Hearing aid question

A couple other thoughts. IMHO don’t knock Costco unless you tried them. Their testing equipment is outstanding and brand availability and pricing is unmatched. I ended up buying from an audiologist, but Costco was very good.
Also there are music audiologists, if you are lucky enough to have any in your area (I don’t). They tune your hearing aids or IEMs to music harmonics vs voice. 

This is such a great topic.  I also have hearing loss at the high-end frequencies.

I purchased the top-of-the line Starkey hearing aids, thinking they would make music sound fantastic once again.  I was disappointed to discover they didn't.  Per the audiologist, hearing aids are designed to improve hearing from other people, not music.  She even setup a "music" mode, but I found it didn't work very well.

As others have noticed, if you cup your hands behind your ears when you wear hearing aids, music sound significantly better.  I'm not sure why this works, but it does.  However, it's not practical (or comfortable) to listen to music with your hands cupped behind your ears.  I wish someone would invent a device that has the same effect -- I would buy immediately.

My only suggestion is to buy speakers that compensate for the sound frequencies where you have hearing deficiencies.  I have hearing loss at the high frequencies, so I enjoy listening to speakers that others would consider bright (such as B&W or Paradigm).

An amplifier that has a built-in equalizer might also do the trick, but I personally haven't tried that approach.

I’ll throw in my 2 cents:  The longer you go needing hearing aids, the greater the loss of hearing.  Specifically, word recognition.  And, once it’s gone it’s gone FOREVER.  HiFi is a hobby:  hearing is a gift.

For those who claim their high frequency hearing is distorted with hearing aids, use the app to adjust the frequency or simply toe OUT the tweeter.  And for tinnitus, cut out salt, drink more water and go to your ENT and get betahistine (not sold in the USA but can be made by a compounding pharmacy).  Been there.

Absolutely get the hearing aids, decent ones after and audiology appointment. I did that 2 yearsa ago and it was the best audiophile expense to date.

Yes you need to see an audiologist and get a hearing test they can test what frequencies  you have decreased my experience is high frequencies the hair cells in the cochlea decrease as we age and males tend to lose it in high frequencies that's why you can't hear her as well due to her voice being more in high frequencies. A good ear nose and throat can tell you if you have cerumen impaction too much wax build up in the ear canal.most likely age related hearing problems. And audiologist can tell you that as well. There are many options for hearing aids listen to those who have tried specific brands that like them. It's hard to turn that graphic equilizer up on the spouse.i tried it didn't turn out well. 2 types of hearing loss snhl in nerve or chl conductive in little bones in the middle ear. I have put several back in.regaurdless audiologist with hearing test in hand to a ear nose throat MD will clear it up.spent my life studying this.enjoy the music