Advanced Bionics (AB)—a Sonova brand that develops advanced cochlear implant systems—announced an expansion to its portfolio of hearing solutions for Naída CI Q90 users in the US and Canada. According to the company, the Naída CI Q90 sound processor is designed to give cochlear implant users the same signal processing capabilities used in Phonak hearing aids. Now, with the addition of an acoustic earhook, the sound processor can become a full-featured cochlear implant and hearing aid combination, said AB.

The combination of electrical stimulation and low-frequency amplification is designed to provide sound quality enhancement as well as speech perception benefit for those with severe-to-profound hearing loss who no longer benefit from hearing aids alone.

The Naída CI Q90 Acoustic Earhook extends the portfolio of solutions for individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss, said AB in its announcement.

“Naída is the most trusted name in severe-to-profound hearing instruments. With the acoustic earhook, we really offer the best combination of hearing aid and cochlear implant technology in a single device,” said Hans Mülder, an audiologist and director of marketing for severe-to-profound hearing devices at Phonak.

The Naída CI Q90 Acoustic Earhook will be made available to a limited number of North American centers in 2017 and will be made generally available in the United States and Canada in January 2018.

—Stefani Kim