@covidstinks2023 Please don't put off getting those hearing aids. Once you adjust to them you'll be glad you have them. What you describe, is likely progressive sensorineural hearing loss. It creates a problem in noisy settings especially. Social outings get tough. While hearing aids don't correct hearing loss, they do help when they are fit properly.

Hearing loss often accompanies tinnitus. You've identified 2 of the things that often seem to relate to tinnitus; caffeine and sodium. Stress is also a causative factor. Learning to manage stress can help.

You say that you have trouble with low voices. Most people with progressive hearing loss have trouble with higher pitched voices, women and children. Has anyone on your medical team mentioned that you likely have a reverse slope hearing loss?