Which cochlear implant brand should I get?

Dr. Chad Ruffin

ENT Doc and CI Surgeon

Dr. Chad Ruffin is an ear, nose, and throat doctor who specializes in ear and cochlear implant surgery in Seattle, Washington. In addition to treating patients in the clinic, he also researches and develops technology for hearing loss.

He is the first person born with severe hearing loss to become a surgeon using cochlear implants. He combines science and lived experience to teach his patients how to live to the fullest with hearing loss.

Subscribe for the latest from Dr. Ruffin. You can also meet him and ask questions in a small group virtual meeting.

Which cochlear implant brand should I get?

Cochlear implant companies advertise many different features. Currently there is no evidence that suggests that one manufacturer has better outcomes than another.

They often advertise the number of electrodes they provide. CIs have 16-24 electrodes. These electrodes provide more information than patients can actually use. Most patients can only perceive about 16 “channels” of sound provided by an implant.
One company advertises its long electrode that “covers more of the cochlea.” There is no consistent or great evidence supporting this claim in independent studies.
Speech processing strategies convert sound to electricity. There are a variety of different speech processing strategies such as “HiRes,” “ACE,” and “Fine Structure Processing.” None have been shown to be superior to others.

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Patient Reviews of Chad Ruffin, MD

Dr. Ruffin is committed to providing every patient with outstanding care. Hear what patients of Dr. Ruffin have to say about their experience with him.

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Dr. Ruffin was the first person in over 10 years to actually take the time to really listen to me. He took the time to figure out what’s actually going on without chalking it up to something simple and sending me on my way.

Liz H.

I really appreciated Chad's honesty with options, having surgery being a last result and most of all explaining everything in layman's terms. I couldn't be happier with my experience and really appreciate him getting to the bottom of my ear issue and making it feel better than it ever has!

Mathew M.

Dr. Ruffin was incredibly knowledgeable, thorough and compassionate. He took the time to fully understand the issues and was able to provide immediate relief. Nothing short of a miracle here. Furthermore, the entire team was very kind and professional. One of the best medical experiences I have had!

Brian F.