Hi Patricia:
I'm currently in the process of deciding on getting hearing aides as well. Like David, I lost my high frequency hearing in both ears and any background noise limits my hearing from things/people directly in front of me. Also have the ringing deal, sometimes loud and sometimes not too bad. The radition closed up my tubes in the beginning as well, which added to the issue, but in the long run the Cisplatin got me, which I was warned about. It really set in late into the second dose though.
I also would probably fight the hearing aide deal, but part of my job consists of training folks and in classroom settings I really struggle (Thank God my speech has returned very well at this point). My Audiologist hit it right on the head when she told me I'm probably wearing my self out struggling and having to add extra effort into just hearing everything, coupled with the stress of hoping I didn't miss something in converstions.
If a patient can realize it in time a switch in treatment is in order. Even at that,some hearing loss to me is better than hearing that treatment wasn't successful but hearing it "clearly". (Every cloud has a silver lining)
Onward and Upward.
Best Wishes,
Steve