XML 34 R43.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities (Quantitative Summary of Fair Value of Derivative Instruments) (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Net asset (liability) value of non-hedged derivative instruments $ (338)nuan_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAtFairValueNet $ (407)nuan_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAtFairValueNet
Foreign currency contracts | Prepaid expenses and other current assets    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset value of non-hedge derivative instruments 379us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Foreign currency contracts | Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value (383)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
(272)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Security Price Guarantees | Contingent and deferred acquisition payment [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value (334)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_ContingentanddeferredacquisitionpaymentMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_StockMarketPriceGuaranteeMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_ContingentanddeferredacquisitionpaymentMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_StockMarketPriceGuaranteeMember
Security Price Guarantees | Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_StockMarketPriceGuaranteeMember
$ (135)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= nuan_AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_StockMarketPriceGuaranteeMember