Cochlear Speeds Ahead with New Hearing Device in China

Innovative Hearing Implant Technology Gains Access in China

With a growing number of Chinese individuals affected by hearing loss, an Australian implant manufacturer is utilizing the special medical tourism zone in Hainan to provide quicker access to its latest device. The company, Cochlear, introduced its new smart system in China in June, making the country one of the first global markets to launch the technology—through Hainan and Hong Kong.

Introducing the technology via the Boao Lecheng international medical tourism pilot zone has allowed patients to receive implants in the initial launch phase instead of waiting years for the foreign medical device to enter the Chinese market. This strategic move enables faster access to cutting-edge medical solutions for those in need.

Unlike traditional hearing aids that amplify sound, the implant bypasses damaged hair cells in the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve with electrical signals from an external processor equipped with a noise-cancelling microphone. According to the chief technology officer, Jan Janssen, the implant is particularly beneficial for users with severe and profound hearing loss who no longer find traditional hearing aids effective.

“Merely amplifying or cleaning up the sound… is no longer delivering an optimal [solution] for the user,” he explained. “It is because the hair cells that transfer incoming acoustic vibrations into stimulation of the hearing nerve are no longer functioning, or too many of them are damaged.”

After an implant operation, it can take a few weeks to several months for the brain to relearn hearing and adapt to converting electrical stimulation into speech comprehension. In a recent upgrade, the implant features internal memory and upgradeable firmware, allowing it to receive software updates throughout its design lifetime of 75 years and measure how nerves respond to stimulation.

Janssen highlighted that the new internal memory stores a copy of a patient’s stimulation needs, which was previously only kept in the external sound processor. This innovation ensures that even if the processor is lost or broken, the user can quickly get a replacement and resume normal hearing within seconds.

Hearing loss is becoming a significant public health concern in China. Researchers at Harbin Medical University projected that around 40% of the Chinese population, or 561 million people, will have hearing loss by 2034. In 2019, nearly 430 million people in China experienced hearing loss, with more than 95 million having moderate-to-complete hearing loss.

Ageing is a key factor in hearing loss for adults, while ear infections are the main cause for children under 10. Losing the ability to hear has been linked to social isolation, depression, and a higher risk of falling, among other health issues. Hearing loss has also been identified as a risk factor for dementia, with studies showing that treating hearing loss can decrease the risk of dementia.

Cochlear China’s general manager, Li Xinyu, noted that the company estimates at least 10 million people in China experience severe, profound, and complete hearing loss, a number expected to rise due to the rapidly ageing population. Despite this, the penetration of cochlear implants remains low, with only around 50,000 people in China having received the implant since the company entered the market 30 years ago.

Li emphasized the importance of increasing accessibility to hearing implants and reducing harmful noise exposure. More than 10 regions, including Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, have gradually included cochlear implants in their basic medical insurance coverage. A centralised procurement programme is expected to significantly reduce costs, improving intervention accessibility for hearing-impaired newborns.

Hainan’s special health zone plays a crucial role in shortening the delay in China receiving the latest medical technologies compared to Western countries. While those wishing to receive the new implant currently have to travel to Hainan for the one-hour operation, this approach allows companies to prepare necessary clinical data for mainland approval.

Chinese regulatory approval usually comes at least two years after approvals in the European Union, United States, and Australia. Launching products first in the special zone gives companies the opportunity to prepare clinical data required by the National Medical Products Administration.

As the demand for hearing implants grows, the collaboration between industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies is essential to accelerate progress and improve the quality of life for millions of people affected by hearing loss.