What will new 'smart' implants mean for hearing loss patients
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New Zealanders can now get access to what's being described as the first "smart" hearing implant system.
The Nuclear Nexa implant has been manufactured by global hearing device company Cochlear, and is the only cochlear implant with internal memory and upgradeable firmware.
It means a user's personal settings can be stored on the implant itself, and the firmware can be upgraded when needed - rather than replaced.
One in five Kiwis are living with some form of hearing loss, with early diagnosis touted by experts as the best way to slow the decline.
To discuss the technology, I'm joined by Stu Sayers, president of Asia Pacific and Latin America region at Cochlear.
Also joining, is Michel Neeff, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and clinical director of the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme for Adults in Auckland.
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