I wear them also with severe loss. The eyes comment came from meetings before I got them. Many people “grow” into needing aids and go through a struggling period where many voices are just gone. Masks suck for deaf folks, but I can get a little from eye crinkles. And saying what a lot. And avoiding crowded, noisy restaurants as I’m screwed with or without aids.
There's another thread below that mentions a bunch of the same things you and I just did. Good knowledge and confirmation!
And agreed, masks have shown (what has been said plenty in the past), there's still a ton of readable emotion just around the eyes. Distracting, though!
Relating to the growing into needing/wearing them: I've worn mine since age 3 (and gone from analog to digital, with some tradeoffs of each), they're a constant, but I also have suspicions of my listening comprehension getting worse-over-time. But it could also just as well be increasing self-reflection/awareness + new experiences. (Just this month, mid 30s, first time visiting Germany, after 6ish years of German classes in middle/high school + college; confronted some real hearing limitations trying to listen to natives!)
