Easily the best and most significant sonic tweak one could ever make!

I don't mind some mild hearing loss...typically high frequency...then I'm less irritated by anything that may sound shrill to someone with perfect hearing, lol. 

   I believe I can offer some constructive input as pertains to hearing loss. Years ago in one of my sales positions I sold hearing aids for Beltone. I learned a lot. Some hearing loss is a natural condition that comes with aging. This condition is more severe in people that have been subjected to loud sounds during their lifetime. Whether it's on the job, firing guns, listening to loud music, or whatever. The loss can appear much before one reaches their "Golden Years" depending on how much noise one was subjected to early in life. In olden times most businesses didn't put much emphasis on hearing protection.

   The ear is basically divided into three sections....the outer, middle, and inner ear. If a hearing loss is confined to the outer or middle ear there are medical/surgical procedures to help. But, most hearing loss occurs in the inner ear. That's where nerves (cochlea) transmit sounds to the brain. There is no surgical treatment for that. Most commonly called "nerve damage".

   Most people experience hearing loss in the upper frequencies but it can occur in some of the lower ones depending on the type of sound that caused the loss in the first place. The first hint of a hearing loss is the inability to hear normal conversation in a noisy environment such at a bar or party.

   This is IMPORTANT!! Do not go to Costco, Walmart, or anywhere else that offers over the counter hearing aids. All they will do is make everything louder. What is really important is to find out what frequencies are affected. That's where an audiogram of one's hearing will map out exactly which frequencies need boosting. An audiologist or certified hearing center can provide this information. As important as a hearing aid is the other part is the mold (the part that actually is placed in the ear). That mold is constructed to work in concert with the hearing aid itself to optimize the best hearing possible.

   Please listen to my advice. Don't go for a "one size fits all" approach.

OP, I can’t hear over 12k, and I’m 48.  I wonder when I’ll need some help.  I recently added some 3 way crossovers and some super tweeters to my 2 way Altec system.  I can’t hear it but my wife can as she’s only 31. This is really a valuable discussion.  Thanks for posting. 

I'm into my 3rd week on a pair of Eargo Neo hi-fi hearing aids and couldn't be happier. Eargo is the only FDA approved hearing aid you can order direct on-line. They're rechargeable, have a unique floating design for placement in your ear canal, nearly invisible, and have 4 programmed levels that you can change on the fly by tapping your ear. The Neo hi-fi is their top model and was designed for audiophiles. Best week ever. Worth checking out.

J.Chip 

18 months ago I got HA for reasons unrelated to audio listening (difficulty distinguishing individual voices in group settings, a common complaint with aging ears). What I found was a shock. Audio system came alive, while in social situations the HA were more annoying than clarifying.

As burtlake3 says, the HA is itself a sound reproduction device and just another one in the chain. It cannot be neutral. Mine cost $3k and is probably not "Rolls Royce." Never checked at Costco, just lazy and went with the first one to come along. 

On top of plain aging, had a fungus that ate a hole in my right eardrum. A very nasty surgery was scheduled, but the thing healed itself, albeit with scar tissue. So right ear hears about 65% of left. With HA right it is around 90%. Greater clarity, both ears.

Bottom line: be realistic in future system tweaks. Everything must funnel through HA. So what's THEIR audiophile cred? Surely someone is out there testing and researching this. Whoever that may be, please post your findings. Surely a forthcoming review in TAS? Sounds like a highly receptive audience in here.