Wow we have much in common. Altough I am probably not as skilled as you at hearing with face not visible, and background noise makes it very hard for me to understand.
If the car radio is on loud enough I can make out single words, too.
I wasn't in any speech therapy ever but I was losing my hearing slowly and grew up in hearing enviroment, it's a training in itself.
Like you I felt isolated even if I never was in any deaf culture. But I got used to it. I am grateful for being in hearing enviroment altough I wish I was also given an opportunity to be in deaf culture and learn sign language.
I use my HA all the time except when I go to bed, or when I am alone and don't feel like wearing them.
My brother and I probably were born with hearing impairment but it showed only years later - I started showing when I was 5, and it went down slowly whereas my brother lose all of his hearing in a matter of a year, at about same age.
I too think you would hear well with CI but of course if you feel no need then there is no need. I probably will want to have CI at some point because, as I've said, I am in hearing enviorment only.
Fuzzy
