Cochlear announces the Nucleus® 6 System

5 September 2013

Cochlear announces the Nucleus® 6 System

– simply smarter in every hearing situation

Cochlear Limited, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, has announced the launch in New Zealand of its most advanced hearing solution – Cochlear™ Nucleus® 6. This next generation sound processor has an intelligent feature which automatically determines the type of hearing environment the user is in and adjusts the sound processor to suit.

The Nucleus 6 is built on a completely new microchip platform with five times the processing capability of its predecessor, the Nucleus 5. Plus it delivers a number of industry-first innovations designed to provide superior outcomes in a way that makes hearing a lot easier for adult and children recipients. These include:

• SmartSound® IQ: Automatically determines the type of environment the user is in – e.g. speech, noise, speech in noise, quiet, wind or music.

• True automation: Nucleus 6 features the industry’s only ‘scene classifier’, which analyses the sound environment and automatically applies the best sound processing technology to optimise hearing.

• Wireless capability: Wireless ready for a range of wireless accessories under development.

• Fully integrated hearing aid functionality in every sound processor: This allows the implant to stimulate the cochlear electrically but acoustically stimulate the natural hearing (similar to a hearing aid). This is key for music appreciation.

• No other behind the ear (BTE) sound processor is more water resistant

• Comprehensive data logging capability: It provides a rich source of information for audiologists to help optimise individual performance.

In addition, the Nucleus 6 features a wireless hand-held Remote Assistant, which has an intuitive full colour LCD screen, plus offers a one button check to monitor the status of the processor, battery coil and cable.

“Speech discrimination in adult and paediatric cochlear implant recipients has improved greatly over the years, mainly due to improvements in cochlear implant sound processor technology and processing strategies,” says Mr Michel Neeff, leading New Zealand Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. “The Nucleus 6 will continue this trend but also introduces features which will make life easier for recipients and health professionals”.

"Habilitation of children can be very challenging, in particular when progress lags behind expectations. It is not always clear whether this is due to auditory pathway or central issues, or simply due to low usage of the device. The new data logging feature of the Nucleus 6 will remove the guesswork and reduce the number of unnecessary tests and investigations, saving important resources”.

"In the New Zealand environment of limited funding, in the past patients had to decide between an electro-acoustic hybrid device or a conventional sound processor, potentially missing out on benefits of one or the other processor. The integrated hearing aid functionality in all Nucleus 6 processors removes the need to make this decision. Combine this with the latest slim straight electrode from Cochlear and we now manage to preserve residual hearing in far more patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery. I expect that more patients will take advantage of acoustic stimulation than before which will lead to improved hearing outcomes in New Zealand."

Savanah Bright from Ohaupo trialled the Nucleus 6 after using a Nucleus 5 on her right side for two years– and according to her mum Jessica Todd, the enhancement made a huge difference to her quality of life. “It was wonderful to see the change in Savanah with the Nucleus 6,” says Jess.

Savanah, aged 11, first had hearing aids in both ears, and with a therapy program from the Hearing House in Auckland aimed at teaching hearing impaired children to listen and speak, she was able to grow up and play with her hearing friends of the same age. It wasn’t until a few years later when Savanah’s hearing became inconsistent and while on holiday disappeared altogether, that her parents decided a cochlear implant was the best solution because her hearing aids were proving unreliable.

Savanah had a cochlear implant fitted for her right side and continues to wear a hearing aid in her left ear.

“With the cochlear implant, Savanah’s bubbly personality came out, and the mood swings and anger she felt at the frustration of not being able to hear as well as everyone else, mellowed. It was wonderful to see, and now having gone through the Nucleus 6 trial, every enhancement to Savanah’s hearing makes a huge difference to her quality of life,” Jessica says.

“The Nucleus 6 enabled Savanah to hear conversations in the car, and she found it easier to pick up the different sounds for letters that were sometimes confused. In addition, Savanah wasn’t as tired at the end of the day. She was a different child!

“Savanah became more confident using the Nucleus 6. We didn’t have huge expectations for the Nucleus 6 when we agreed to the trial, but the result was fantastic. Savanah wasn’t as tired at the end of the day. She was a different child and didn’t want the trial to end!”

Nucleus 6 – at a glance

Optimising hearing performance in every hearing situation
With Nucleus 6, Cochlear introduces its third generation of input processing – SmartSound® iQ. Different listening situations require specifically designed sound processing technologies to optimise hearing performance. SmartSound iQ delivers the broadest range of input processing capabilities available including new background noise and wind noise solutions.

‘Simply smarter’ with performance that adapts automatically
Using the industry’s first scene classifier, SCAN, the Nucleus 6 analyses the sound environment and then applies the best sound processing solutions to optimise hearing performance. Previously, recipients had to manually change programs for different sound environments. With Nucleus 6 this happens automatically, so they don’t have to think about it.

New clinical insights with comprehensive data logging capability
The Nucleus 6 system also includes a range of new innovations specifically designed for the clinician. Of major benefit is the industry’s only comprehensive data logging capability, which monitors and records how the sound processor is being used and the types of sound environments experienced. Data logging provides rich information for the audiologist to help them have better discussions with their patients to enable even better hearing outcomes.

Truly wireless connectivity
With no cables and no neck-worn devices and a simple upgrade to software under development, the Nucleus 6 sound processor will be able to connect to a wide range of wireless audio accessories.

Hybrid capability to enrich residual hearing
For cochlear implant recipients who have residual hearing in their implanted ear, their hearing experience may be significantly improved if this residual hearing can also be amplified. Unique to Nucleus 6, every sound processor has the capability to operate as an all-in-one hearing aid plus cochlear implant sound processor, which delivers both electrical and acoustic stimulation simultaneously.

No other BTE sound processor on the market is more water resistant
Despite the wide range of new features in Nucleus 6, all have been delivered in the smallest BTE (behind the ear) worn sound processor on the market. Water resistance is important for both lifestyle and reliability, and the Nucleus 6 has an IP57 rating - no other BTE sound processor on the market is more water resistant. And now each sound processor has an advanced water-resistant nano-coating making it more reliable around water than ever before.

The leading choice
The Nucleus 6 has been built on the same principles that have seen Cochlear remain the company of choice for implantable hearing solutions for over thirty years. Today when choosing a cochlear implant, nine out of ten people in Australia and New Zealand choose Nucleus from Cochlear due to its leading technology, superior reliability and lifetime commitment to customers.
Cochlear remains committed to providing its recipients with the opportunity to hear their best throughout their lifetime, no matter when they received their implant. Nucleus 6 is currently compatible with all Nucleus CI24RE and Nucleus CI500 implants and Cochlear is working hard to ensure that recipients with earlier implants will soon be able to access this new technology.

About Cochlear Limited – www.cochlear.com
Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of more than 2,500 people who deliver the gift of sound to the hearing impaired in over 100 countries. Its vision is to connect people, young and old, to a world of sound by offering life enhancing hearing solutions.

Cochlear’s promise of “Hear now. And always” embodies the company’s commitment to providing its recipients with the best possible hearing performance today and for the rest of their lives. For over 30 years Cochlear has helped more than a quarter of a million people either hear for the first time or reconnect them to their families, friends, workplaces and communities.

ENDS

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