I posted this in another thread:
I have a very similar problem as the op, , maybe a bit worse. Left ear rolls off at 4k, and is quite a few db down by 12k. Tinnitus also in left. However , my right ear is like an 18 yr old. Here is how I went about solving it.
Knew I had an issue for a few years because could not hear women speaking very well from left side. I have background in audio as I worked for 5 major Audio manufacturers in my career. Modern hearing aids are pretty amazing devices. Do not go to Costco, or some other hearing aid ware house, and do not use an audiologist that is under 35 or so, they will not get it.
I went to a small audio specialist and convinced the audiologist I knew what I was talking about. Showed her my business cards for past jobs... Told her what I need in the way of curve compensation. Had good graphs as I had gotten tested three time by two different places to ensure consistent measurements results. It took six months and many repeat visits to fine tune, but I ended up reasonably happy with what I got. There are only 3 or so really good hearing aid companies, and I settled for Oticon( Denmark or Sweden??) ,Siemens is another, and I do not recall the third name. Not sold at Wal mart, Costco or similar of course...This Oticon brand connects to the computer via an inductive device around your neck and allows you to see on the screen the compensation and eq applied to the aid while you wear it. It also has three microphones on it and each is adjustable for cardioid pattern and gain, and this three mic style is available only on the behind the ear type. Also tried the inside the ear type, not as good. I kept telling my doctor where to adjust and how. Saved three different settings for my problems, one setting specifically for music, and one for loud places such as restaurants and normal default custom curve . I touch a small button on the device to cycle through. She let me try a mid model and a high end model for extended trial( price diff of 1.8k). The more expensive piece has more adjustment and more eq points, with more processing. Oticon also affers three different levels of speaker for the in ear part, named 65db, 85 db, and 100 db. I got the 85.
No modern hearingaid will have much useful performance above 8k or so. SO , do not expect a return to 20 something age performance. But for me, it has restored imaging, balance, midrange punch and all except the sparkle on the left channel. Bass hearing works ok of course. Since my right ear still works well, I can live with this. While not perfect , any audiologist will tell you that you hear mostly with your brain anyway. So for me a simple a-b test with the aid on and off show huge improvement. Plugging my good ear and listening with only my hearing aid shows shortcomings and some distortion, but when in normal dual ear mode it all blends together and seems to work well. Maybe someday I can afford the very top level model aid and enjoy even more fidelity.
The technology now is fairly good and custom eq and processing allows stuff to happen that could not happen even 15 years ago. It will never equal your youth, but it adds much satisfaction for me.
