I cannot afford new aids ( do not qualify for care credit) . I am a candidate for cochlear implants also . That is something I really cannot to do for it the 20 percent needed between what Medicare covers and I have to cover. I love music and as as the Cochlear implants have improved; there still not up there quite there.
There are trying HLAA and others are trying to set rules about standards for over the counter aids. The folks in the mild to moderate range should do okay ( Nano). Forget higher levels of loss for over the counter aids.
It is really interesting or scary how in a Twitter feed I dare write that I am not willing to state that I am deaf.
I feel people who function without need of signing or cued speech, etc and do somewhat okay speech in a hearing world is not deaf. It is I think a U.K. vs USA thing.
As for we call yourself in a hearing world; at the last HLAA convention( Rochester, NY) ,; I got hell( That was wrong at that level) from several folks overheard I as a hearing impaired person. They stated to me that I am to call myself hearing challenged. Political correctness in a deefenned/ deafened world
This perhaps may be a reaction to everything going on but perhaps I feel a need to just only be aided on need to need basis and be “deaf” rest of the time. It is too hard dealing with people . I read/ draw. Hike - all solitary.
I put in all this at an end of a discussion on Life transcript ( android phone) has high reviews overall for what it does. Otter for Apple; I done the free version has done surprisingly okay .
Sorry for long bit.