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Maybe I have lead a sheltered life, but if somebody had told me that there was something to be done about my wife's complaining, I would have done it years ago. So, at the risk of telling everyone what they already know, I offer the following testimonial. For years I endured my wife harassing me - as I discreetly pushed the "volume up" from the steering wheel, she would immediately reach out and turn down the car radio! I set the TV volume, at a quite reasonable level, she would complain that it's too loud (she complained because, unlike the car, I control the TV remote and she would have to cross the room, to override my decision); and in various other circumstances she would tell everyone, within hearing and beyond, that I was most certainly deaf! In my defense, I pointed out to that, as a pilot, I had my hearing checked regularly by a Transport Canada medical examiner. Nonetheless, I finally agreed to have my hearing tested by an licensed audiologist. The audiogram proved my wife was wrong! For the most part. While the audiogram confirmed I could hear OK, well within the medical standard for pilots, it also explained why I had so much trouble understanding some of what I heard. I have mild, high frequency, hearing loss, which impairs my understanding of certain syllables. So, I miss a word here and there and while I'm searching for the word I missed, I loose a few more. Hence I often ask people to repeat themselves, especially in a crowd. Not a problem with ATC instructions, they are rather predictable and generally not in competition with other voices. After the testing, the audiologist asked a few questions, particularly about my work history: 12 years and 5000 hrs as a helicopter pilot, followed by 25 years of debating with Transport Canada. She then informed me that helicopters are recognised by the Workers Compensation Board, as a source of work related hearing loss - apparently the damage is done in the first few years. Long story short, even if your hearing loss is mild, todays high tech hearing aids can eliminate a lot of complaining by your wife and WCB will pay the +\- $6000 bill, over and over, ad vitam iternam.