First of all I would like to congratulate you. You have a rewarding and interesting job that many people would love to have. Kudos to you sir.
Thank you.
Have you heard of this expression, the 'perfect storm'? I think you are very lucky sir. You were born with mild loss in one ear and perhaps moderate loss in the other ear?
No. Where or how did you come up with that assumption about my hearing loss?
Your hearing loss 40 some years later is now moderate to severe, both ears?
No.
Anyway...
Firstly you were born with a good amount of residual hearing and fitted with hearing aids at age 2.
Incorrect. Fitted with only one hearing aid. And define "good amount of residual hearing."
You picked up both speech and language as if it's mere child's play.
Incorrect. It wasn't "mere child's play." I still had to work at it during my early years. My mother, family and friends were a big part of keeping my conversations going. Schooling played a part, too. I refer to you a link below highlighted in blue.
You were able to hear the high frequency sounds. That means your hearing loss was definitely in the mild range in at least one ear.
I can hear in the high and low frequency sounds. I can, for example, hear all of the notes on the 88-keyboard piano easily. Mild range? Again, incorrect. Where are you basing this information from??
Your parents were very involved making sure that you had every advantage possible. They made sure you were wearing the best aids possible. No holds barred right?
Go here -
Kokonut Pundit: Am I an oral/aural success?
Perfect storm sir. You are the recipient of the 'dhh' perfect storm. Confluence of favourable events.
Actually, I attribute that to my mother's effort rather than a "confluence of favourable events" or a "perfect storm." (are you from Britain?). She was the one who had to physically seek information about hearing loss, educational questions, other parents with deaf/hh kids, and so forth. This was especially a difficult thing to do and acquire during the 1960s for any parents. Parents today are fortunate where information is readily available in most cases.
Mild hearing loss in one ear, perhaps moderate loss in the second ear.
Again, no. That is incorrect. I only have one "good ear."
Early fitting of hearing aids. Involved parents. You think you have it made sir. You're what 45 years old? You now have moderate to severe hearing loss.
My hearing loss has been the same since I was little.
You currently think you haven't developed a distinct 'deaf' tone during the last few years?
Last few years? Good god, no. I've even acquired a southern accent during my pre-teen to early teen years when my family moved to Georgia. Did you know that even hearing people who acquired accents (e.g. southern accent, etc) can unlearn that by getting rid of their accent by taking some courses? Biggest factor is that you have that necessary audio feedback to allow you the ability to hear yourself speak.
USATODAY.com - Hey, y'all, want to lose the drawl?
It's there floating on the surface making a few ripples, waiting to bust out whether you like it or not.
Waiting for what to bust out??
In fact people listening to you nowadays might think you have a Boston twang or something!
People have asked me numerous times if I'm from the south.
Something else I would like to add. You mentioned that you use field radios. You can hear them clearly enough right? You don't ask them to repeat?