But more about that later. This blog is for advice. We are still planning on the cochlear implant this summer and have researched both the Advanced Bionics and the Cochlear. After going to seminars, reading online and talking to both companies, I am leaning, but still not 100% sold on one company over the other.
So, to parents or people that have had an implant, I am looking for some advice here. (And I don't want the, "They're both great!" answers. I want to know why you chose the company you did and if you are happy with the results. Please help!
23 comments:
Hi
I'm an Advanced Bionics CI user for the past 15 years. I have to say the company has provided me with awesome technology and that's important to me. The different speech strategies that really make a difference in the way one hears.
Advanced Bionics has awesome customer service too!
The company is here in the USA - you can go there and take a tour and meet the people that make the devices. You can talk right there with the people that care.
Advanced Bionics is a company that has always provided the cutting edge of new things. For example the T-Mic! A microphone that uses the ear as it was designed to capture sounds.
I have been very very happy with Advanced Bionics through the yeas!!
Kim
www.hearingjourney.com
What a beautiful little guy you have, even with the mustache! I have two Advanced Bionic CI's. Whe it was time to choose the brand that would be inside my head for my lifetime, my husband who is an engineer really helped me. He studied the internal workings of the cochlear implants and knew without a doubt that the technology in AB's is superior. AB can fire the electrodes at 83,000 pulses per second and no other brand has this ability. AB has an IDR of 80 and that is crucial, that is the window of sound someone is capable of hearing. If the IDR is lower they won't hear as much. AB has the only "t-mic" which gives the most amazing hearing. Since you have the literature from AB have you read about that? There are so many features that will give your little one the ability to hear his best. I know several other parents who's child was born deaf and they chose AB. Those little ones are progressing so rapidly and seeing a video of how they are hearing and responding to sounds is wonderful. AB has audiologists available to chat with each day and their customer service is excellent. If you need anything and get the request to them before 5pm you will receive what you need in 24 hours. They really do put all their CI users first. I will follow the journey your son is about to start on with the highest hopes for him. He is surrounded by a loving family and that is the first step.
Evelyn
1st AB CI 2006
2nd AB CI 2007
When it really comes down to it, I don't think it matters what you choose. Go with the little features that you like the best, because as far as I can tell those are the main differences.
We picked the AB device mainly because of the body worn processor. My son Noah is a very active little boy and we wanted a processor that could put up with whatever he did to it. We also liked that anecdotally people with AB seemed to have a better appreciation/understanding of music than people we talked to with other devices.
Since having AB, I can say that I LOVE their customer service. They are always so helpful and go out of their way to help us get what we need. We just replaced a headpiece through our warranty and it was so easy and seamless. I also like that they keep coming out with new & better accessories (like the new bilateral harness which we love!).
Good luck with your decision!
What a decision! Interestingly, the two people that left comments on your blog so far are adults. I think that if I were an adult CI user, I may have chosen AB also.
That being said, we chose Cochlear. Here's why: BABY! Because both companies really do have excellent reputations, and it's more the therapy afterwards than the actual implant itself that's important, we chose Cochlear because of the extra features for babies.
The babyworn processor fits on the baby's ear easier and clips to the clothing, and then can easily be turned into a regular BTE when the child is big enough to carry it on his ear. At this point with AB, you'd have to get a bodyworn processor, and then you'd be stuck with it when you'd want a BTE. I have been told that AB is working on a babyworn option too. I'm not sure it will be ready by this summer though. I would venture to say that 90% of the implanted babies that I read blogs for chose Cochlear, and probably for that very reason.
Although it's only been 4 months for us, we've been very pleased so far, with no complaints.
Good luck with your decision!
Hi,
I'm an Advanced Bionics bilateral CI user. I chose AB because they seemed to be the most progressive company with built in room for growth in better hearing. I did not want to be left behind with outdated technology and I felt AB built that into their product. I have experienced 2 upgrades to the software.
Babies grow up so fast. I have two grandsons, one is 5 and the other is 16 months and it seems the time has flown by and my older grandson will start kindergarten this fall. Babies are babies for such a short time that you want a product built for their future. The size of the externals will always be changing but the internal part has to last a lifetime and handle whatever is made possible with new technology as we strive for the best hearing we can achieve.
Autosound is another very important feature to consider. A parent cannot hover over their child and make adjustments to their hearing device every time the environment changes. AB's autosound does that for you. I put my hearing on in the morning and hardly touch it all day. I don't need to. I go from my home to outside, to a noisy grocery store without making any changes. And, what I hear is so natural sounding that sometimes I forget I am deaf.
As a grandmother, if one of my grandchildren were born deaf, I wouldn't want anything else for him/her, only Advanced Bionics.
The pictures you have posted are so precious. He is an adorable little guy and I wish you all the best as you strive to do what is best for him.
Glenice
Hey!
First of all, I'd like to say, your son is adorable and I love the little "mustache"! :P
I got my implant 4 years ago when I just turned 16 and my younger brother got his about 12 years ago when he was 5 years old.
There are several reasons why my family chose Advanced Bionics (AB) over Cochlear...
The customer service AB provides is by far superior than Cochlear, and I know this because I have some friends who have Cochlear. When they had a piece from their implant break or not work properly, they had to wait several days before they could get a replacement. But when I had a piece not work properly or if I needed more parts, I would call them up and they would ship it overnight. So I would get it the next day or two which is very helpful when you depend on the CI in a busy lifestyle like mine. This was also great since my brother was 5 when he first got his... and he was always running around outside in the creek loosing his pieces!
Cochlear and AB also have some differences in their products and how they are made.
AB's internal device is the same for all future external devices. So if AB came out with a newer device, you don't have to go through surgery again to get the upgrade... they just change the external device. But with Cochlear, you have to go through surgery again to get the upgrade (and thats IF they'll let you go through surgery again). I was very thankful for this because a year after I got my implant, AB came out with the new Harmony so I was able to just upgrade the external piece without going through surgery again. :)
AB also has a lot more flexibility with the different hooks on the processor. There are three hooks to choose from: the regular standard hook, the T-Coil hook, and the Direct Connect hook. The regular standard hook is just a small hook that sits on your ear. The T-coil hook is used to help you hear on the phone better, directing the sound from the phone. My brother uses this one 24/7 and loves it. But I, on the other hand, love music and listening to my ipod, so I wear the Direct Connect hook so I can have the "Direct Connect" cord (which is AB's headphone set) connect from my implant to my ipod. Even though I wear this hook instead of the T-Coil hook, I can still talk on the phone which is an added plus!
I know some people decide to go with Cochlear because of their advertisement on water resistance thinking AB's implant isn't. But the truth is, they both are. But the difference is that if you read the fine print for Cochlear, their warranty states that it may be voided due to moisture. So if your implant gets wet and breaks - they won't do anything about it. But with AB, they will replace it and help cover it with the warranty.
Another main difference between the two processors is the sound quality and speed. AB's implant works at a higher speed with 120 channels to transfer sounds allowing for more sound input. So in other words, when thinking about the keyboard on a piano... AB's 120 channels gets the full keyboard with all the sounds but with Cochlear's 22 channels, you're not getting the full keyboard of sounds.
So those are the main pointers on why we chose AB over Cochlear... I know that was probably a LONG comment... but I hope that helps in the decision making process!
If you have any other questions or would like to talk to me or my brother, feel free to find me on my blog... www.samshearinglife.blogspot.com
Good Luck! :)
Hello! It seems you have gotten quite a few posts with some great information, so I will not be too repetitive and go over it all again. But I wanted to say, great job in looking for input from actual CI users or parents of CI users. What better place to get real practical advice?! My son was implanted at 17 months with an AB device and then received his 2nd implant at 3 1/2. All I can say is I LOVE AB! He has done amazing and as you have read, AB provides so many amazing things for our children, to me one of the most important is being at the top of the technology ladder. We want the best for our kids. Second was the ablility to enjoy music. My son is now 5 and sings all the time. And, yes, he sings on key too! Pretty amazing for a deaf little boy!! I loved watching the video of your son. It brought back so many memories. If you would ever be interested, my son is amazing at talking on the phone, and I love to share with people how amazing he is with his AB CI! His speech is flawless! Please keep us posted on what you decide and how everything goes in the next little while.
Dionne
What an adorable little boy! You are truly blessed.
You are at the beginning of a very exciting journey for your child. You are choosing to give him the gift of hearing and selecting a cochlear implant company with whom he will have a relationship for the rest of his life.
I am an adult recipient of an Advanced Bionics device. I was implanted in 2001 and have never regretted my decision to go with AB.
I, too, struggled with the question, "which company?". I asked my son who is an electrical engineer to help me in my research. He concluded that AB was very far ahead technologically and had the ability to provide even more advanced devices in the future.
I was recently upgraded and did not have to undergo more surgery in order to take advantage of the newest technology. This will hold true in the future as well.
I love the t-mic that sits right in the ear-shell so sound enters my ear as naturally as sound enters a hearing ear. It is wonderful for telephone usage which will become important to your son as he grows and wants to talk to everyone!
AB customer service is outstanding. There are always audiologists available to address your questions and concerns. Service turnaround is quick and easy. The staff at AB is truly committed to the success, well-being, and satisfaction of their recipients.
Autosound is very important to me and will be especially important to your little one since he won't be able to tell you how he's hearing for a little while yet. I can leave the quiet of my home, go to a shopping center, restaurant, movie, or my grandchild's little gym venue, without having to touch a dial or fiddle with changing a program. My CI does it all for me!
And the Harmony is wonderful for music. My 14-month-old granddaughter already loves music and I know it always will be an important part of her life. She is hearing; however if she were not, I would want to give her this gift of music and have it be as clear and as beautiful as possible.
I wish you well as you walk this path. I look forward to reading of your decision and your son's growth and joy.
Liz
My daughter is 5 and also has a AB CI.
We chose it for all the same tech reasons that the others have listed. But also because I called and talked to a AB rep and they talked to me for 2 hours and answered every single one of my questions.
Hubby said he wanted AB for the HiFidelity 120. Once he heard about that, the question was answered in his mind.
Also, I like the AB headpiece better. Honestly, we call Cochlear's "the steering wheel".
Also, I see that you had Cal's hearing tested at Primary Children's, does that mean you are here in Utah? My daughter received a CI by Dr. Shelton (U of U) about 5 months ago. If you have questions, feel free to email me. Also, who is your audiologist? There are some great ones in Utah, and some awful ones.
Hi Cal's mom. I am Cheyenne's mom (sometimes called Melissa, but not often). Cal is so lucky to have a mom who is researching the best options to let his hearing journey begin.
Cheyenne received her Advanced Bionics CI almost 10 years ago. I agree with all the technical reasons why AB is better, but I want to add that their external equipment just can't be torn up.
Cheyenne has always been an active booger. She is a middle school cheerleader, flute player, soccer player, and power tumbler,. After 10 years, we just can't beat the equipment. That is so important in a little guys life.
I told you that we chose Advanced Bionics 10 years ago. What I didn't tell was that we chose them again 2 weeks ago. Cheyenne got her 2nd CI, and we never once hesitated choosing AB again. These are the people that have cared for my child for almost 10 years now. And I am comfident that they will continue to care about my daughter and her hearing health.
I wish your precious little Cal all the best. I am sure his life with be filled with many wonderful experiences, including hearing! Good Luck!
Hello~ My name is Andrea and my 2 and a half year old son wears bilateral Advanced Bionics cochlear implants and we couldn't be happier with our choice! We love AB! The biggest factors for me were their reliability and how kid-friendly they are. We even had one take a swim in the potty (a proud mommy moment as Elliott yelled, "mommy...my ear...it 's a boat. Uh, Oh!") We put the device in the dry0aid kit and it worked perfectly the next morning. We love the idea that we can turn it on the morning and forget about it the rest of the day! We can crank up the radio in the car to sing or whisper and listen to birds at the park without having to mess around with any controls or remotes. They are so easy for Elliott to use that he can even slide the batteries in place and place the devices behind his ear himself! (Of course we have to make sure he knows his left from his right...still something we're working on) Hope this helps but I would be more than happy to answer any further questions you may have for me!
I was making the same decision almost 2 years ago. My son had simultaneous bilateral implants at a little over a year. We chose AB because their technology was superior to cochlear. Also, their bodyworn processor for a small child is priceless. Nothing goes on the ear and it's just the magnet. SO much easier to keep on a baby. We have since upgraded to behind the ears and we couldn't be happier. My son has done exceptionally well. He was caught up with his peers within less then 18 months. He will be attending mainstream preschool in the fall. (he turned 3 just a month ago.) If you want to see how well he does with his implants check out my blog. I have tons of videos and updates. WWW.thelawrencetriplets.blogspot.com.
AB customer service is awesome as well. In two years we have not had a single issue with anything. And my son is a rough and tumble little boy!
Best of luck with your decision. Your son is just adorable. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about your son. I can totally relate to what you are going through and always love to talk to other Moms.
Hi
Cal is adorable. My name is Luanna and I have three children, two have CIs. Parker is now 10 and Sebastian 7. Looking at your blog brought back memories to our early journey. Deciding on a CI, we knew, would be one of the most important decisions we would make in our life.
You are correct to say that all implants will allow hearing. The reasons we decided on AB were really very simple.
1) Technology - internal memory capacity, program strategies, continued advancement
2) Pediatric/special features - durability of device, T-Mic, rechargeable batteries
3) Company Dedication - genuine caring & cotinued support to users and families
It is wonderful that you are reaching out and gathering information. We felt like the more we knew the more confident we became in our decision to implant our sons with AB. As we talked to parents, we heard how AB received support and guidance from customer service and staff as they began their life with an implant. We knew we had to rely on an implant company for Parker and Sebastian's entire life time and we wanted to know the company would listen to our needs and provide us with trusting quality assistance.
Also, we cannot talk enough about how well our boys have adjusted to living in a hearing world with the ease of the program options AB has. As Glenice, another AB user on your blog, mentioned AB's autosound has truly impacted the world of our boys. As you have many visions and goals for Cal, the autosound allowed one of ours to be a reality. Parker and Sebastian can go from one setting to another (noisy classroom, soccer field, birthday party) without worrying about having to adjust their processor. This is truly life in the hearing world at its BEST.
I wish you success in your journey. Keep looking for the answers in the difficult moments and smile as you look forward to the wonderful accomplishments you have ahead.
Luanna
When we were deciding on which implant to choose for our son, we were also given the choice of either AB or Cochlear. It's true all the implants are great and you really can't go wrong with any of them. That being said, the main thing that made the decision for us was reliability of the internal electrode. In the year we were waiting for his surgery, we heard of several implant failures and they were all AB failures. When we discussed this with our surgeon, he said in the 20 + years he had been doing CI's, he had done several reimplantations for AB failures but had never had a Cochlear internal failure. That pretty much sealed the deal for us. It was hard enough going through the surgery the first time (more so on us them on him) that anything we could do to reduce the chance of having a failure and going through it again was worth it.
We've "met" several families on our journey and have heard stories from some of them who's children have had internal failures; and some have even made the decision to switch companies after the failure. One, who has an older child with CI's, had one fail so they reimplanted with Cochlear. The child loves the hearing with that one so much he made the choice to go through surgery again and replace the other side with Cochlear this summer.
We are now 18 months post activation of bilateral Freedoms and couldn't be happier. We love that it is waterproof. The wearing options have worked great for a baby. We started in the babyworn setup with just the small ear piece and slid the controller in a pocket on undershirts. We've since moved up to a full BTE and have had no trouble keeping it on his ear. Customer service is incredible! Any problems we've had, I just hop on my computer, can chat with a representative, have them help troubleshoot if I'm not sure of the problem, and the replacement is shipped out that day so we get it within a day or two. The original kit we received when he was activated came with so many extra parts that he's never been without sound. We have at least 2 (in some cases 5 or 6) back up pieces so we just swap it out when needed so we are never waiting on a part to come so that he can hear.
Another thing we liked was that Graeme Clark (pioneer of the multi-channel cochlear implant) is partnered with Cochlear.
You'll find everyone is pretty much partial to whichever implant they chose. It helps to decide which factors are the most important to you. Reliability was our number one factor so that made the decision relatively easy for us.
Good luck with the surgery and can't wait to follow Cal's story. I'm sure he'll do wonderful with whatever you choose.
I must leave this quick little comment for you to consider. We all do agree that reliability is a huge factor to consider for our children. We want our kids to have the very best!! So please, before you make a decision call advanced bionics and cochlear and ask to see some information regarding reliability and make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. When making such a huge decision you want to make sure you are getting the best information available.
I just wanted you to let you know a few points...With respect to product durability, the fact is that Advanced Bionics has the highest total system reliability in the industry. Todays implant is more than 99% reliable and the processor has the lowest repair rate of ALL manufacturers! This ensures that your child will stay "on the air" and be able to go about his day without worry of processor breakage or trips to your audiologist for repairs. I have a copy of AB's latest reliability report if you would like to see the facts for yourself. Please let me know if you would like me to send it to you.
Elliott is 2 as I mentioned in my previous post and water resistance is extremely important to us. We have found that AB's processor is very water resistant. It is a two pronged system that includes a special case to shed water as well as a waterproof coating to protect the internal electronics. No device on the market is currently 100% waterproof. AB is confident enough in it's effectiveness that it is the only company to include moisture related issues into its warranty on repairs.
I disagree that all implants are the same because there are differences in performance with different devices. Our number one goal with Elliott was to choose the device and company that would enable him to live the life of an average "hearing" child. AB's technology and "head room" growth bring that opportunity to him everyday! Elliott's language and speech development are thriving and even surpass some of the children his own age. We know this is due to the HiResolution and spectral band technology that only AB devices offer. I don't want to sound pushy...I just want you to be well informed on ALL facts before you make such an important decision for your child.
Steve, it was good meeting you the other night at the Advanced Bionics seminar. We are looking forward to meeting the rest of your family and Cal at the PIP camp this weekend! For Zeke we have decided to go with the Advanced Bionics for a couple of reasons. My husband Brandon really preferred the technology of the AB over the Cochlear. We are also really excited for the new baby BTE processor they are getting approved right now. I also really like the AB because I signed up for something on their website and one of their Audiologists contacted me very shortly after and still keeps in contact with me. SHe has answered many questions for me and also sent me some new information in the mail.I really like their customer service, and I think that is really important.
Well I guess we will talk to you more this weekend at the PIP camp! Talk to you later!
Wow, I see lots of support for AB out there. Coming from a teacher of the deaf, I would go with Cochlear. I would choose them for myself or any family member. Most of my students use Cochlear and only a few use AB. I have seen very successful results with both.
Cochlear’s equipment is very durable and water resistant… I have many preschool students so I’ve seen these processors go through a lot including being thrown into the water table activity. I would agree that the baby/child accessories with Cochlear are superior to AB. I have actually seen AB users trying to buy the Cochlear products to help keep the processors on little ears. I also like the display on Cochlear’s processors.
Cochlear also adapts to an FM system more easily, which becomes a very important tool in school. The “boot” is easier to work with for Cochlear. You only switch out the battery back with Cochlear. With AB you have to switch out the ear hook and add the “boot” to it. Think about your child having to change out equipment pieces and parts at school. Both AB and Cochlear have a t-mic option.
An earlier post said that you have to have another surgery to upgrade with Cochlear, which is simply not true. I have had students upgraded to the new Cochlear processors without an additional surgery.
Having said my piece, I have worked with children who are successful with both types of implants. You will find success stories and horror stories about both. Think about your priorities and go with your gut.
Hi there :) What a beautiful boy you have. And what a terrific mom you are. After reading all the comments, I see you have plenty of info, so I am going to make this short and sweet. I am 61 with bilateral CI's (2001 and 2008). I chose AB because of the service I received from them when I had questions or concerns. I could not get this from Cochlear at the time. After such wonderful success with my first implant, and the wonderful service over the years when I needed wires, batteries, or just had general questions, there was no doubt what I would pick for my second one. I am so totally impressed with the continuing improvements they are making. I do have to say I am still thrilled with the technology from 8 years ago as I am with the latest. Please don't hesitate to call them and ask any and every question you may have. You will be impressed with how much they care. No matter which way you go, I wish you all the best. God Bless you and your family!!
It is not true that there is a T-mic for a Cochlear brand implant.
Also, there is a completely "ear-free" way to wear the AB implant.
One last reason I went with AB for my daughter, Cochlear has all these "strategies" for listening. I didn't like that. My daughter's BRAIN is fine. She can process sound like a hearing child, just her ears are broken. She doesn't need the sounds dampened or highlighted. She just needs to hear! Her brain will sort it out. We wanted the sound to get through as "normally" as possible.
Hi guys!
The phone number to the genetic testing is 801-581-2764. The lady at the desk says she thinks they are still doing the testing! I hope so! Genetic testing is expensive. But if they are no longer doing the testing. Plan on doing the testing at University of Utah Hospital. Not IHC cause what I have found is IHC seems to up the price of testing a couple $100 or $300 more than the Unversity Hospital.
Ok I chose Cochlear America for Gavin because. I found out that Advance Bionics in my own studing. That more people had to redo the surgey due to moisture around the implant. I didn't want Gavin to go through the surgery more than once on the same ear. Also awhile back Advanced Bionics had a recall on the clarion device. Because they over looked some FDA regulations. Cochlear Americas and Advanced Bionics are very competive with one another. And as for the T mic thing Cochlear has that same thing as well. It is called smartsound. I can tell you one thing Gavin hears the birds. He is hearing 20 to 25 db across the audiogram. Gavin whispers to me. Gavin loves music. It isn't just the device you have to make sure you have a skilled audiolist for implants. Dr Cache Pitt 435-797-1375. I look for to getting to know you guys more. -Heather Frost
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