Would an individual with a cochlear implant (CI) qualify for DSS services? Can a CI user benefit from an assistive listening device? Should CI users avoid realtime captioning so that they will learn to depend on what they are hearing? Many misconceptions exist about the benefits individuals receive from CIs. While many CI users seem to return to a state of “near normal” hearing, others may gain little more than being able to identify sounds in the environment. Additionally, group discussions and hearing in noisy settings can still be problematic even for those with the most dramatic gains. This presentation covered the basics of CI technology, the range of benefits recipients experience, and accommodations that bring success on the job and at school.