My understanding is that after the cochlea operation the possible residual hearing that remains is going to be less than what you started with and with the array in the way the clarity may even be less also. You still going to need some kind of amplification to assist the residual hearing to make it useful.
What companies are trying to do is to make a hybrid implant with a shorter array to just to work on the high frequencies leaving the bass nerves alone and unassisted unless you add a hearing aid to the same case of the external processor. The studies that I read is that they are only about 50% successful. The problem with this approach how is the doctor is going to promise that the remaining residual hearing is going to be stable for the rest of your life and you will not need another operation to hear the lower frequencies with insurance coverage? I think the whole idea is kind of stupid.
