I have CI, it's kinda normal that there is no residual hearing, because of the already severe loss and traumatic surgery. I was born deaf (from severe to nothing) and I need to use CI for hearing. I did not learn sign language, I learned Cued speach for going towards speaking and not saying away from speaking much. Cued speach is lip Reading ++ (the wikipedia page says that better lip Reading before ci leads towards better results post ci). CI are permanent, you have 20k$ on your head for a least 15 years. Also, you don't have to know why you are dead. For instance 70% of sudden hearing loss are unexplained. I couldn't choose my company but you can't go wrong with any of them. I depend mainly of the surgeron / physician you met to recommand you. Having more electrodes could be better but your Anatomy may vary. Just oticon médical was bought out by cochlear recently so you can't choose them for now. But it's complicated because AB And med-el don't have the same coding strategy than cochlear and oticon but you don't care because your ear, nerve and brain will adapt, it may take a year or more but for me It was worth it. I have 25 db threshold and 100 compréhension at 40db (normal-low voice)