[Yaelle]

I am sorry, but Rush won't be able to hear music the way we do. He may be able to get something out of hearing a song he already knows by heart, as he will get electronic feedback, but it won't be anything like what the ear can do. Rush knows that.

My mom used to work at House; she was the first audiologist to rehabilitate cochlear implant patients. What Rush will be gaining, and what he most misses, is FEEDBACK from his surroundings. That will help him in conversations, golfing, everything. It will bring him closer to his world again. He will have LOTS of work to do, retraining himself to "hear" using completely different information than that which he was used to receiving from his ears. He will STILL need to lipread, but he can get good at that with the feedback the implant provides. He may have underestimated the amount of work, and the profound psychological impact this will have on him, but my mom has listened to him long enough and knows he has the character to tough it out and make it a success! Of course he will!

All the best to you, Rush, if you are reading this. Merry Christmas!

[gumbo]

Rush won't be able to hear music the way we do. He may be able to get something out of hearing a song he already knows by heart, as he will get electronic feedback, but it won't be anything like what the ear can do. Rush knows that.

That's almost exactly what Rush himself said, on-air.

Thanks for the info and the corroboration.