I've mentioned this before, but feel it might be helpful to mention it again.

I had the advantage of knowing several people who had gone the CI route before I decided I should consider it. Thus I had the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. I was using hearing aids at that time and had reasonable success with telecoils. An HLAA friend who was a retired professor in an audiology program (this was in 2003), told me to use a neckloop with my hearing aids telecoils to listen to audio books. One ear did poorer with the hearing aid than the other did. This friend told me to do this ONLY with the poorer ear more than with both. I took that advice and listened that way for over a year before getting the CI in that poorer ear.

Long story short...I was able to rehab that poorer ear and had immediate success with the CI. Yes, I continued to listen that way after my CI was activated and the transition happened within a couple of months. I know others whose CI audiologists have told them Not to use the telecoil feature after activation. I wish there were more studies on this. Telecoils are older technology and some manufacturers are taking them out of hearing aids and CI processors. The primary reason is to make them smaller. Those of us who have had telecoil success and who have been strong advocates for the assistive listening systems in public venues that connect with those telecoils are aghast at this attitude. It is like taking away the best thing that can happen. Yes, I'm a strong advocate for telecoils, hearing loops, assistive technology, hearing aids and cochlear implants. I WANT TO HEAR! I don't care if what I use to be able to enjoy participating in conversation and events that require listening and hearing to enjoy shows when I'm using it.

Do you?