Unfortunately, the two audiologists, with the degrees to prove it, are both at the Hearing Center two hours away that does CIs, which is why I went there. The first one seemed rather uncaring, anxious to sell what they had. She advised me to junk the Costco aid for what had been my sorta hearing ear before Meniere's went bilateral and spend over $6,000 to buy a pair of aids from her...then come back in SIX MONTHS to be retested for a CI because I was 5% over the 50% level necessary to qualify for a CI that day (Meniere's fluctuates from hour to hour). Wow...that works out to $1,000 per month, assuming I'd have qualified for a CI. In addition, I've been told by other audis and my Costco person that my right ear, long useless, has so much recruitment that they wouldn't recommend an aid. The Hearing Center audis were unaware of the problems presented by recruitment!!!

The second audi at the same clinic appeared to be very caring, but neither she nor the doc who does the actual CI implants had heard of Live Transcribe about four months ago. She did, however, totally reverse what the first audi had said about Costco, gave them high marks. Even though the second audi appears to be caring, the almost total lack of knowledge either she or the doc have about Meniere's makes me hesitant to opt for a CI. I'd prefer to work with someone who knew something about the uniquely dreadful features of this disease before doing something that's not reversible.

If/when I decide on a CI for the ear that hasn't been useful for over 30 years, these are the two audis I'd work with! Neither of them seem to have any desire to learn about new things, unless it's something for them to sell. Bah, humbug...the Costco woman is caring, even knows quite a bit about Meniere's (which few docs recognize other than the name of the damned disease). She obviously is interested enough to keep abreast of everything new and learn how it may (or not) benefit her patients. Even though she's certain that I wouldn't benefit from an aid for my right ear due to recruitment, she's willing to let me try one to see if it helps. I would have taken her up on the generous offer...except going bilateral means that I can't stand wearing the aid in what used to be my good ear due to the new feature of recruitment, which means downright painful but meaningless noise. She also was able to adjust the aid so that I'm now able, on a rare day when I can hear, to listen to music...for the first time in over 30 years!