at age 17, when I just woke up deaf one morning! This was 1971 and there were no CI’s back then. I lived my life in silence with lipreading. In 1985 I had an experimental CI put in my right ear. Only 16 of them were ever implanted. Mine failed after about 6 months. It was an interesting experience, but they had nothing to replace it with, so I spent another 14 years in silence after having to stop wearing it.

In 2002 I decided to give CI’s another shot. After a huge amount of research, I chose Advanced Bionics, and it’s been the best decision I could have made. I was actually able to talk on the phone again two weeks after activation!

It’s been an amazing 15 years being able to hear again. I am grateful to AB for always giving me new programs, new processors and innovative ideas to improve my life. The CROS is going to make a quality of life difference for me. I am grateful!

Time it Right! When Should I Get a Cochlear Implant?

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ExploreTime cover.PNG

MED-EL has launched the latest issue of its flagship EXPLOREMAGAZINE, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of hearing loss through inspiring and extraordinary stories. In this edition, called EXPLORETIME, readers will discover the crucial role that time plays in our lives, and how it affects our decisions and structures our day. This is a great, FREE resource for hearing health professionals, parents and CI recipients.

One of the most interesting articles is about deciding when is the best time to get an implant for you or a family member.  Time It Right discusses considerations for babies, older children, and adults about the affects cochlear implants can have on quality of life at various stages.

The entire EXPLORETIME issue is available for your reading pleasure.

Cochlear Kanso Review

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My Kanso Story

by Roger Smith

Hearing loss is something I’ve dealt with for over 40 years. I was first diagnosed at age five and my hearing declined for the next 20 odd years. Choosing the right hearing aid and ultimately the right cochlear implant can be a challenge. Lucky for me, my brother, four years older, has the same history of hearing loss, and I usually had him to rely on for feedback about new technology or functionality. Now, I’m in a position to provide some insights into the new Kanso Sound Processor from Cochlear!

A little bit about myself, I work for Cochlear in Sydney and help develop and market new processors and accessories. I love my job because I get to work with and learn from our customers and help make sure the new products best meet our customer needs. I’m doing this for me, my brother, my son and all of you, and I truly love it.

In my role, I had the opportunity to be part of first clinical trial for Kanso, where I tested the device for more than six months in Sydney, Australia.

One thing we’ve learned over the years is that everyone is different and what is best for one person might not be best for another.

Kanso has been developed for people who are looking for a sound processor that is discreet, smart and simple.

Kanso is for people who might be a bit self-conscious about wearing a processor, who want something to ‘set and forget,’ or who just don’t want anything on their ear, all while still receiving great hearing performance.

So here’s what I can tell you from my experience about hearing performance with Kanso.

As a recipient and customer myself, I really focus on hearing performance. I want to be able to hear my best in every situation. Whether it’s social or at work, I don’t want to miss out on anything.

So when I was asked to trial Kanso, I must admit, I was a little sceptical. Would this new processor allow me to hear as well as with my Nucleus 6® Sound Processor? I put it to the test.

I went to the noisy café and the windy beach, I listened to music and watched TV, attended lectures and conferences, and in every situation I switched back and forth between Nucleus 6 and Kanso.

I can honestly say I could not tell the difference. I felt like with Kanso I was hearing just as well as with Nucleus 6 and maybe, more importantly, my family couldn’t tell the difference either. My wife, who’s able to tell better than me when it’s time to change my microphone covers, didn’t even notice I had a new processor for three weeks!

Kanso has the same performance technology as Nucleus 6 (SmartSound® iQ), which includes SCAN*. SCAN is an automatic environment classifier that constantly scans the environment you’re in and changes the processor settings to make sure you’re in the right setting at the right time. It’s all I ever use with Nucleus 6 or Kanso.

Kanso also offers all the same True Wireless™ connectivity options as the Nucleus 6, which is very important to me. I use my Phone Clip, Mini Microphone and TV Streamer on an almost daily basis. Being able to stream directly to my processor in certain situations is a huge advantage for people with Cochlear implants.

I feel sometimes like I’ve gone from being the person in the room with a disadvantage to being the only one in the room with a real advantage.

* SNR-WR, 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: and 2) report a preference for different program settings.

What is Kanso?

Kanso is an integrated sound processor for a cochlear implant that has the processing unit (read: brains of the computer), the battery, and the coil all in one unit.  

The Kanso processor

The Kanso processor

It must be worn directly over the implant, so there are no cables to fiddle with and no earhook as it sits behind or above the ear.

To break it down further:

Processing Unit

This is the part that does the hard work. It gathers the sound through the dual microphones and processes the input, filtering out background noise and sounds that you don’t want to hear based on your situation. Kanso comes with the same industry leading sound processing capabilities as the Nucleus® 6 processor with SmartSound™ iQ.

Kanso also has SCAN* technology, which means the processor can analyze the environment you’re in and put your processor in the right program, no matter what the situation.

Processor Button

Kanso has only one button to control functionality of the processor. This was done to simplify the user interface and make it even easier to use. You can control on/off, programs and streaming accessories with this one button. For those who want even more control, Kanso is compatible with the Cochlear Remote Control and Remote Assistant.

Microphones

The microphones are where the sound comes into the processing unit. Kanso has two microphones. This is very important for background noise management because the processor can analyze the sound from the two microphones and determine which sounds came from behind. This ‘beamforming’ means you can hear better in noisy situations.

Coil

The coil is the part that communicates with the internal implant. It sends the ‘sound’ to the implant. Kanso has the coil built in so there is no coil cable to deal with.

Batteries

You use Kanso with zinc-air disposable batteries. Rechargeable batteries would mean a bigger and heavier processor, which is not something customers wanted. With two zinc-air batteries, Kanso is designed to deliver the same battery life as Nucleus 6.

Accessories

Kanso comes with retention accessories like the nearly invisible safety line for everyday use and the headband for more vigorous activities.

True Wireless

Kanso is fully compatible with the Cochlear True Wireless™ devices – Mini Microphones, Phone Clip and TV Streamer – so you get even greater performance in challenging situations and the convenience of no wires.

Real Life Experience

By now you’re probably thinking ‘great, so you can hear well but how well does it stay on? Is it really discreet? What about swimming and sports?’

Here’s how I answer these questions after six months of experience with Kanso:

What’s retention really like? Does it fall off?

Straight away, people ask me about the retention of Kanso. Does it fall off? No. I’ve never had a situation where the Kanso just fell off my head.

I use the same magnet strength (2) as with my behind-the-ear (BTE) sound processor and didn’t have any problems with Kanso falling off.

Did I accidentally knock it off? Yes. I had to break a few habits. With a BTE, if I had an itch, I could just flick the coil off and scratch and the BTE would keep everything on my ear. With Kanso, I had to remember to hold the processor while I scratched. This took me a week or two to change.

I also had to be a bit more careful changing a shirt or putting on a hat, but this was not a big deal to me. When wearing a hat, I did have to loosen the band a bit, but it didn’t seem to impact my hearing when I had the hat on.

Kanso comes with a clear safety line (like a fishing line) that you can attach to your hair with a clip or another, longer line that you can clip to your shirt. I used the short one in my hair, and I must say I was really hesitant to wear a hair clip, but it was pretty much invisible and surprisingly easy to use. Clip it in in the morning and pop it off at night – too easy!

Kanso with Safety Line and Clip

Kanso with Safety Line and Clip

How’s the battery life?

Battery life with two disposable zinc air batteries was the same for me (around 62 hours because I’m a low power user).

How simple is Kanso to use?

As simple as I found my Nucleus 6 to be, Kanso was just a little bit simpler. I use a hearing aid mould with my BTE for retention, and with Kanso, I didn’t have to spend a few seconds each day putting the earmould in and positioning the coil. And having only one button and SCAN* means Kanso is truly a ‘set and forget’ processor.

Can I use Kanso in water?

Kanso comes with a waterproof accessory that covers the processor and allows you to swim, snorkel, exercise and more.

Aqua+ with Kanso inside

Aqua+ with Kanso inside

I found the hearing performance when using the Aqua+ to be slightly less, but I could still understand, communicate and have fun with my kids and hear safety alarms or whistles.

If you’re doing anything besides just relaxing in the water, you’ll need to use something to keep the Kanso in the Aqua+ on your head. I used a neoprene swim cap (Nammu), but there are lots of options out there, and the Aqua+ has notches for goggle straps if you prefer that. A small price to be able to hear in the water!

How discreet is Kanso?

I’m not really too worried about people seeing my processor since I’ve been wearing something on my ears for 35 years. But if I was concerned about it, Kanso would be perfect for me. I have shorter style hair and Kanso is nearly invisible when I put it on.

Kanso with safety line attached

Kanso with safety line attached

Can I wear a hat or helmet?

As with any implant and processor combination, implant location on your head plays a role in how well (or not) hats and helmets fit. My implant is located just above and behind my ear – right on the ‘hat line.’ I find that I can still wear my hats and my bike helmet but with the hats, I need to loosen a little bit or there is a little too much pressure. This only bothers me in the wind as a loose hat comes off easier.

Is Kanso right for me?

This is the one question I can’t answer. Only you and your hearing health professional(s) can decide what is best for you

Personally, I would be very happy with either Kanso or Nucleus 6. I’m not worried about discretion, and I get great hearing performance and connectivity with both.

Kanso and Nucleus 6

Here is a comparison summary of Nucleus 6 and Kanso:

Both:

  • 2 microphones and SmartSound iQ and SCAN
  • True Wireless compatible
  • Aqua+ for complete waterproofing
  • Dust and splash proof
  • CR230 Remote Assistant and CR210 Remote control compatible

Nucleus 6:

  • Offers Hybrid™ Hearing with acoustic component attached
  • Can use disposable or rechargeable batteries
  • Telecoil optimised for phone use
  • Compatible with all Nucleus implant types

Kanso:

  • No acoustic component
  • Disposable batteries only
  • Nothing on the ear
  • Telecoil optimised for room loops

Some considerations when choosing between Nucleus 6 and Kanso:

  • Since Kanso is not worn on the ear, people with glasses might find Kanso works better, especially if you have thick temple pieces on your glasses.
  • While both processors are compatible with the Phone Clip, the Nucleus 6 processor telecoil is optimised for phone use. I used Kanso with the mics alone on the phone for quick conversations with family and friends but much preferred the Phone Clip for long calls or calls for work.
  • Consider battery type and how important that is to you.
  • If you wear hats a lot, consider taking one to your audiologist appointment to try on with Kanso because it slightly thicker than the Nucleus 6 coil. While I could still wear hats, I needed to adjust them slightly

Talk with your  hearing health professional and be honest about what you hope to achieve with your processor. I hope hearing about my experience has proven helpful if you’re thinking about Kanso. Good luck with your hearing journey!

Kanso User Guide

About the Author

roger-head-shotRoger Smith, MSPT has been working in the field of healthcare for over 18 years. He is currently a Global Product Manager with Cochlear Ltd., spending the past 5 years in Sound Processors and Connectivity. As an employee and an active volunteer, Roger draws on his unique experience as a cochlear implant recipient to help improve the lives of those with hearing loss.