50 yo. congentitally profoundly deaf person here. Cochlear implant fitted last month. My quality of life has been utterly transformed: I can't imagine what life would have been like if I had had one from birth. If appropriate for the patient, the healthcare system should skip the hearing aid and go straight for an implant. If you happen to be reading this, and have a hearing loss, explore cochlear implants whatever your age.
Whilst I wish the OS hearing aid project every success, what we really need is open source implants - the pricing is even more insane than hearing aid technology and is relatively well understood. The existing, certified implants could be used, but with an OS/DIY processor - circumventing many of the potential certification issues.
Thanks for sharing your story and glad to read about your positive experience. Just a comment regarding your advice to others.
I went to bed with perfect hearing and then woke up with 90% hearing loss in one ear (sudden nerve deafness). Some of it has come back but the gain is not flat across frequencies. It is incredibly disorienting. I was almost hit by a car the other day since I now look in the opposite direction when I hear a car accelerate. I no longer enjoy listening to music and it limits my ability to be witty in casual conversation since I now often second guess what was said. Music sounds weird.
I know a hearing aid would help but I don't want anyone to know I have this problem. Hopefully my brain can just recalibrate the frequencies especially since I have one pretty normal ear.
Regarding your suggestion. I believe a good cochlear implant has about 22 channels. A healthy human ear can discern 300,000+ frequencies. This is why cochlear implants are only given to totally deaf patients. The technology is no where near where it needs to be used on patients with hearing loss.
Whilst I wish the OS hearing aid project every success, what we really need is open source implants - the pricing is even more insane than hearing aid technology and is relatively well understood. The existing, certified implants could be used, but with an OS/DIY processor - circumventing many of the potential certification issues.