Anyone out there like me?

[Guest guest]

Hello again everyone. I posted about a month ago, (#40531) with an ethical

question, i.e.

end of trial with new HA's co-inciding with CI evaluation. My audi has been

wonderful, and

we are going to decide what to do after my evaluation on Jan 17th.

Here's my story: I first noticed my hearing loss about 7 or 8 years ago. It has

progressed

to this point: speech scores unaided about 40%, with new aids about 60%. I have

the

classic reversed " Z " curve on my audiogram, close to normal low frequencies,

above 1,500

Hz, nothing, earning a Severe-Profound description. So even with the new aids,

speech is

very difficult for me.

Now I am going for my eval on the 17th. They will, of course, test my hearing,

and a

psychological test as well where they will see if I have " realistic

expectations. " Well, what's

realistic? This is the essence of my post.

I would like to hear from others who have followed the same path, particularly

with the

same type of hearing loss. My world has shrunk over the last few years. Can I

expect a

reversal of that trend with CIs? Music is also very important to me, (Music and

Art major in

college). I have read some of the posts here, but again, I am trying to find a

soulmate

whose audiogram was similar to mine, and what their experience has been.

Also, has anyone tried the Nuclear Hybrid (ITE aid combined with CI processor

and

microphone)? And what's that all about anyway? How can an ITE aid help an ear

that has no

natural hearing left after the implant?<p><br> Forgive me if I'm going over old

ground

here. I have read the files in the archive and they are an excellent resource.

My heartfelt

thanks to those who contributed and to anyone who wishes to respond to my post.

Peace,

Tim