The proven, hearing benefits of the Hybrid system

We have been working on the development of the Hybrid system for many years. As part of this process, Hybrid technology has been extensively evaluated in clinical trials around the world. Results from scientific studies show that after surgery, most people using Hybrid technology showed significant improvement in their hearing abilities in quiet settings, when compared to just using their hearing aids before surgery.1,2

People with the Hybrid system have reported performance benefits including:

  • Better understanding of speech in quiet surroundings, in noisy situations, and at a distance
  • Greater awareness of environmental sounds – from important sounds like alarms, doorbells and approaching vehicles, to the subtle sounds of nature, such as rain, birds chirping or dogs barking.
  • Increased appreciation of music

Hybrid users share their experiences

Bronwyn’s Story

Age: 49 l Experience with the Hybrid system: 18 months

“My experience with the Hybrid has opened up a whole new world for me… I am now contributing more to conversations and my own speech is improving as well… It has been a wonderful and life-changing experience”

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John's Story

Age: 68 l Experience with the Hybrid system: 3.5 years

“With my hearing aids I could hear about 40% of the sounds around me. I estimate that I can hear about 85% now with my Hybrid system… I am 100% better off, that’s how much of a difference it has made to me!”

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1. Gantz, B.J. & Turner, C.W. (2004). Combining acoustic and electrical speech processing: Iowa/Nucleus Hybrid implant, Acta Otolaryngol., 124, 344-347.

2. Gantz, B.J., Turner, C.W., Gfeller, K.E., & Lowder, M. (2005). Preservation of hearing in cochlear implant surgery: Advantages of combined electrical and acoustical speech processing, The Laryngoscope, 115, 796-802.

3 Cochlear whitepaper: Hybrid, Preliminary results of the European CochlearTM HybridTM system adult clinical trial, January 2009.