What's your review of Cochlear Osia 2 System?

Posted by edemmenegger @edemmenegger, Jun 12, 2021

I am getting the implants in a week or so. Would like to hear from people who are using these bone conduction devices.

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@billf51

I’m 3-days post op from my OSIA 2 surgery and my clinical team informed me that the numbness in the top and back of myself is normal as the nerve endings are acclimating to the surgery; and that it may last up to 2-months.
As for the accessory(s) that may accompany my OSIA 2 kit, Cochlear indicated that it could be any of the available accessories; however, you may trade it out for another accessory, but would have to pay the balance of the accessory you want to trade for. I know the TV Transmitter is about $100 more than the Mini-Mic. Having communicated with my Audiologist, I know I received the Mini-Mic in my kit. For now I am undecided if I will trade up to the TV Transmitter? Likely wait and see how my OSIA 2 responds to my sitting in our family room with others to see if the TV volume needs adjusting to accommodate my listening needs after my August 30 fitting and programming appointment. Personally, I’m curious if I need to order the FCM-Aqua in the event I get caught in one of our summer FL downpours? I know it’s water resistant; however, also advised that I may still need to place it into another type of Cochlear device that contains rice like material to draw the moisture out of the transducer. I guess I could just remove the transducer when those random downpours occur and save the money. Albeit the FCM Aqua is only about $72 and would last up to 50 uses.

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I find the mini mic to be a valued tool when I'm in noisy social environments. TV Captions work for me so I've not needed the TV transmitter. I recently upgraded my CI processor and find that I rarely need the captions now after having been dependent on them for years. It just keeps getting better and better!

One of the problems with some of the accessories is having them when you need them unexpectedly. If I'm in a sudden rainstorm I take off my external devices.

Many people who use hearing technology of any kind find that putting their devices in a 'dryer' makes sense when they are not being worn. This is especially important if you are in a humid climate or if you are a person who perspires a lot. Did your provider suggest a Dri Aid kit to store your external devices in when they are not in use?

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@julieo4

I find the mini mic to be a valued tool when I'm in noisy social environments. TV Captions work for me so I've not needed the TV transmitter. I recently upgraded my CI processor and find that I rarely need the captions now after having been dependent on them for years. It just keeps getting better and better!

One of the problems with some of the accessories is having them when you need them unexpectedly. If I'm in a sudden rainstorm I take off my external devices.

Many people who use hearing technology of any kind find that putting their devices in a 'dryer' makes sense when they are not being worn. This is especially important if you are in a humid climate or if you are a person who perspires a lot. Did your provider suggest a Dri Aid kit to store your external devices in when they are not in use?

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Thank you for your input! Mine came with a mini-mic according to my Audiologist who I don’t see until my Aug 30 fitting and programming.
As for TV transmitter I’m going to wait and see if I have any issues watching tv with my family members present as I’m hoping my OSIA 2 will allow me hear without any other accessories. When I contacted Cochlear they did mention the Dri-Aid kit
However you brought up an interesting point about humidity as I live in West Central FL close to the coast. I was not aware I would need to take humidity into account. Thanks again

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@billf51

Thank you for your input! Mine came with a mini-mic according to my Audiologist who I don’t see until my Aug 30 fitting and programming.
As for TV transmitter I’m going to wait and see if I have any issues watching tv with my family members present as I’m hoping my OSIA 2 will allow me hear without any other accessories. When I contacted Cochlear they did mention the Dri-Aid kit
However you brought up an interesting point about humidity as I live in West Central FL close to the coast. I was not aware I would need to take humidity into account. Thanks again

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I wish you the best with your new mode of hearing. My CI has been incredibly life changing.
It does take some time for our brains to adjust to hearing differently, so be patient. 🙂

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Just to add to the previous comment, the Dri-Aid is a must. I spend most of my time in South Carolina on the coast so the moisture is significant. Also, when I first got “fitted” for the sound processor for my Osia 2 I experienced static with every incoming sound, even human voices. My audiologist was able to work with Cochlear directly with me in the room to adjust the settings to eliminate the issue. With regard to a previous comment, I experienced no numbness following my implant.

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@julieo4

I wish you the best with your new mode of hearing. My CI has been incredibly life changing.
It does take some time for our brains to adjust to hearing differently, so be patient. 🙂

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Thank you for encouragement! I do have one other question(s). I’ve had my tinnitus since the sudden onset of my work related sensory hearing loss; however, since my surgery last Thursday, the tinnitus is louder and more pronounced. Is that normal following the surgery and have you heard if it eventually dissipates over time due to nerve endings being stimulated!

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@billf51

Thank you for encouragement! I do have one other question(s). I’ve had my tinnitus since the sudden onset of my work related sensory hearing loss; however, since my surgery last Thursday, the tinnitus is louder and more pronounced. Is that normal following the surgery and have you heard if it eventually dissipates over time due to nerve endings being stimulated!

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It seems that everyone has different experiences to share with tinnitus. Most people who get CIs seem to find it dissipates over time. Sometimes settings on our personal technology can be programmed to mask tinnitus. I hope you find it dissipates when you get your external device fitted. Have you asked your audiologist about this? Be sure to mention this at your next appointment.

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@julieo4

It seems that everyone has different experiences to share with tinnitus. Most people who get CIs seem to find it dissipates over time. Sometimes settings on our personal technology can be programmed to mask tinnitus. I hope you find it dissipates when you get your external device fitted. Have you asked your audiologist about this? Be sure to mention this at your next appointment.

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Thank you; and on the top of my list of questions 😉

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@joezz

Just to add to the previous comment, the Dri-Aid is a must. I spend most of my time in South Carolina on the coast so the moisture is significant. Also, when I first got “fitted” for the sound processor for my Osia 2 I experienced static with every incoming sound, even human voices. My audiologist was able to work with Cochlear directly with me in the room to adjust the settings to eliminate the issue. With regard to a previous comment, I experienced no numbness following my implant.

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Regarding your comment regarding the Dri-Aid; wow!! My understanding it runs ~ $18 and should last up to 3-months. Also, with the humidity considerations here in Tampa area, 4-miles from the Gulf, it was recommended by Cochlear that I place my OSIA2 transducer in the Dri-Aid container nightly. Your thoughts please!
I was also happy to hear about your experience with the fitting-programming being resolved as typically an Audiologist office is a much more ideal setting when it comes to the clarity of speech recognition. Did you also find the absence of the static? If you’re comfortable sharing, what were the specifics of your turning to the OSIA 2? I experienced an acute, single-sided sensory hearing loss in 2019 while utilizing a single headset at my semi retired job that introduced tinnitus at the onset. The Phonak single sided hearing aid did little or nothing to improve my hearing due to my sensory loss of hearing. My first Audiology exam following my injury was a speech recognition of 76% (both ears were previously 98%, and L-ear remains so). About a month ago my damaged ear dropped to a 42% speech recognition and its hearing was very faint, tinny sounding like in an echo chamber. When I demo’d the Cros, Baha 6 and OSIA the clarity was significantly better.

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I place my Oasia 2 transducer in the Dri-Aid nightly. Every few months you’ll microwave the Dri-Aid beads to eliminate the moisture that has built up and then the Dri-Aid is go to go again. I had significant hearing loss in one ear since childhood (radical mastoidectomy at age 8) and lately increasing loss in my “good” ear. I was a good candidate for the Osia because my bone conduction function was excellent. Note, though that it took several audiologist visits to refine volume and clarity settings, eventually knocking out the static.

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I had my OSIA2 bone conduction implant surgery (exactly) one week ago today. My Neuro-Otologist has tried 3 various incisions over the past 3-4 yr’s, and found the last one used on myself (upside down “U”) the least uncomfortable for his patients. While each patients pain tolerance is different; I can attest that I’ve experienced little or no discomfort from day one. While I had 3 pain med’s available to me ranging from Advil-dual, Gabapentin & Magnesium & Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, I’ve only utilized the Advil-dual on-and-off to eliminate random “slight” ache at the incision sight mainly at night prior to going to bed to assure a restful sleep.
While not all having the surgery have experienced the following, I have. The top, rear and side of my scalp of incision still has a numbing sensation, which is due to the nerve endings acclimating to surgery. Supposedly this could possibly last up to 2-months. I personally suffered tinnitus due to my sudden onset of single sided injury back in May 2019, that has been seemingly accentuated since last weeks surgery, which again should dissipate over time.
My first post-op appointment is next week, and fitting/programming on Aug. 30. Follow your doctors post-op instructions and you’ll do well. In a side note this is an excellent site for obtaining feedback from others having the OSIA2 surgery and use of their transducer

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