Mate, don't feel down about it. Sounds like you've got good friends who care a great deal about you and value your company massively, which is no bad thing at all. And I can fully relate to the awkwardness you're feeling about putting people out, but they wanted to do it, because they wanted you to be comfortable mate.
Of course, the hearing loss issue is a b****** of a thing and would get even the most resolutely happy person down on occasion, and you have my complete sympathy on that mate. Being of the tall variety myself, I also frequently find it hard to follow conversations in pubs when surrounded by midgets or people of restricted growth, it does put a real dampener on proceedings, tbh.
Chin up, Lankster. You're still very much a legend in our eyes !
