A couple of months ago my wife, Paulette, got hearing aids. She had been warned in advance that it was difficult to adjust to them, that by amplifying sounds they also amplified noise, and not to expect too much. She had heard horror stories about new users who found them unpleasant and refused to wear them. Fortunately, she adjusted to them very quickly and is very pleased with how much they have helped her. There have been a few (but very few) negatives; since her aids amplify high frequencies more than low ones, she sometimes finds herself disliking high pitched violin music or the “high lonesome” sound of bluegrass. In general she’s had an excellent experience.

While Paulette has adapted wonderfully, WE have had a few hiccups. After she got her aids she found herself often having to repeat herself when talking to me. I’d reply with “Huh?” something nonsensical, or nothing at all. Finally, she would say, “Jim, you need hearing aids!” At other times she suspected that I was suffering from HSHD (Husband’s Selective Hearing Disorder). I received a partial reprieve when we went in to have her new aids adjusted. The technician told Paulette that she was talking in what the technician called her “hearing aid voice.” Since she can now hear herself talk, she tends to speak at a lower volume. I think that’s a good explanation, but I’m afraid that HSHD may also be a contributing factor.

Paulette’s hearing aids even have a Bluetooth connection to her iPhone. She can use her phone to turn the volume down in loud situations, and having a direct connection makes phone conversations very clear. Incoming phone calls ring in her hearing aid, and she can answer her phone in the back bedroom, while her phone is fifty feet away in the front office. Paulette rarely misplaces her phone, but she did recently. We tried the usual remedy; we called her phone using my phone. It rang in her hearing aids! Lots of help that was.

There are also spiritual hearing aids, and we all need them. These are any things that help us hear God’s message. Some of the obvious ones are regularly attending church, Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, avoiding worldly distractions, prayer, and having a willingness to hear. A great aid is being aware of and appreciating the wonderful world God has created: smelling a rose, seeing a rainbow, tasting a peach, or watching a baby play. This is out of context, but the phrase “Be still and know,” from Psalm 46:10 seems most helpful of all; we need a special time and place where we are most receptive to God. I’m certain that one message we will hear is that He loves YOU and me unconditionally.

Jim