Oh my goodness, Cliff, I have the same problem. I can't distinguish words when there is background noise. I can't handle it when a sporting event is on tv and the announcers are speaking and there is a crowd roar in the background. It ALL sounds like noise to me.
My hearing tests are all normal however and when I described this problem the doc looked at me with this quizzical look like I was dreaming it all up or something. He did say my ear canal is smaller on the bpi side and formed differently but added that it should not affect my hearing.
Nancy