I have hearing aids for moderate hearing loss and also have auditory processing issues from autism. I love my hearing aids personally, but I use them with a ConnectClip, which I had to purchase myself (although apparently you can apply for grants from places like universities, charities, etc to pay for them). This allows me to turn down background noise and turn up the sound coming towards me or the clip, so I can also give the clip to my university lecturer to hear basically only her, or I can put it in the middle of a table and hear what people are talking about, but people further away are too quiet to hear. Even without the clip, my hearing aids are wonderful, I can hear music, birds, my friends' voices are clearer, and having conversations is easier. Sure, I have more wax, but that's a small price to pay for the benefits the hearing aids give me. I also clean the wax from my hearing aids by simply using dry cotton buds, it's quick and easy to do. You shouldn't have any feedback or ear pain. If you are, you should talk to your audiologist, and they should help you find a solution.