Award Winning
AB's cochlear implant technology has been awarded the Medtech Breakthrough Award for Best Medical Device Solution
Superior Implant Technology
Advanced Bionics is the only manufacturer to have received a superiority claim from the FDA for its technology.
Advanced Speech & Sound Detection
AB technology helps you hear more voices and sounds, offering life-changing clarity and detection.
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Cochlear Implant vs Hearing Aid
What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant (CI) is a medical device that helps people with significant hearing loss experience sound again.
A Cochlear Implant Works Differently than Hearing Aids or Other Hearing Devices
Unlike hearing aids, which simply amplify sound, a cochlear implant sends sound directly to your hearing nerve.
Every cochlear implant system has two parts:
- An internal implant that’s placed under the skin during a routine procedure
- An external sound processor that is worn comfortably on the head
Together, they form a bridge between sound and understanding, helping you hear the voices and moments that matter most.
The Latest Cochlear Implant Technology
Advanced Bionics offers implants and sound processors designed for better hearing outcomes. With more than thirty years of technology improvements, our devices consistently provide users with excellent sound quality.
A sound processor for adults of all ages seeking to live a more connected life.
The world’s first sound processor designed for kids, encouraging better speech and language development.
Our implant technology offers a richer, more vibrant range of sound that feels natural and clear.
[Cochlear implants] offer an improvement and superiority more dramatic and fundamental than is imaginable with a hearing aid"
JinMing Zhang
Who lost his hearing as a young adult and chose AB cochlear implants to hear again
How Does a Cochlear Implant Work?
Hearing requires a connection between your ear and your brain. A cochlear implant restores that connection by turning sound into detailed electrical signals your brain can understand.
Working Together to Help You Hear Your Best
The sound processor and cochlear implant work together to bring life into focus:
1
Microphones on the sound processor pick up sounds from your environment.
2
The processor turns those sounds into detailed digital signals.
3
A headpiece sends those signals through the skin to the implant.
4
The implant stimulates the hearing nerve with gentle electrical pulses.
5
The brain interprets those signals as sound.
Cochlear Implants are Often Covered by Insurance
Cochlear implants are often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance plans, unlike hearing aids.
Your exact coverage and any out-of-pocket costs depend on your insurance. There are also options for those without insurance. But the fact is, for many people, a CI costs a lot less than you might think.
Why Thousands of People Choose Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implants
Our technology is designed to help you hear comfortably and confidently in every moment.
Rich sound quality, automatic environment sensing, and improved pitch detection help you hear the world around you.
Seamlessly connect your cochlear implant to a Phonak hearing aid, second implant, or CROS for a balanced hearing experience.
Advanced Bionics processors are waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, so you can enjoy sound wherever life takes you.
Universal Bluetooth® hearing technology lets you pair to any device— smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, game consoles and more.
Instead of traveling to a clinic, get care from home with an easy-to-use telehealth app.
What to Expect Before, During, and After Your Cochlear Implant
Getting a cochlear implant is an important step, and it’s normal to feel a little nervous and excited at the same time. We’re here to help you understand each step, so you feel confident and ready for the journey toward better hearing.
 | Evaluation: Can Cochlear Implants Help You? Your hearing care provider will start with some hearing tests. If you have mild or moderate hearing loss, hearing aids can help. If you have severe or profound hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be a better option. |
| | Surgery: A Safe Procedure Cochlear implant surgery is safe and routine. It usually takes one to three hours. During the surgery, your doctor places the hearing implant. |
| | Activation: Hear with Your Implant A few weeks after surgery, you’ll return to the clinic to set up your cochlear implant and start hearing. You’ll learn how to use your cochlear implant, and you’ll probably hear with your implant for the first time. |
AB has given me a world of hearing that I never knew existed.
I am so glad I chose Advanced Bionics for its technology. AB has given me a world of hearing that I never knew existed, and it has never left me behind as its technology improved, as hearing aids did so long ago. I am a fiercely independent person, and AB’s cochlear implants have given me freedom—freedom to hear as I choose!"
Melinda Hayden,
Retiree & AB CI mentor
Connect with Real People Who Use a Cochlear Implant
Would You Like to Talk to Someone Who has Gone Through the Cochlear Implant Process Before?
Every day, people around the world are rediscovering sound through Advanced Bionics technology.
Learn more about how cochlear implants improve quality of life, daily activities, and personal and professional relationships.
FAQ
Common Questions About Cochlear Hearing Implants
A cochlear implant (CI), sometimes referred to as a hearing implant, is considered the next step in hearing technology when hearing aids are no longer providing the sound or support someone needs. Hearing aids go on the outside of the body and work like a speaker, making sound louder. Cochlear implants go under the skin and send sound waves directly to your hearing nerve for clearer understanding.
Yes. Cochlear implants are extremely safe. They’ve been used for decades and have helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world hear again and reconnect with life.
You’ll start hearing with your cochlear implant after your audiologist turns it on—usually two to four weeks after surgery. You’ll hear sounds right away, but your brain needs time to adjust, just like getting used to new glasses. Understanding speech and the sounds around you will usually improve gradually over the next few months, with most people noticing progress in about three months.
Cochlear implants are often covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans. Your exact coverage and any out-of-pocket costs depend on your insurance. For details, contact the Advanced Bionics insurance support team.
Yes. You can use a hearing aid on your other ear with your Advanced Bionics cochlear implant. This is called a bimodal solution.
Together with our sister company Phonak, a leader in hearing aids, only Advanced Bionics offers a linked and synced bimodal solution with a Phonak hearing aid. Working together as an integrated system, the two devices can help you hear better in noise and can be adjusted with a single control. You can even stream the same audio to both ears.
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward Better Hearing?
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