Gluckstein Lawyers Launches Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Class Action Lawsuit

• Published date: 05 April 2024
• Law Firm: Gluckstein Lawyers
• Author: Mr Jordan D. Assaraf

For the deaf or those with severe hearing loss, the introduction of cochlear implantation was transformative. The first implant was performed in Vienna in 1977 and by 2022 more than one million of the devices had been implanted worldwide.

A cochlear implant is not a hearing aid. These complex electronic devices are designed to mimic the cochlea, which is essentially a hollow tube deep in the ear that plays an important part in hearing.

Children as young as six months can receive a cochlear implant. While their use has had a profound impact on people's lives, it is still a mechanical device with limitations and the risk of defects.

In 2020, Advanced Bionics sent an Urgent Field Action Notification to healthcare providers informing them that the company had detected an increase in the number of devices being removed or that had the potential of being removed due to performance issues, which included reports of hearing performance degradation as well as other issues.

What Is a Cochlear Implant?

Cochlear implants should not be confused with hearing aids. A hearing aid is an option for those with mild to severe hearing loss. It makes sounds louder so that they can be heard by damaged ears. A cochlear implant is much different, bypassing damaged portions...