Technology explained
Thinking about a cochlear implant processor upgrade? What Integro means for you
Advanced Bionics' Integro processors are not yet FDA approved. See what is claimed, what is unknown and how to prepare for an upgrade talk.
Read time: 5 min read
If you use an Advanced Bionics cochlear implant, a headline about a new processor raises a fair question: is this for me? Advanced Bionics unveiled its Integro CI platform on October 14, 2026. The honest answer today is that nobody in the United States can have it yet.
This page is for existing recipients, for people weighing an implant and for families of children who use one. It sets out what Advanced Bionics claims, what is unknown and how to prepare. Integro is pending FDA approval in the US, so we do not offer it.
“A new processor is news. The question that matters is what it will do for your hearing, and when you can have it.”
Where Integro stands today
Per Advanced Bionics, Integro is on sale in select European countries today, and more launches are due in the coming weeks. For the US it points to pending FDA approval. Integro has CE marking and TÜV approval. Neither of those is FDA approval. Our practice offers only devices that have FDA approval, so we cannot fit Integro until that changes. We will update this page when it does.
What the platform includes
Integro CI has two sound 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. Advanced Bionics says that software puts hearing aids and implants in one fitting environment. Advanced Bionics is part of Sonova, the same company that owns Phonak, which explains the shared technology.
What Advanced Bionics says is new
Three features stand out in the announcement. SoundFinder is what Advanced Bionics calls the first TÜV-approved implant technology for sound localization, meaning knowing where a sound comes from. SmartSpeech is AI-powered processing built on Phonak's AutoSense OS 5.0, which adapts to changing places. Direct connections let the processor link to up to eight compatible Bluetooth devices and to the new Phonak Roger On Sphere microphone, which Advanced Bionics says no other implant system does.
Reading the claims with care
Advanced Bionics claims up to 30 times more automated sound settings than competing systems, based on its own data on file. A bigger number of settings is not the same as a better result. It cites four studies (2016 to 2024) that suggest better localization may help balance and reduce fall risk in older adults. That is a suggestion, not proof that Integro prevents falls. We have not seen independent results for SoundFinder or SmartSpeech. For a fair first read, treat these as the maker's claims.
| What is claimed | Who says so | What is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Available now in select European countries | Advanced Bionics, October 14, 2026 | Which countries and exact dates |
| Pending FDA approval in the US | Advanced Bionics, October 14, 2026 | Any US date |
| SoundFinder is the first TÜV-approved implant localization technology | Advanced Bionics | Independent localization results |
| Up to 30 times more automated sound settings than competitors | Advanced Bionics data on file | Method and competitor list |
| Suitable existing recipients can switch to a new processor | Advanced Bionics | Eligibility rules, price and insurance |
Questions to ask your implant team
Am I eligible for an Integro processor, and what does eligibility depend on? When is FDA approval expected? Will my current implant work with it? What will the upgrade cost, and will my plan cover it? How will my current processor map carry over, and how many visits will switching take? What would change in my daily life, in noise, on the phone and for sound direction? If the answer is that no one knows yet, that is a fair answer today.
How to prepare now
Write down your current processor model and your implant date. Bring your latest mapping history and any recent speech test results. Note the places where you struggle most, such as restaurants, meetings or traffic. Note what already works well, so we protect it. These notes help any upgrade decision, with Integro or with another processor. Cochlear implant care at our practice is with Dr. Caitlin Dold. Read our cochlear implant guide and our page on the invisible cochlear implant MED-EL TICI for another new development.
If your child uses an implant
Advanced Bionics offers Sky CI Integro as the pediatric option in countries where Integro is approved. It has published no US plan for children. Do not change a child's processor plan because of a headline. Talk with the implant team and the school audiologist, and ask what any change would mean for the classroom.
What is still unknown
No US approval date exists. The announcement does not describe technical compatibility with specific existing implants beyond saying suitable recipients can switch. It is silent on waterproofing, remote programming and pairing with hearing aids. No price or insurance detail has been shared. We will add facts as they arrive.
How we would approach it at Audiology Associates of Westchester
We start with you, not with a processor. We review how you hear now, what your current device does well and where it falls short. Then we talk through options when they exist. Book at our Harrison or Somers office, or start with a hearing test. Two other launches landed the same day: Roger On Sphere and the Widex Allure AI RIC. Our sister practice in California writes about Integro from a US-patient view: California Hearing Center.
Status and last update
Last updated October 14, 2026. Change note: this is the first version. We will revise this page once the FDA acts on Integro or Advanced Bionics shares US plans. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
Medical information notice
This article explains new product announcements for general education. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose or treat any condition. Product claims come from the makers. Talk with a licensed professional about your own situation. Call (914) 949-0034 to book at our Harrison or Somers office.
Common questions
Can I get the Integro processor now?
Not in the United States. Advanced Bionics lists Integro as pending FDA approval. So far it is sold only in select European countries.
I have an Advanced Bionics implant. Am I eligible?
Advanced Bionics says suitable existing recipients can switch to a new processor. It has not published US eligibility rules. Ask your implant team.
What is SoundFinder?
It is a feature Advanced Bionics calls the first TÜV-approved implant technology for sound localization. The aim is to help you tell which direction sound comes from. No independent results have been published that we can find.
Will Integro work with Roger On Sphere?
Advanced Bionics says Integro connects directly to Roger On Sphere with no extra device. Phonak plans release of the microphone in most markets in mid-November 2026, with no US date.
Is the new processor safer for older adults?
Advanced Bionics cites studies that suggest better localization may help balance and reduce fall risk. That falls short of proof for this device. Your doctor can speak to your own fall risk.
Do you offer cochlear implant care?
Cochlear implant care at our practice is with Dr. Caitlin Dold. Call us to talk about your situation.
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.
