The terminology surrounding hearing loss gets as weird as the assumptions people make about hearing loss.

The difference between being Deaf of Deaf culture, and being partially deaf or hard of hearing is important to understand.

Those of Deaf culture, most often people who were born deaf who use manual communication exclusively, believe that deafness as they experience it is their norm. They don't want to hear, and resent people who tell them they should want to hear. Therefore, they do not accept the term 'impaired', because they don't believe themselves to have an impairment.

Hard of hearing people experience hearing loss differently. Most want to hear and will do what they can to bring clear sound to their 'impaired or damaged' ears. We HH folks don't embrace our hearing loss as beautiful. While we can bring these populations together to work on common goals, it is next to impossible to expect complete collaboration. One groups solution to communication access is sign language. The other group's solution is technology that helps them hear. It just doesn't mesh very well. Yet, we can certainly respect each other's needs and opinions as we look for things we can work together on.

I hope you can find the support you need to get decent hearing aids that will help you.