I can definitely believe it. According to every audiologist I’ve been to, my hearing is normal for my age, though on the lower end of the expected range for some frequencies.
However if I’m in a noisy restaurant it always seems like everyone else at the table can hold the conversation just fine but I can’t hear a damn thing they’re saying. It’s very isolating. I can’t understand how they do it.
My father uses hearing aids but even with them I can see him sort of just receding from a conversation sometimes.
Have you looked into auditory processing disorder? One of the main features is having difficulty locating or separating sounds, especially when there's several competing sounds.
Having the label to look for helps you find people dealing with the same problem, and share tips.
Looking into it a bit, seems some people experience relief with low-gain hearing aids, and others find help with a variety of practice/training methods or coping techniques.
Somewhat counterintuitively, I also find that earplugs help a great deal. I use Loop brand, but there are other comparable noise reduction earplugs. They smooth out a lot of the sharper sounds that I find uncomfortable, and make it easier to pick out details from a loud environment.
However if I’m in a noisy restaurant it always seems like everyone else at the table can hold the conversation just fine but I can’t hear a damn thing they’re saying. It’s very isolating. I can’t understand how they do it.
My father uses hearing aids but even with them I can see him sort of just receding from a conversation sometimes.