Hearing Things

My hearing is perfect under test conditions - exceptionally good, even. Why, then can I not hear conversation when there is background noise? For as long as I can remember, I have been astounded that people speak to oneanother in the midst of noise without appearing to raise their voices at all. Some people will approach me and move their lips as though speaking to me. I can hear only little bits of the noise they make, yet they seem to expect me to understand them. Also astounding.

All that a google reveals is that it's a classic symptom of hearing loss, but I've been tested a few times over the years, always being sent away with a hale "I wish my hearing were nearly as good as yours, you don't have a problem." Which is not exactly cheering news when I still can't hear when I need to!

I've been driven to wonder whether the problem is not one of mechanics in the actual ear, but an issue somwhere up the line. Language processing? Filtering of sound? Anxiety associated with socialising in a chaotic environment?

For however many years, I've worked around this as best I can by either avoiding situations with high ambient sound levels or at least not attempting conversation under those circumstances. I've only recently realised how heavily I depend on lip-reading when conversing in a crowd. This is distressing me. I wonder how many years it's been that I have effectively 'ignored' the people whose faces I cannot readily gaze at for clues as to what they are saying? Will this deteriorate, or is the problem static - just unnoticed until I began hanging out in crowded halls again? Can I somehow fix my hearing or noise-filter/interpretation capability? Is there anything I can do to improve by ability to comprehend what's being said regardless?

As I write this, I am listening to quietly playing music (songs I wish to learn) and enjoying every tiny note... with my frustratingly inadequate perfect hearing.