[M. Thatcher]

But despite his words of caution, the famed talker indicated that some of his hearing had already returned.

NOPE. This reporter got it wrong. Nothing has been turned on yet. Rush was referring to someone else's experience when he said: "You turn this (implant) on and you hear every little thing.... Then you've got to learn to distinguish those sounds from voices your hearing. And then you've got to try and figure out the words." Headline is also wrong.

Seems to me it's not just Rush who's deaf.

[ventana]

As you know well, deaf or not, Rush gets his facts straight by assiduously checking them, unlike this would-be reporter. V's wife.