Comparing the Nucleus 8 & Kanso II Speech Processors: Which option is better for you?

By Susan Russell, Educational Audiologist

Susan Russell, Educational Audiologist

If you are a student with Nucleus 6, Nucleus 7 or Kanso and are able to upgrade to a new processor, you may have heard about two new processors.

Nucleus 8 behind-the-ear speech processor

Kanso II off-the-ear speech processor

Trying to decide which one is best for you may be challenging but hopefully after you read about the pros and cons of each processor, it will help to make your decision easier.

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

Nucleus 8 - Pros & Cons

Pros

Smaller and lighter compared to Nucleus 6 and Nucleus 7

SmartSound IQ 2 and SCAN 2 are the newest sound processing strategies and they are better able to filter out background noise compared to SmartSound IQ and SCAN in Kanso II.
Compatible with the next generation of Bluetooth called Bluetooth LE (low energy) Audio. This new type of Bluetooth will allow you to connect to multiple Bluetooth sources such as Bluetooth Auracast. Auracast is a new kind of Bluetooth and is kind of like WIFI. It will allow you to connect your processor via Bluetooth to movie theatres, university or college auditoriums, gyms that have Aurocast and it will allow you to stream sound directly to your Nucleus 8 processor. It’s kind of like how you can stream music from your phone to your processor.
At school, it works with Phonak Roger 20 receivers (coloured matched to your processor) and Roger On and Roger Touchscreen microphones.
Can use either rechargeable batteries or 675 disposable batteries.
Your hearing teacher, school audiologist and FM technician can listen to your Nucleus 8 processor with listening earphones if you are having any problems with your processor.

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

Cons

Behind-the-ear processor that requires a wire going from the coil to the speech processor
More noticeable as may difficult to hide under your hair

Kanso II - Pros & Cons

Pros

Off-the-ear processor that does not require any wires
Easier to hide under your hair
Rechargeable built-in battery

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

Cons

Technology is older and is the same as the Nucleus 7 behind-the-ear speech processor (SmartSound IQ and SCAN).
Uses Bluetooth Low Energy and will not have access to the newer Bluetooth LE Audio and Bluetooth Auracast
Cannot use disposable 675 batteries. This means that you might not be able to hear if your Kanso II processor loses its charge and you are unable to charge it.
Others are unable to help and listen to the Kanso II if you notice there is something wrong with it.
At school, you need to use the Mini Mic 2+ microphone to hear your teacher properly. In order to make the Mini Mic 2+ work and start streaming, you will need either the Nucleus Smart app uploaded onto your phone or the CR310 remote. Keep in mind that you may have to restart streaming several times a day (first period and after each nutrition break or lunch period) and sometimes the streaming signal just stops and you have to restart it again. You can connect a Phonak receiver to the bottom of the Mini Mic 2+ and use either a Roger Touchscreen (if you want to include Pass around mics in your classroom) or a Roger On (if you want to be able to mute the teacher using your phone).

Making Your Choice

The Nucleus 8 and Kanso II do share a few things in common:

Both work with the Nucleus Smart app
Both are compatible with the CR 310 remote
Both are compatible with Apple and Android phones
Both are compatible with the Mini Mic 2+, TV streamer and Phone Clip
Both are splash proof and dust proof

For a comparison of all of the Cochlear Nucleus speech processors, please click on the link below:

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

Cochlear Nucleus Speech Processors

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

The good news is when you choose either the Kanso II or Nucleus 8, you have 90 days to trial the processor or processors. In other words, if you decide you want the Kanso II but you notice that it does not stay on to your head properly or you would prefer a Roger system instead of using the Mini Mic 2+, you can switch to the Nucleus 8 at no charge as long as you decide to make the switch within 90 days of receiving the Kanso II.

I hope this information will be helpful to you and your family so that you can make the decision that is right for you! If you do have any questions, your hearing teacher, your school audiologist and your implant audiologist are all here to help.

Image Courtesy of Cochlear Americas

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