Thank you for sharing your positive experience.

A couple of points:

1. Europe is way ahead of the USA in providing hearing loop access. It takes advocacy to make a difference. The people who need hearing help need to do more educating and advocating. You may note that areas listed at http://www.hearingloop.org that have HLAA chapters also have had the greatest success in making communication access a priority. People Power!

2. Cochlear Implants used to always take away residual hearing due to the nature of the surgery. Today, that is not always the case. Residual hearing, which by the time a CI is an option, often is not affected in today's procedures.

3. Your experience with your audiologist, Medicare and Care Credit should be very helpful to many people who need hearing help. As with most consumer products, better-quality hearing instruments sold by a professional fitter will likely work better than cheaper products sold over the counter.

Again, thank you for sharing.

Julieo4