I have 50% hearing loss in my left ear. I found this out b4 my "official" diagnosis in 2003. My Neuro says that it is from MS. I wear an in-the-ear canal aid and no one notices. I know wat you mean by the age thing...I was only 50 at the time I got my hearing aid but, I tossed my pride away and started wearing the aid...I found that to be much easier and less embarrasing than asking "whuh" all the time. I was getting pretty darn good at reading lips!