Hearing Implant Company Cochlear Delivers FDA-Approved Sound Processor for iPhone

Cochlear announced the Food and Drug Administration has approved a behind-the-ear hearing implant sound processor made for the iPhone that allows users to stream sound from a compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch directly to their Nucleus implant. Users will be able to control, monitor and customize hearing on their device through an app, said the company. The approval of the Nucleus 7 sound processor is a "turning point for people with hearing loss, opening the door for them to make phone calls, listen to music in high-quality stereo sound, watch videos and have FaceTime calls streamed directly to their cochlear implant,” said Cochlear CEO Chris Smith. With the commercial availability of the Nucleus 7, Cochlear also is offering a Made for iPhone smart bimodal technology combining a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other to provide synchronized streaming to both ears from a compatible Apple device. Availability is slated for September.