Yes, I've seen ads indicating that they work and seen replays indicating they don't. Any actual uses out there?

@jakedduck1

Have you had your hearing tested? Even if you have a mild loss, a hearing aid(s) will help….don’t think of it specifically for group conversations. A hearing aid may help you pick up some vowels or consonants you may be missing now which will cause you to miss words.
I think most of what you are reading about group situations relates to us with severe to profound hearing loss who also have trouble at times with one or two people talking. So don’t that as an indicator they don’t work or won’t help you in any group conversations.

Hearing loss can be subtle and slowly progressive and you won’t notice what you are missing.

I am surmising you don’t experience any problems on the phone or in other situations in you daily life. But if you are really struggling in group conversations you may be missing more than you think at other times. The longer you wait to get tested or get aids if you need them, the worse it will get. It won’t get any better.

So, your New Years resolution is to get a hearing test with an audiologist. But also schedule an ENT appointment first so they can check out your ears and then maybe use the audiologist at that practice.

You WILL let us know the results , and if your hearing is perfect then we will figure out the group thing.

Can’t wait until you do it.

FL Mary

Hearing aids will not help with understanding speech in a group conversation in my experience. Your natural hearing does have the ability to tone down external noise and allow understanding of spoken words. Even the best hearing aids simply amplify all noise and although they will claim that their aid reduces background noise they do not work the same as your normal hearing.