Abstract: A hearing assistive device and method of using the same comprising receiving a first audio signal from an ambient microphone, receiving a second audio signal from a directional microphone, mixing the first and second audio signals according to a preference of the first user, and projecting the mixed first and second audio signals into an ear of the first user. The method can further comprise dampening ambient sound arriving directly at the ear by 5-30 decibels, by disposing an occlusive earpiece within the ear to reduce the ambient sound, and projecting the mixed first and second audio signals from a speaker into the ear of the first user to indirectly provide a desired volume of ambient sound to the ear of the first user. The method can further include establishing a group through at least one wireless handheld communication device to facilitate transmission among multiple hearing assistive devices.