Sorry to hear so many beeps have damaged hearing due to previous lifestyles.
At 85 my hearing is losing the high notes, so conversation in a crowded place is difficult - but my apiary is quiet so all the more reason to spend time there.
what I am trying to do is to find ways for external monitoring of colony progress thru the annual cycle. Opening a hive is unnatural for the bees and loss of nest atmosphere , due to opening, could be setting them back each time.
one way to monitor may be to listen to the hive sound. Normal is said to be 200 hz, rising to 300 hz when swarm preps get under way.
I have bought a small amplifier, size of a smart phone, with two ear buds, for placing at the hive entrance.
does anyone think it possible to train ourselves to recognise 200 hz as the sound of a gentle pond fountain - and 300 hz as a bit higher and with a bit of scratchingness?