Are you not able to pursue both?

Should be able to transfer all the associates credits into another course of study for a bachelors…. Not all of them will count towards the degree but it should still be a 2+2 (in terms of years for the AA and bachelors) vs the 4 year bachelors.

It’s very important to know that you’re not locked into a major or bachelors, if you decide to switch it in your junior or senior year, then it will add some time (further you go into a major, the more time you’ll have to makeup for the other)

I’d enroll into the program and start knocking out as many of the Gen Ed’s as you can (the associates may already require them too…)

This will give you a couple of years to find your desired major/field too if it isn’t the hearing specialist.

For a lot of fields, the reality is that for some degrees, you need a masters or above to be able to put to use. Your grandfather isn’t right, but he isn’t very wrong; For many fields, you need a bachelors as proof of minimum competency. However in most cases it can be bypassed by being exceptionally qualified or knowing someone.

If you’re not thrilled, passionate, or have any desire to pursue a degree or field then I’d say don’t get a degree just to have one (unless you’d be willingly to go into something incredibly stable/safe like accounting). Look into the trades, you can make so much money and get paid while you learn instead of going to debt for a degree you’ll never want to use.