Hybrid™ Hearing solutions
If you can hear low-frequency sounds but cannot hear high-frequency sounds, a Cochlear™ Hybrid™ Hearing solution may be for you.
What you'll find on this page
- Determine who can benefit from Cochlear Hybrid Hearing*
- Understand insurance coverage of Cochlear Hybrid Hearing solutions
- Understand how Cochlear Hybrid Hearing works
You may be able to hear some low-frequency sounds like an airplane, drum or thunder, but not others like a child’s voice or a bird’s chirp that are high-frequency sounds. Often when experiencing hearing loss, the high-frequency sounds can be difficult to hear. And, because high-frequency sounds include consonants in words that help detect emotion and understand the meaning of what is being said, you may be missing out on much more.
Cochlear™ Hybrid™ Hearing solutions can enhance your natural low-frequency hearing before or after surgery, while providing access to the sounds you're missing for a richer experience.
Low-frequency sounds
High-frequency sounds
- Provide the general rhythm and framework of the sounds you hear
- Allow you to detect the vowel sounds in words, such as "ah" which convey the melody of speech
- Used to appreciate music
- Examples of low-frequency sounds: lawn mover, bass guitars, frog croaks
- Add clarity to the sounds you hear
- Allow you to perceive the consonant sounds, such as "sh" which enables you to differentiate words
- Makes music and nature sound richer, fuller and crisper
- Examples of high-frequency sounds: doorbells, whistles, bird chirps
Can You Benefit from a Cochlear Hybrid Hearing solution?
If you or your child can hear some low-frequency sounds before surgery, but cannot hear high-frequency sounds, a Cochlear Hybrid Hearing solution may be able to help. Hybrid Hearing solutions amplify the natural low-frequency hearing you may have after cochlear implant surgery, while providing access to the missing high-frequency sounds, for a richer hearing experience.
If you experience high-frequency or ski-slope hearing loss where you have normal to moderate low-frequency hearing loss, but severe to profound high-frequency hearing loss, the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Hybrid ™ Implant System may be a solution. The Hybrid System uses a special electrode** that is designed to preserve your low-frequency hearing.
Take a hearing quiz
Find out if you may have hearing loss, and discover treatment options that could help.
See what the experts have to say about the Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid Implant System**
How Cochlear Hybrid Hearing works
Cochlear Hybrid Hearing* is a combination of two proven technologies. The first technology is acoustic amplification, similar to a hearing aid. An acoustic component can be attached to the end of the Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor to amplify the low-frequency natural hearing you may have after Cochlear implant surgery. At the same time, our innovative Cochlear implant technology provides access to the missing high-frequency sounds. Hybrid Hearing is compatible with our wide Nucleus Electrode portfolio.
For those with high-frequency hearing loss, the Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid Implant System features the first FDA-approved cochlear implant with a special electrode** that's designed to preserve your low-frequency hearing.
More information
Disclaimer
*The Acoustic Component should only be used when behavioral audiometric thresholds can be obtained and the recipient can provide feedback regarding sound quality.
**The Hybrid L24 Implant is approved in the US for adults 18 and older for unilateral use only.
Views expressed by Cochlear recipients and hearing health providers are those of the individual. Consult your hearing health provider to determine if you are a candidate for cochlear technology and to understand the associated risks and benefits. Individual results may vary.