As someone who is gradually losing his hearing and is depressed at the probably fact that I will eventually go deaf, I would strongly advise that, despite the obvious problems, your first concern has to be your hearing - even before the cosy (which I, as a state pensioner, am acutely aware of Ten years of experience has shown me (the hard way) that you get what you pay for with these people, unless you are due state assistance Ireland gives generous assistance for people my age for this sort of problem, bus as a non-citizen, I don't count
I settled for 'Hidden Hearing', probably the most expensive, but it works for me and they offer good after-sales service, which is important
You might, of course, settle for a 'Liverpool Hearing Aid' - you hang a wire over your ear and everybody shouts
You can always take comfort from the fact that Beethoven was so deaf he thought he was a painter