I’m new to the forum, having just joined. I am a stranger to hearing aids, having only worn one for about a month.
I lost the hearing in my left ear at age 43. I tried a hearing aid, but I could not understand speech or identify sounds. At the time, CROS aids weren’t wireless and I could not justify the expense for the benefit since the right ear still worked 100%.
Fast forward 25 years. I now have some mild hearing loss in the “good” ear, and I’m now on Medicare. While Medicare is prohibited by law from paying for hearing aids, they will pay 80% of the cost of a CI. Since Medicare will pay 80%, my supplemental insurance will pay 20%, making the CI no out of pocket cost to me.
My audiologist was encouraging that I could learn to hear again in my left ear if I was willing to put in the work. She was a little concerned with my age, and how long it has been since the ear understood speech, but not concerned enough to discourage me.
I had my CT scan last Friday and the results were nominal. That clears the way for the meeting with the Surgeon on August 16th. At that meeting, we will select the brand of hearing aid. My options are the Cochlear Nucleus system, or the Med El Synchrony 2. After that, the implant surgery followed by activation three to four weeks later.
I’m currently torn between which implant to choose. I’m familiar with Cochlear, and I like that everything is imbedded in the processor, and the battery lasts all day.
I’m not crazy about the snap on Bluetooth module for the MedEl or having to carry multiple batteries since theirs won’t stay charged all day. But, I’m concerned that the longer electrode on the MedEl might provide a wider spectrum to hear. After all, that’s what this journey is about, hearing speech and hopefully music in my left ear.
I would like to hear from some of you that have Cochlear and MedEl devices and what you like about them, but more importantly, what you don’t like about them.