my aids don't help me hear my wife, she still talks while facing away from me. it's not like she ever says anything i want to hear though. what i really missed, wanted HAs for, was to be able to hear wild turkeys gobbling. damn things could be under a hundred yards off and i couldn't HEAR them ! i used to be able to hear them over a quarter mile (or farther) away if conditions were right...it depends upon your unique hearing loss.