My story on trying to get a cochlear inplant

I have tinnitus that is beyond maddening. In May I was in for my annual checkup (which as most of you know is a waste of time) with my ENT and he suggested I should get tested for a cochlear implant because my bad ear is useless (his exact words).. He told me that in England people are getting cochlears put in ears that can hear because they are finding the cochlears reduce tinnitus. The test is required for Medicare to pre appove payment for it.
So in July I see his audiologist and she seemed surprised that he would even test me as my good ear is about 88 % with a hearing aid which was in my ear when they tested me. Needless to say my hearing was too good to qualify for it under Medicare. So I asked the doctor if I could pay for the cochlear out of pocket and he refused. said that would men gutting my ear and the hearing could come back. (really ??). I then requested another test a couple of months later - knowing what I had to do. I had to pay for the test out of pocket as Medicare only pays for 1 test a year. Of course I told them my tinnitus got worse since the last test which was true. However I still had to cheat in an attempt to qualify and the audiologist stopped the test because she said I was cheating. I told her I have suicidal tinnitus and didn't care about anything but stopping it. She said they could not approve it knowing (or suspecting) I was cheating. I wish he had not gotten my hopes up as he should have known I would not qualify. I am between a rock and a hard place.

 

Thank you for your response. I don't feel so bad now, and I see why the doctor would not agree to do it. He said there was no guarantee and that I might be dissapointed in the results.

 

Thank you for this - it is not available in the US but I just contacted them and am awaiting a reply. I am so desperate I would travel to Ireland for an evaluation without hesitation.