New Hearing Technology
That makes this page about what is coming and what you can do now. We explain the claims and their sources, and how our cochlear implant candidacy work-ups and mapping fit in. This page is accurate as of October 14, 2026.
At a glance
- Integro CI includes Naída CI Integro for adults and Sky CI Integro for children, plus Target CI 1.6 fitting software.
- It has CE marking and TÜV approval. FDA approval is pending, and we offer only devices that have FDA approval.
- Advanced Bionics says SoundFinder is the first TÜV-approved CI technology for sound localization, and claims up to 30 times more automated sound settings than competing systems (data on file).
- It connects directly to the new Phonak Roger On Sphere microphone. Advanced Bionics says no other implant system does.
What Advanced Bionics announced
Integro CI is a new cochlear implant sound processor platform. It has two processors: Naída CI Integro for adults and Sky CI Integro for children. It comes with Target CI 1.6, the fitting software that audiologists use, which Advanced Bionics says puts hearing aids and implants in one fitting environment. Advanced Bionics says the platform is for new implant candidates and for suitable existing Advanced Bionics recipients who want a new processor. Advanced Bionics is part of Sonova, the company that owns Phonak. That link explains the shared technology.
Where it is available
Advanced Bionics says Integro is available now in select European countries, with more rollouts planned in the coming weeks. For the US, it says the platform is pending FDA approval. It gives no date. That matters in California. Until the FDA approves a device, no US clinic can fit it, and we offer only devices that have FDA approval. We will update this page when that changes.
SoundFinder: knowing where a sound comes from
Localization means telling where a sound comes from, such as a car horn or a voice behind you. Advanced Bionics calls SoundFinder the first TÜV-approved cochlear implant technology for sound localization. It says better localization may support spatial awareness, safety and conversation in complex rooms. It cites four studies (2016 to 2024) on falls in older adults, hearing loss and spatial orientation, and says they suggest better localization may help balance and reduce fall risk. The key word is suggest. That is not proof that Integro prevents falls, and we have not seen independent results for SoundFinder itself.
SmartSpeech and the 30 times claim
SmartSpeech is Advanced Bionics's name for AI-powered processing built on Phonak's AutoSense OS 5.0. It adjusts the sound to changing places on its own, to improve speech understanding and reduce listening effort. Advanced Bionics claims up to 30 times more automated sound settings than competing implant systems, based on its own data on file. More settings is a count, not an outcome. What matters is how you hear in your life, and only a trial and careful mapping can show that.
| Claim | Where it comes from | What is missing |
|---|---|---|
| SoundFinder is the first TÜV-approved CI localization technology | Advanced Bionics release, October 14, 2026 | Independent localization results |
| Better localization may help balance and reduce fall risk | Four studies Advanced Bionics cites (2016 to 2024); it says they suggest this | Proof for Integro itself |
| Up to 30 times more automated sound settings than competing systems | Advanced Bionics data on file | Method and competitor list |
| Direct connection to Roger On Sphere; no other CI system has it | Advanced Bionics release | Independent comparison and a US date |
| Connects to up to 8 Bluetooth devices | Advanced Bionics release | A list of tested devices |
Bluetooth and Roger On Sphere
Advanced Bionics says Integro connects directly to up to eight compatible Bluetooth devices for calls, TV and music, with no extra accessory. It also says Integro connects directly to the new Phonak Roger On Sphere microphone, which gives one-click access to that microphone's AI speech-from-noise separation. Advanced Bionics says no other implant system offers this. Read our Roger On Sphere explainer for what Phonak claims and what is unknown.
What we do for cochlear implants today
We do cochlear implant candidacy work-ups and post-activation mapping in our clinic. Surgery is referred out to a surgical team. A candidacy work-up looks at how well you understand speech with well-fitted hearing aids, and it helps decide whether an implant evaluation makes sense. See our cochlear implant services. Tell us which implant and processor you use when you book, so we can confirm the plan before your visit.
Who should ask about Integro
If you have an Advanced Bionics implant, ask your implant team two things: whether you are eligible for an Integro processor, and when FDA approval is expected. If you are weighing an implant for the first time, do not wait for any one processor. Candidacy and surgery decisions come first, and processor choice follows. For children, Advanced Bionics offers Sky CI Integro as the pediatric option in countries where it is approved. We will not guess about eligibility, cost or insurance. None has been announced for the US.
What we do not know yet
There is no US approval date. The release does not describe technical compatibility with specific existing implants beyond saying that suitable recipients can switch. It does not mention waterproofing, remote programming or pairing with hearing aids. It gives no price, and no insurance details. We will update this page when Advanced Bionics or the FDA publishes more.
How California Hearing Center helps
We do not push a brand. We start with your hearing test and your real-life listening, then work out what serves you best, whether that is better hearing aid programming, a cochlear implant evaluation or another path. Request a hearing test at our San Mateo or San Carlos office. If you are unsure whether hearing aids still help you, our hearing aid second opinion visit is another route. Related launches this week: the Widex Allure AI RIC and Roger On Sphere. Our sister practice in New York writes for existing implant users who are thinking about an upgrade: Integro at Audiology Associates of Westchester.
Status and last update
Last updated October 14, 2026. What changed: this is the first version. We will update this page when the FDA acts on Integro, or when Advanced Bionics announces US plans. Sources: Advanced Bionics: Integro CI receives TÜV approval (Business Wire, October 14, 2026), SONIMUNDUS: Advanced Bionics launches Integro CI in Europe, TipRanks: Sonova pushes AI hearing technology beyond aids with new Roger and Integro systems.
Medical information notice
This page offers general information. It is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Want to know where your hearing stands? A full hearing evaluation usually takes about an hour. Call 650-342-9449 to book at our San Mateo office, 88 N. San Mateo Drive, or our San Carlos office, 1008 Laurel Street.
Get one email if the FDA approves Integro.
We will write once if the FDA approves Integro or Advanced Bionics announces US plans. We will send nothing else.
Frequently asked questions
What patients often want to know
Can I get an Integro processor in the US now?
No. Advanced Bionics says Integro is pending FDA approval in the US. It is available now only in select European countries. We offer only devices that have FDA approval.
What is SoundFinder?
It is a feature Advanced Bionics calls the first TÜV-approved cochlear implant technology for sound localization. It aims to help you tell where sounds come from. We have not seen independent results yet.
Does better sound direction prevent falls?
Advanced Bionics cites studies that suggest better localization may help balance and reduce fall risk in older adults. That is not proof for this device. Ask your doctor about fall risk.
Do you do cochlear implant surgery?
No. We do cochlear implant candidacy work-ups and post-activation mapping in our clinic, and we refer surgery out to a surgical team.
I have an Advanced Bionics implant. Can I upgrade?
Advanced Bionics says suitable existing recipients can switch to a new processor, but it has given no US details. Ask your implant team about eligibility and timing.
Will insurance cover a new processor?
No US coverage details exist, because the device is not approved yet. Coverage varies by plan. Call us and we will help you plan once details are known.