Has anyone had experience of cochlear implants?

[liquidclocks]

My friend who is 30 recently lost a lot of what was left of her hearing - she has been deaf since birth but has always manged with hearing aids. Her doctors have decided to offer her a cochlear implant to help her regain some hearing. She would like to know what other people's experiences of having one have been and also needs some advice on which type to go for. She has been offered a choice of a:

Nucleus Freedom
Advanced Bionics-Clarion
MED-EL Combi 40+

She doesn't have the internet at the moment thanks to BT but she has to make a decision within the next few weeks. I will print this thread out for her before then.

Thanks!

Hmmm - now I may be way off course here, but iirc RTKangamummy's dh has had implants. And possibly kelly1978? Anyhoo if they search on their names they might pull this thread up and contribute.

Thanks - hope to hear from them!

Anyone?