Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor | Cochlear Implant Processor Review

Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor Review. Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Anthem Arizona, reviews the Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor from Cochlear.

When your hearing loss has reached a point where hearing aids don't work anymore, there is a good chance you will be a Cochlear Implant candidate. If you are in the process of receiving a Cochlear Implant, you are going to have to make a decision on which Cochlear Implant Manufacturer's processor meets your needs best.

The Cochlear Nucleus 7 processor is an impressive piece of technology, but no processor works without the actual implant. Their newest Profile Implant has 22 electrodes and is one of the thinnest in the industry at 0.3mm at the tip and 0.6 mm at the base. Just like other implant manufacturers, their processors are extremely durable and backwards compatible so it will work with future generations of processors.

Cochlear also has an off-the-ear processor called the Kanso, but that is a topic for another video. For right now, let's take a look at the cool features of the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.

#1. Is the Bluetooth - The Nucleus 7 can directly connect with an Apple iPhone. Cochlear is the only implant manufacturer that offers this feature. This allows you to stream all audio directly from your Apple devices into your Nucleus 7 processor. If you have a hearing aid on the other ear (bimodal), then you will be able to stream audio directly into that at the same time as long as it is a ReSound hearing aid. Bluetooth also lets you stream from other remote accessories like a TV streamer, Phone Clip, and Mini Microphone 2+.

#2. The Nucleus Smart App - The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor also has an App that lets you change Volume, microphone sensitivity, programs, find a lost processor, check battery life, and check the status of your processor. Basically, it turns your phone into a remote control on steroids.

#3. The SCAN Program with SmartSound iQ - SCAN stands for Scene Analysis. This allows your Processor to automatically change into program settings best for that environment. It has 6 scenes: Quiet, Noise, Speech in Noise, Wind, & Music. Using the dual microphones on the Nucleus 7 processor it can result in a 28% better speech understanding in Background Noise.

#4. Accessories - The Nucleus 7 comes with 4 accessories (not including a remote control). You can choose from a Mini Microphone 2+, Phone Clip, TV Streamer, Retention devices, Extra batteries and chargers, and an Aqua Kit. However the best accessory is the Plus One Program. This program lets you delay getting one of your accessories for a year until you get some experience with your Sound Processor.

As cool as the Nucleus 7 Cochlear Implant Sound Processor is, there are a few things that I would like to see Cochlear do.

#1. Make it CROS compatible - If a hearing aid doesn't provide you much benefit on the non-implanted ear, then you could receive more benefit from a CROS transmitter on that side. This way, you can send sound from your bad side into your Nucleus 7 processor so you can actually understand speech from that side. This will also preserve the cochlea on that side in case you consider alternative treatment options in the future instead of getting implanted in both ears.

#2. Direct Android Compatibility - While I do own an iPhone, I personally prefer Android devices. However you cannot stream audio directly into your Nucleus 7 processor from an Android device. If you are an Android user, you will have to make a possibly even more difficult decision than getting an implant. You will have to decide if switching to an Apple device is worth it.

Overall, the Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is a fantastic option for anyone considering a cochlear implant. As always, I highly recommend you research all of your implant options before deciding on which manufacturer to ultimately go with, but if you want a reliable Cochlear Implant with a Sound Processor that is loaded with amazing features, you may want to strongly consider placing the Nucleus 7 near the top of your list.

[bettysaputo]

Best video I've seen on how a cochlear implant works. The booklet I received before my surgery downplayed the pain and seriousness of the surgery because it is just an out-patient procedure. It is still a surgery. You can see the incision - your ear is peeled back to have room to do the implant procedure. I had my surgery 2 months ago. I was activated one month later and it was a miracle. I heard speech immediately (okay, Minnie Mouse, but every word was clear). But, I am still having numbness and pain in my incision area. My skull is tender. I'm sure I have more healing to do. My ear is swollen still (but improved), and as the processor sits on that ear, I am sore by the end of the day.
I know that everyone reacts differently to a surgery and I'm not a spring chicken (69), and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Yet, I would say, don't make it sound like the surgery is a snap. Its not.

[daodoan]

I enjoyed and have learned so many important hearing loss and hearing aids aid information from your YouTube and podcast! I recently suffered Sudden Neurological Hearing Loss and loss hearing in both ears. You YouTube are keeping informed of the importance of hearing treatments and hearing aids. You are keeping alive and hope for the future. I am in a process of CI evaluation for the left dead ear and feeling more confidence because of your information in YouTube. You are a life saver and I love your truthfulness and energy.
Please do a Kanso video. Please keep up the good work and you are best at what you do. Please open an office in San Diego, CA. We need you!

[zu.naira____]

I also have my second surgery on January 8th and I also have nucleus 7 on my left ear. i am happy with it . 💕

[se]

Going through the process right now, had the hearing test done, was giving the 3 manufacturers to pick from and think about and last week 2nd meeting to pick my choice “Nucleus 7 “and finally next week get to meet the MD.Thanks for all your videos.

[jaygasper]

This tech is so truly amazing. Can they bypass the eyes too and send a signal to the sight nerves so the blind can see?

[gordong]

You are the only guy that is professional and highly informative in this space producing quality videos. Well bloody done mate!

[timothychambers]

Cliff, I really appreciate your video review of the Nucleus 7. I just had my first implant four weeks ago and was activated about a week ago. It's a brand new hearing experience, and although I am hearing only beeps (like a fax machine) at this point, my audiologist told me I was already hearing sounds in the 8, 000 Hz range (my max before Ci surgery was about 1, 000 Hz; I have profound loss in both ears). You mentioned things you would like to see Cochlear offer in their Ci's- I'd love to see them develop their "plastics" (as one audiologist calls the case design). I wish the Nucleus 7 case had a more round exterior, rather than a squared exterior with mildly rounded edges. I think it would make for a more comfortable and snug fit. The Cochlear company seems incredibly helpful to its customers; such is one reason my audiologist recommended the Cochlear brand.

Thanks for the video. You know your stuff! :)

[santanacolvin]

Just had my second cochlear implants surgery got the nucleus 7 implant now i have 2 implant in both ear cant wait to get my new implant activated

[LAAdams]

Your videos are extremely helpful and have definitely made me a better consumer! :-) BTW, where do you get your shirts from? They're typically great looking. Thank you!

[leonidas]

I don't know what to expect for activation day a little scary I pray 🙏 that it will be ok I just got my implant about three weeks ago and it's almost a month already so time has been going and I'm glad

[mohincb]

My effort to benefit from Cochlear implant has been frustrating and very time consuming. Use of Cochlear for telephone calls is one outstanding problem. My audiologist advises that this limitation persists for some patients of Cochlear. Currently I am using AirPods Pro to overcome this limitation. I am confident that your research and knowledge of Cochlear had reviewed this problem and found solutions to use Cochlear directly for telephone conversation.
I would like your recommendation to use Cochlear directly for telephone conversation

[HearingLossPathfinder]

Wait, wait, wait, Dr. Cliff! You said that the implant connects to your T-Coil. Nope...it connects to your coil which connects to your processor. But easier to say it connects to your processor. It is hard to talk about a CI when you don't use one yourself. But I admire you for jumping in there!

[sophiabrown]

Well done once again. Apparently Oticon have released a new baha, the Ponto 4. It would be good to have a review of that out of curiosity. I have the baha five, though it would be interesting just to hear a review of the Otocon Ponto 4. Good job once again.

[jimcrow]

Dr. Cliff I love your videos and above all your practical, guiding, revealing and optimistic comments, it would be very interesting if you talked not only about Kanso, but also about Rondo 1 and 2 and about the direction that hearing technology will take so as not to be taken out of the market with the advent of increasingly successful cell and drug therapies, for example the efforts of Frequency therapeutics and neuralink.

[alina]

I have Cochlear Implants from Advanced Bionics! I love them💗

[fluttershift]

Thank you for this update. Are there 24 true electrodes and which of the approx. 99 frequency chambers do they target and how do they prevent electrical spread in the ion rich cochlea?
I like that you mention at 06:53 "...preserve your cochlea just in case there are some other restorative treatment options down the road."
If I've not been clear or made something unclear, please feel free to correct me And explain in response to benefit everyone's understanding.
Thank you.

[scapegoatsolidarity]

i am going deaf due to acoustic trauma, i am 23 years old. due to the acoustic trauma, i have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction which as of now, there is no cure for, only temporary terrible half solutions, that only sometimes work, and have to be re done yearly. i heard implants cause alot of ear pressure. i already have so much pressure in my ears, i fear one day one of my ear drums will rupture. will i never be a candidate.

[kaizen]

Great video. Thanks. Also Can you do a review on the Kanso 2? I am getting mine activated next month. Super excited.

[mushroomhead]

I’m not even hearing impaired and I still think this is cool.

[jeffjammal]

Have you ever made a video on the Kanso yet? One of my options I am considering