Just got back from my second opinion. I like this clinic MUCH better. They have more people getting CI's so just more experience. They use all 3 brands so another plus. Also, she had me test with a different hearing aid, Nadida's (or however that is spelled). I noticed a HUGE difference in speech perception from the first words out of her mouth--however, the background noise was LOUD. She just adjusted them based on my hearing exam so they were not adjusted properly. I went from 15% with my HA's to 66% with those (listening with both in at the same time). She wants me to try them to see if I can get good results with the different technology in those vs the Starkey's I have. I was really kind of disappointed that I couldn't wear them home they were that much better.
I am going to try those for about 6 weeks to see if I like them and then decide if getting a CI is still something I want to go. She guesses what will probably happen is I will get the CI in my right ear and keep the HA for my left. I'd be ok with that.
She also was going to suggest, before we even talked, that I consider waiting until the new AB implant comes out because it's really designed for people like me. She said that with the Med-El they would not use the longer array for me anyway so they could try to preserve my low end hearing so the benefit of that pretty much is out the window. I'm pretty sure I would get the AB now. I ran through my car analogy with her and she said I was pretty spot on with the differences between the various brands so I'm more comfortable with my research and decision.
So, I go back in 2 weeks (soonest I could get in with the HA tech audi whatever that she wants me to work with) to get fit/molds done and then May 9th get the demos to try.
From what people here have said about these HA, I wasn't surprised with the difference I noticed.