Nucleus upgrade benefits
Discover the latest Nucleus® hearing technology and sound processor options available to you.
What you'll find on this page
- Learn about the Nucleus® 8 and Kanso® 2 Sound Processors
- Compare your current sound processor with the latest technology
- Are you a Nucleus® 22 Implant recipient? Learn about the Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor
Designed to help you hear your best
In an ever-changing world, staying connected with one another has never been more important. With advanced technology designed to help you hear your best in any situation, a new sound processor can help you seize more of life’s opportunities. Experience the proven benefits of streaming audio directly to your sound processor, including compatible* Apple and Android™ devices.1-4 If the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is the right option for you, you’ll experience our best technology yet, including SmartSound® iQ 2 with SCAN 2** and improved ForwardFocus.***
“The Nucleus upgrade changed my life. I spend less effort trying to understand people. I just hear better.”
- Jack, Nucleus recipient
Choose the sound processor that fits your lifestyle
Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor
Kanso® 2 Sound Processor
Waterproofed.†† Ready for your life.
Swim in the pool, bathe, or get caught in the rain without the need for additional accessories. The Nucleus 8 and Kanso 2 Sound Processors are IP68-rated, which means they are dust-tight and can withstand continuous immersion in freshwater for 60 minutes at a depth of three feet.††
Ready to upgrade to the latest hearing technology?
Order a sound processor upgrade today on the online Cochlear Store and either bill through insurance or self-pay. If you have specific questions or need help in navigating the process, book a virtual session with an upgrade specialist.
Upgrade now Book a virtual session with an upgrade specialist
Optimize your hearing experience
The Kanso 2 Sound Processor features technology to help you experience clearer sound, even in challenging listening environments.6-8 When you’re at work or in a busy café, simply switch on ForwardFocus through the Nucleus Smart App* to decrease noise coming from behind you so you can focus on the face-to-face conversation. And SmartSound® iQ with SCAN** automatically analyzes your surroundings and adjusts to optimize your hearing in different situations.
The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features an improved ForwardFocus*** that more powerfully reduces unwanted background noise.15,+ Whether you choose to have it fully automated or manually activated through the Nucleus Smart App as needed, ForwardFocus helps you to focus on what’s important.
The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor’s smarter, enhanced SmartSound iQ 2 with SCAN 2 technology senses changes in your listening environment and automatically adjusts to help deliver clearer sound as you move throughout your day. This improved classification generates an 8% improvement in accurately classifying sound environments in noisy situations, and an 11% accuracy improvement across all sound environments when compared to previous generation SCAN.11-12,>
In addition to True Wireless™ device compatibility, the Nucleus 8 and Kanso 2 Sound Processors are equipped to directly stream phone calls, music and entertainment to your compatible Apple or Android device.*
The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is also ready for the future with next-generation Bluetooth® LE Audio technology†, which will make it easier to bring sound to you – in more places and from more devices than ever before. Connect directly to what’s being broadcast at public venues such as airports, conference centers and theaters so you’ll never miss out. And whether you’re listening to music, taking a phone call or watching your favorite film, Bluetooth® LE Audio will deliver better sound quality than previous generation Bluetooth® Classic for the best possible audio experience.17
No two people have the same life experiences. With the Nucleus Smart App*, you can make sure your hearing experience is just as personal.
Adjust your listening settings to help you hear better in noisy situations, keep track of your hearing information and set daily goals for listening to speech.1
You can even save yourself a trip to the clinic by using our Remote Care solutions to do a hearing check or video appointment with your clinician from home.18,#
For added peace of mind, use Find My Processor feature to help find a misplaced processor.1
Whether you're at home, at work or away, your Nucleus 8 Sound Processor can be easily and conveniently recharged via disposable or rechargeable battery options. The Y charger can recharge two batteries at the same time while the USB charger is an optional accessory for recharging one battery when you’re on the go.
The Kanso 2 Sound Processor features a powerful, built-in rechargeable battery that you can rely on for all-day hearing.19,^ When you are on-the-go, the Nucleus 8 and Kanso 2 Sound Processors feature portable and USB chargers – and you can easily track your battery usage with the Nucleus Smart App.
“With the Nucleus 8, it's definitely a lot easier to have conversations in practically in noisy places. I can focus more on the conversation and less on trying to ignore all the noisy background noise.”
— Bernie - Nucleus Sound Processor recipient
Experience confidence and convenience
With a new sound processor, you no longer need to worry about getting caught in the rain. Cochlear's portfolio of waterproofed†† sound processors allows you to confidently listen whether playing in the pool or singing in the shower, without missing a beat.
Add an Aqua+ accessory for extended freshwater activities, your favorite saltwater activities, like swimming in the ocean, or rushing water environments, like waterfalls.††
If you want to wear your sound processor upgrade as soon as it arrives and save a trip to the audiologist, choose Ready-to-Wear, a free-of-charge Cochlear service that loads your current programs to your new sound processor before it ships to you.‡
Experience convenient quality care without a clinic visit with access to Cochlear™ Remote Care. Once your clinician enrolls you in Remote Care, you can use Remote Check to complete a hearing review or Remote Assist to have a video appointment from home, at work or when you’re away.18,#
Our hearing solutions are designed to help your ears to work together, whether you’re wearing two cochlear implant sound processors or a sound processor and a hearing aid. With our smart bimodal solution, you can stream directly to both your Nucleus 8 or Kanso 2 Sound Processor and a compatible ReSound hearing aid.§ In addition, the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor can be color-coordinated with a compatible ReSound hearing aid§ for a stylish pair.
Compare Nucleus and Kanso devices
Would you like to see how your current device compares to the latest technology? Download a comparison chart to learn about the differences.
Compare Nucleus and Kanso devices
135KB | PDF
Are you a Nucleus 22 (N22) Implant recipient?
Experience the Nucleus Sound Processor 7 difference. If you are a Nucleus 22 (N22) Implant recipient, you have the option to upgrade to the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, which combines proven hearing performance with smartphone connectivity so you can connect to your world like never before.
Learn more about the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor or place your upgrade order anytime through the Cochlear Store.
To get your specific questions about sound processor technology, the upgrade process, or cost options answered, book a virtual session with an upgrade specialist.
More information
Disclaimer
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.
For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.
Apple, the Apple logo, Made for iPad logo, Made for iPhone logo, Made for iPod logo, iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Cochlear is under license.
*For information regarding the compatibility of Cochlear’s Sound Processors with Apple or Android devices, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility
**SNR-NR, WNR and SCAN are approved for use with any recipient ages 6 years and older who is able to 1) complete objective speech perception testing in quiet and in noise in order to determine and document performance 2) report a preference for different program settings.
***ForwardFocus can only be enabled by a hearing implant specialist. It should only be activated for users 12 years and older who are able to reliably provide feedback on sound quality and understand how to use the feature when moving to different or changing environments. It may be possible to have decreased speech understanding when using ForwardFocus in a quiet environment.
†When this technology becomes available a firmware update to your sound processor will allow you to connect to Bluetooth LE Audio compatible devices.
††The Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with the rechargeable battery module and the Kanso 2 Sound Processor meet the IP68 rating of the International Standard IEC60529 of freshwater waterproof. These processor configurations were tested by continuous submersion in freshwater for 60 minutes at a depth of 1 meter and functioned as intended. Cochlear offers the Aqua+ accessory for additional protection during extended water use, in salty or rushing water environments. For additional information, please refer to the appropriate user guide.13,14
#Remote Check and Remote Assist for Nucleus sound processors are intended for ages 6 and older. Remote Check and Remote Assist features are only visible and accessible if they are enabled by a clinician. Clinicians should consider the suitability of the feature before enabling Remote Check and Remote Assist. Remote Check does not replace clinical care and does not involve remote programming of the sound processor. Only available at clinics that have enrolled in Remote Care.
‡Ready-to-Wear is available to recipients age 5 or older. The Ready-to-Wear service is not available for hybrid externals and certain implant types. For bimodal recipients with a compatible ReSound hearing aid to take advantage of smart bimodal streaming, they will need to visit their clinician to have the hearing aid and sound processor re-linked.
§Direct streaming is possible from compatible Apple devices (for compatibility information visit, www.Cochlear.com/compatibility) and a compatible ReSound hearing aid: ReSound LiNX Quattro™, ReSound LiNX 3D™ and ReSound ENZO 3D™. Direct streaming is possible from Android devices running on Android operating system version 10 and using Bluetooth version 5.0 to ReSound LiNX Quattro and Beltone Amaze hearing aids and the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor. ReSound is part of the GN group. GN makes life sound better through intelligent audio solutions. For a list of compatible devices visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.
+Compared to Nucleus 7 Sound Processor with ForwardFocus on
>Compared to previous generation SCAN.
^All day hearing is defined as 16 hours, expected battery life is up to 18 hours. Battery life may vary by individual.
References
- Cochlear Limited. D1631375 Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Product Definition.
- Wolfe J, et al. Evaluation of a wireless audio streaming accessory to improve mobile telephone performance of cochlear implant users. International Journal of Audiology. 2016;55(2):75-82.
- Wolfe J, et al. Improving hearing performance for cochlear implant recipients with use of a digital, wireless, remote-microphone, audio-streaming accessory. J Am Acad Audiol. 2015 Jun;26(6):532-9.
- Warren C, Nel E, and Boyd P. Controlled comparative clinical trial of hearing benefit outcomes for users of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Sound Processor with mobile connectivity. Cochlear Implants International (2019 Feb); 20(3)19.
- Cochlear Limited. D1864200 SCAN-X Design Description.
- Mauger SJ, Warren C, Knight M, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 6 cochlear implant system: performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journal Of Audiology. 2014, Aug; 53(8): 564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
- Mauger S, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso™ off- the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal Of Audiology. 2017, Jan 9; 1-10. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
- Wolfe J, Neumann S, Marsh M, Schafer E, Lianos L, Gilden J, O’Neill L, Arkis P, Menapace C, Nel E, Jones M. Benefits of Adaptive Signal Processing in a Commercially Available Cochlear Implant Sound Processor. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Aug;36(7):1181-90. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
- Cullington H, Kitterick P, Weal M, et al. (2018). Feasibility of personalised remote long-term follow-up of people with cochlear implants: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 8(4): e019640; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017- 019640
- Cochlear Limited Release Reports D1943728 and D1943727.
- Cochlear Limited. D1864200. (2022 Apr).
- Mauger SJ et al. Int. Journal Of Audiology. (2014 Aug); 53(8):564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
- Cochlear Limited D1980144 CP1110 IEC60529 IP68 Certificate & Test Report
- Cochlear Limited. D1671736. CP1150 IEC60529 Ingress Protection Test Report IP68.
- Cochlear Limited D1190805 Processor Size Comparison.
- Cochlear Limited. D1964109 Clinical Investigation Report CLTD5804 – Feb 2022
- Introducing Bluetooth® LE Audio, Nick Hunn. January 2022 https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-aboutbluetooth/recent-enhancements/le-audio/ https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/a-technical-overview-of-lc3/ Accessed 28 February 2022
- Cochlear Limited. D1698858. Evaluation of Remote Care App and Nucleus Smart App with CP1000 sound processor. Clinical Investigation Report. 24 Feb, 2020.
- Cochlear Ltd. D1710313 CP1150 Battery Life Coverage Technical Report. 2020; Mar. Data on file.