@Tim_McTuffty
Sorry to hear that.
Not an expert on ND, but re/ your vital AirPods:
How about getting some serious nouce-cancelling BT headphones as backup 4 Xmas?
And: give it more time, I'd say. Like, a lot.
What you describe are huge changes, adapting to these would require an extended period for any person. A crossdivergent event, so to speak. 