What Convinced Me to Finally Try Hearing Aids

Getting hearing aids is easier than ever. Here’s why you should take the plunge

Neil Wertheimer,

AARP

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Published January 16, 2026

colorful illustration of a man wearing a discreet behind-the-ear hearing aid, surrounded by symbols of vibrant sound including a guitar, drums, a singing bird, and waves, representing the restoration of clear hearing

When essayist Neil Wertheimer first put in hearing aids, he could hear the music of the world again.

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Age creeps up on us all: the poor eyesight, the graying temples, the slightly rounded belly that won’t go away. I wasn’t happy about any of it, but I learned to live with it.

But then my hearing went. And that shook my world.

I would grin and nod when people talked to me at bars or parties, but I didn’t hear a damn thing they were saying. I would feel angry and ridiculous for days after.

There were times when my son would shout at me, “Dad! Did you hear Mom? She’s been talking to you!” I’d look over at my wife, and her face would be a furious blank.

I took my family to see the Gipsy Kings at an acoustically brilliant concert hall, and I couldn’t make out a single melody or chord change or harmony. It was two hours of loud, toneless white noise.

There are, of course, so many far more serious health issues that people our age face. But they often can be treated by a pill or two, mitigated over time by healthy choices and maybe even reversed.

Losing your hearing? There’s only one direction there. There are no magic pills. No doctor has ever said, “Turn the volume down on your car radio and lay off the Q-tips, you’ll be fine.”

Free Hearing Test

AARP members can take the National Hearing Test online or on their phones — for free. This 10-minute test can help you decide whether you need a more comprehensive hearing exam.

The best solution for moderate hearing loss is hearing aids. Ugh. Just saying the words filled me with dread.

But while riding a train to work one day, something obvious jumped out at me: Everyone had some device stuck in or on their ears. Earbuds, phone units, headsets. Who really cares if you do too?

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I finally got a hearing test that confirmed a significant drop-off in hearing at frequencies above 2,000 Hz (that would be the treble dial on your 1980s stereo).

I ordered hearing aids. As I was putting them on for the first time, the doctor shut a cabinet door that had her key ring hanging from the lock. And the sound dazzled me: keys jingling! I hadn’t heard that kind of tinkly, fragile sound in years. The grin came back, this time with authenticity.

Driving home, the positive reinforcement continued. There they were again, the cymbals, adding a sonic spice and flavor that I hadn’t enjoyed in years to the jazz I was streaming. Nice to have you back, Zildjians!

At home, the crunch and crackle of potato chips returned. I heard my wife better. I didn’t get Superman hearing, but it got me back to where I was maybe 20 years earlier, and that relatively subtle difference still seemed giant and magnificent.

Despite a fairly sizable unit that tucked neatly behind my ear, the clear tube and plastic bud that led to my ear canal were inconspicuous. Nobody asked about my hearing aids because no one noticed.

I’m not alone in needing hearing aids. Nearly 1 in 4 adults ages 65 to 74 and 1 in 2 over age 75 have disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss is not only uncomfortable, it also can affect your health in other ways. Landmark studies have shown that wearing hearing aids could delay or even stop the onset of dementia.

If your hearing is starting to diminish, get a test, and if you need a little boost, buy a pair. The very idea of hearing aids may fill you with existential panic, but trust me on this, the sounds awaiting on the other side are so glorious.

Editor’s note: This story ran previously in The Arrow, AARP’s former online magazine for Gen X men.

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Neil Wertheimer retired in 2024 after some four decades as a journalist, editor and publisher. His last full-time job was deputy editor of AARP publications. He lives in Maryland.

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