About Me-Hearing Aids, can't go without them

Hearing aids are one of the greatest inventions for the needs of the deaf. I would be lost without them. The only times when I don't wear them is when I'm in the pool, or sleeping, or my ears are sore. They can feel uncomfortable at times, but I am used to it. When I was a kid, I had to get a few stitches in my right ear. It seems like the rubbing of the ear molds on the ears can agitate it a little bit. Every 5 years,the audiologist sends me in for a hearing test to get an update on my hearing. When I was little my hearing loss was about 75% in my left ear and 80% in the right. This year I had two hearing tests done at the audiologist. They told me my hearing has gotten much worst. It's now an average of a 90 percent hearing loss in both ears. As a result from the testing, I was told that I can hear better with my left ear all my life. Usually I have to get new hearing aids every 4 to 5 years. They are very expensive. My last pair of hearing aids cost a little bit over 3,000 dollars. Thanks god I discovered they are now covered by my empire plan insurance. This insurance covers up to 1500 dollars per hearing aid, so that's a total of 3,000 all together. So that is a blessing. Sometimes they do break. And it is expensive getting them fixed. I always save an old pair on hand in case this happens. I really don't want to go without wearing the hearing aids, I can't hear anything if I don't. When they are not on, it feels like all the sounds are being shut off. Then I feel uncomfortable going anywhere without them on. Mainly because I can't hear voices, or talking, things like that. I feel lost. It's the similar feeling of listening to your favorite music then someone shuts it off and you can't hear it anymore. You're feeling disappointed. Things I can hear without hearing aids, are doors that slam, or anything really loud. Like things being dropped to the floor, or any kind of banging sound, but that's about it. If someone were to talk right into my hear close up, I would hear that. Strange isn't it? All my life I always wished I wouldn't have to wear hearing aids anymore. Up to this day, I still can't hear without them, so wearing them is a must. They make me feel so different from others. Almost like a bionic robot. When I was little I was ashamed of being seen with them. It just felt weird because I was the only kid in the school that wore hearing aids. It was almost embarrassing for me. When I first got them I had dreams of having a radio button being installed on my hearing aids, and always thought that would be so cool. Well that never happened. As I grew up, lots of people didn't know what hearing aids were. Sometimes I would have to explain to them what they were used for and so on. Up to this day, I still don't want to be seen wearing the hearing aids, and I'm 48 years old. The most embarrassing thing is when I'm in a room full of people and the hearing aids start whistling and I can't hear it. Then people are staring at me like, what on earth is that noise? I hate it when that happens, I just want to go and hide. But I lived with using them all my life, so this is nothing new. Today I'm just grateful I can afford to get them, and that they are covered by my insurance. I need these things!