After years touring in rock bands, then decades producing recording sessions and mixing in front of large monitors, I've lost a lot of my ability to hear high frequencies.

A group conversation for me is often reduced to dull, indiscernible mumbles. This is particularly challenging in meetings, especially with younger folks who tend to speak softly. Everyone else is able to hear what's being said and respond, while I'm left to nod my head as if I'm following along, because I don't want to be the irritating old fart who always asks folks to speak louder or slower, or to repeat things. I have yet to bite the hearing aid bullet... primarily because of the cost and confusion as to which product would be best and least obvious.

Anyway, thanks for explaining the "flattening" of the dynamics or relative dimension of what I'm hearing. Right this minute, I'm down the hallway from a television and can hear it as well as I would if I were in the room with it. One more example of wear and tear, I guess.