I started to dread noisy places

crowded bars, busy restaurants and parties

straining to follow conversations

I smiled and nodded a lot

probably at the wrong times

my hearing has deteriorated over time

this could not be ignored any longer

a trip to the audiologist ensued

confirming what I already knew

my hearing was down by fifty percent

it was time to get hearing aids

the choices were vast but costly

after many hours of research 

a decision was made

opting for the latest AirPods 

far less expensive than conventional hearing aids

but technically as good if not better

the setup was smooth and simple

my hearing test results scanned directly

optimism when I popped them in

the difference was dramatic

I could hear so much better at home

listening to streaming music was so much fun

but what about in a noisy environment

we picked the loudest restaurant for dinner

I added a small wireless microphone

clipped to my chattering bride

switching the AirPods to mute all external sounds

apart from those transmitted from her microphone

I beamed when I listened to her voice

crystal clear in my ear

normally drowned out by the background noise

I put a second microphone on the table near our guests

instantly transporting me back into the world of dinner table conversation

with one small problem to overcome

with the background noise eliminated in my ear

I did not instinctively raise my own voice

nobody at the table could hear my softly spoken words

as they all shouted at each other over the background din

I might buy them all AirPods for the next meal