Hello again. It's good that your ENT team suggested that you try hearing aids prior to having a cochlear implant, but it sounds as if the hearing aids + add on equipment are not doing as much as you need. You appear to be a social person who wants to keep doing what you have always done. Cochlear implants most likely would help you do that.

I encourage you see if there is a chapter of HLAA in your region. Chapters are developed and run by people with hearing loss who share their experiences and keep learning about options. Meeting others who are going through or have experienced the same trials and decisions provides the kind of peer support that makes everything easier. Some chapters hold hybrid meetings that allow people to attend in person or participate online. That makes it possible for people to be involved from afar. HLAA also has some excellent materials at their website.

HLAA is the Hearing Loss Association of America, Inc. http://www.hearingloss.org