@barbaradh A great deal has changed since your shared experience time. I encourage you to try hearing aids again. Technology has improved greatly, but to use it well you have to know HOW to use it. That takes time provided by the person fitting hearing aids.

I hated the plastic molds in my years when I first had them. However, in time I got used to them. I started using assistive technology with my hearing aids and went from feeling 'smart' to feeling totally left out because I could participate in social discourse with that add on technology that showed. That help came from other people who had hearing loss. Thanks to HLAA. http://www.hearingloss.org

There is so much to know in all fields of healthcare today. Patients tend to have a lot of information these days due to personal research done online. Some good and some not so good. Mayo Clinic Connect is a place to get information. Talking to other people who share the same health concerns is peer support, a concept that wasn't there years ago. It helps a great deal. It helps to be open about our unique needs.