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Australian Company Partners With Apple For First Made For iPhone Hearing Implant
An Australian medical device company has recently launched its first Made for iPhone cochlear implant device. The company, called Cochlear, has created a sound processor that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in June of this year. Through this sound processor device, sound may be seamed directly from a compatible Apple product so that people with a hearing problem may be able to hear once again.
According to the release, the Nucleus 7 sound processor is compatible with an iPhone, iPad, or an iPod touch. Individuals who have had an implant surgically embedded may be able to control or customize sound through the device connected with their iPhone. While there have been plenty of other hearing aids and implants that made use of iOS apps for sound control, Cochlear's Nucleus Sound Processor does not need an app download. Instead, the phone controls the implant directly.
Setting up the Cochlear implant is considered a simple thing to do. All it takes is to go to the iPhone settings, go to General, and then head to Accessibility. From there, you will see a list of devices where you will have to look for "hearing devices.” When you tap on this, the device will appear just like a newly paired Bluetooth device does on your phone. This signifies that your implant has been paired with your iPhone, which you can start using by controlling the volume controls. While the Nucleus 7 is a good option, the Nucleus 6 Sound Processor is an ideal device for small children with a hearing problem. The newer model, however, comes with a longer battery life and is 24 percent lighter than the 6.
So why is this good news? In the US alone, there are over 50 million people who have encountered some form of hearing loss. While the reasons may vary, it has become a big problem for many Americans. Realizing that there is a need to address this issue, Apple has spent several years creating a hearing aid program in its own company. As a matter of fact, its devices are equipped with a hearing aid feature. And by partnering with Cochlear, Apple is once again stepping up its game and opening a world of possibilities to people with a hearing issue.
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