Hearing implants: which is best?

A previous blog Waking up to sleep apnoea: ResMed vs Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, produced such a wonderful response that we now want to know if you have any experiences to share in the hearing implant sector.

Cochlear was spun out of Pacific Dunlop in 1996 and listed at $2.50 per share. It manufacturers hearing implants for the profoundly deaf that rival the cost of a new Ford Falcon. Like Paul Hogan, this homegrown success story has transcended to foreign shores. Unlike Hoges, Cochlear never went out of fashion.

Cochlear regularly boasts a lofty price tag (a price to earnings ratio above 30 isn't uncommon), but so far it has lived up to expectations. In an industry where reputation and performance is everything, Cochlear's spotless track record has distinguished it from large US rival Advanced Bionics and smaller European rival Med-El.

Though the three companies tend to dominate their neck of the woods, Cochlear implants are widely recognized as the industry gold standard. The company has had little trouble meeting the regulatory and safety concerns of foreign health departments to gain their financial support.

Cochlear's focus on research and development continues to produce rapid profit growth across growing markets. Each year new incidences of profound hearing loss surpass implant surgeries. And unlike most companies that sneeze when the economy catches a cold, Cochlear's profits are more closely tied to the willingness of health authorities to subsidise the cost of implants and the invasive surgery required to install them.

Happy customers

Understandably, implant recipients are often brought to tears once their hearing is lifted to something approaching normal standards. This is a life-changing product for the profoundly deaf. We are interested in your experience.

Were you offered an alternative to the Cochlear implant? Why did you choose Cochlear or the rival product? Is there a big difference in the features between each product? Have rival products made up any ground over recent years or is Cochlear's lead over the competition increasing?

If you've used or recommend any of these companies' products, we'd love to hear your views, including any product upgrades over the years that have produced tangible benefits.

If you're a healthcare professional with experience in the industry, we'd like to know why you value one company's products or service over the alternatives. We'd also be interested in a price comparison, and how each company markets and promotes its wares.

If you have any direct or indirect experience with profound hearing loss and the benefits, risks, costs and promotion of hearing implants, please share your comments with us.