@joangela Hi Joangela. My hearing loss started about 15 years ago and has gotten progressively worse over the years.

It is very difficult, and often depressing, to not be able to hear the conversation when I am trying to communicate with more than one person, and even worse when in a restaurant or at a function. My son was married recently and despite the joy of the occasion it was also depressing for me. There were other events surrounding the actual wedding and I was at a total loss. I find that phone conversations with anyone other than those with whom I am close are very difficult, particularly if I need to call customer service for something. Then you not only have the problem in hearing the person at the other end but often those jobs are done by people in other countries and they have strong accents. One time I kept asking to be put on with someone who could speak more clearly to me. I went through three different customer service people and ended up almost in tears by the time I got off the phone, and had not resolved the issue. When I know I have to make those calls I will sometime have my husband do it for me.
My last hearing test was two years ago and my hearing loss in one ear was profound, and in the other severe. I am scheduled for tests in October. I have Oticon Opn 1 hearing aids and have heard there is a newer model that is 15% clearer. It is tempting to buy new ones but will 15% really help that much? It's not as if they give these things away either. New ones will cost over $6000. My daughter used to work at the Center for Hearing and Communications in NYC. I am tempted to go there if I choose to get new hearing aids. I did get hearing aids there before once. The audiologist there is fairly renown and I am wondering if she might be able to do more for me than my local audiologist who I think is really very good also.
JK