Thank you for your reply. It seems, we both have something in common, also with many others!
I may add to my post that seeking for any options, I just underwent additional extensive hearing tests because of my extreme discomfort with noise. Any noise, like washing dishes in the kitchen sink, a vacuum cleaner nearby, are almost unbearably loud. Setting the HAs to mute helps somewhat, but HAs, I guess, were not meant to be ear plugs.
Furthermore, I was explained that while a typical/normal range of hearing is at 75-80 dB, mine is at 35-40 dB, As I understood it, my “loudness discomfort level” requires “squeezing” the hearing aid adjustments into that 35-40 dB range. Newest HA models will not help improve my very low word recognition, nor help with the loudness discomfort.
Conclusion: I just qualified for Cochlear Implant, initially on one side.
I am trying to understand and learn the details about CI, primarily because I was already told that eventually I may have to chose from one of the 3 FDA approved CI manufacturers. The surgeon and his audiologist will assist with making a choice because there is no trialing, like with HAs.
I decided to accept the challenges, the unknown length of the adjustment phase, as well as any risk related to the procedure. I hope that at my advanced age of 85 I might be able to regain hearing to a better level and be able to enjoy again many things, like participating more in social events or going to classical music concerts, for the remainder of my life.