I met a man once, and still maintain contact with him, who became deaf over a period of time. A condition he inherited from his mother, he became fully deaf in his 50's I believe. And although he has a Deaf wife, he chose to get the CI. I asked him, as I am not shy about asking anybody pretty much anything, if he heard like a static, or a robotic tone to the sounds, and if he heard better or worse, or about the same. He told me he hears, with the CI active, perfectly. As if he had never become deaf at all. Now, with it off, he is profoundly deaf. But he is deaf, not Deaf, and he an I and his wife all know and understand that. I respect his decision on the matter, as it is his own life to deal with. But as for the effectiveness, I really can't conclude. I can only add my story to the very many I have read about and been told about where-in the CI didn't work, or what have you. Personally, I don't think anything piece of technology should change your identity. No more than Shelby Cobra or McMansion. It's just stuff, and who you are is who you are. If you're Deaf, be Deaf. But I don't see it as a reason to not get a CI or try to do something you think might make you happy. Culture is always changing. Don't be afraid to just be yourself.
