I've had some pretty expensive hearing aids for the last five years.
I rarely wear them. Makes no sense on the water...I might drop them in. No sense on the golf course, I might lose them. When I wear them in a crowd, I sometimes think they are just amplifying the crowd noise. They have been re-tuned by PHD Audiologists.
They are fine in church or with friends, but even then they itch after a while.
Within the next year or so, many companies will be offering low-cost hearing aids, due to a change in Federal regulations. I'll probably buy a $500.00 pair and then I won't worry about losing them so much.