Cochlear Announces FDA Approval of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 5 Rechargeable Battery System

Yay! Now an environmentally friendly option for the US. Granted these batteries have been available in non-USA markets, but FDA finally approved the Rechargeable Batteries.

Source: http://www.cochlearamericas.com/News/2468.asp

Also, I mentioned about my experience with the pool earlier this week... The is an email I received from cochlear announcing the batteries and then also takes about the flexibility of being water resistant.

Rechargeable Batteries Approved for Nucleus® 5 Sound Processor
We are happy to announce that the rechargeable batteries for the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This news regarding rechargeable batteries for Nucleus 5 is especially exciting because in addition to saving money and being more environmentally friendly, our engineers have achieved an exciting industry breakthrough - when using rechargeable batteries, the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor is the world's ONLY submergible sound processor. So you can be confident around water!

What does submergible sound processor mean?
When using rechargeable batteries, you can play by the pool, take a bath, or sing in the rain. And if the sound processor gets wet, no problem!

Are there any restrictions?
Yes, Cochlear™ recommends that you avoid any swimming that involves going under water, showering under a high pressure nozzle, putting soap or shampoo on the sound processor, or exposing the sound processor to moisture without microphone protectors in place.

What about underwater swimming?
No underwater swimming is recommended. But if the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor with rechargeable batteries falls in the pool or bathtub, just pick it up and wipe it off. Pool and bath time just means keeping your head above water.

If I already have the Nucleus 5, when will I receive my batteries?
The priority for these shipments has been determined based upon the original order date. This method helps to ensure that those who have been waiting the longest for their batteries receive them earliest. We anticipate the rechargeable batteries to be shipped over the next 12 weeks.

As part of the shipping process, Cochlear has been making phone calls to verify shipping addresses. You may have already received this type of call. If so, there is no need to do anything else at this time.

However, if you have not verified your shipping address and are eligible for rechargeable batteries, please contact customer service at (877) 523-5798. This will not change your shipping priority, but it will allow Cochlear to release your order when it is ready.

Apple, AT&T partner to assist deaf with iPhone 4 and FaceTime

I love Apple and all Apple products... I have the new iPhone 4 and love it. I know there have been some issues, but nothing that would have me retreat back to my iPhone 3GS. Since getting the iPhone 4, I have used Hamilton CapTel. Now there is buzz that Apple and AT&T are going to partner with ZVRS to bring video relay calling for deaf and hard-of-hearing users via the iPhone 4 and its FaceTime video chat functionality. 

Source: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/08/apple_att_partner_to_assist_deaf_with_iphone_4_and_facetime.html

One more thing - the phone!

Another pool related triumph (sort've). I was wearing only my new Nucleus 5 because of the water resistancy thing... Well I got out of the pool and realized my phone was ringing. I didn't have enough time to get my Freedom processor on, so I used the my new ear to talk on the telephone and it was great! I was able to understand 95% of the conversation! I missed a few words, but was able to get around that when the person I was on the phone with changed what they said! Sweet!

Another update - from the pool!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July... just wanted to write that I spent the past two days at my parent's pool and decided to wear my new Nucleus 5 processor in the water since it's supposedly very much water resistant. Anyways, I have two great little second cousins ages, 3 and 6 (roughly), who wanted to play in the water. Well they were splashing about, and I even threw them around, and my implant definitely got exposed to water with no difference in sound quality at all! I definitely did wipe the processor down after I got out of the pool and placed it in the dryer. Today, I also went in the pool, and I got knocked off a float, and my implant did get wet, but again, nothing changed in terms of sound quality! I was really impressed. It's nice to have the security of having a back-up processor, and my other ear as well with the Freedom processor! Anyhow... i'll let you know if that all changes!