In a hearing aid store in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 70-year-old Zhang Wei had a happy moment. For years, he couldn’t hear his granddaughter’s voice clearly — but this time, he did. It was all thanks to an AI-powered hearing aid. “It’s like someone turned up the volume (音量) suddenly,” Zhang said. He is not alone; many elderly people in China are now using new AI hearing aids to get back to the world of sound.

China has about 27.8 million people with hearing problems, and the number is growing as more people get older. A hearing aid specialist named Cao Lijun said over 70% of their customers are 60 or older. To help these people, the government and companies are doing their part. China’s basic medical insurance pays for part of the cost of some hearing aids, making them cheaper for the elderly. Companies like Tencent also help — they work with an association (协会) to offer free hearing checks and AI aids in some cities.

With AI technology and government support, more elderly people can hear clearly again. Experts predict that future hearing aids will be even better: cheaper, easier to use, and just like eyeglasses that people can get and use easily.