Do You Hear What I Hear?

There are times when I attend a Board of Selectmen’s meeting that I really find it difficult to hear what they are saying. I have often thought that it’s just me as my hearing is not the best. And times being what they are, it’s a difficult to afford to have my hearing aids repaired or replaced with technologically advanced aids.

In most situations, I can hear okay. In the BoS meetings, I find it hard to understand everything that is said. Frankly, I don’t think I am alone. I once asked if there was a hearing enhancement device available and was told I should sit in the front row. Well, that’s not the answer I wanted to hear. I was hoping that there would be another answer. Perhaps if there were a microphone available to the selectmen so everyone would be able to hear all that is being said. Or should I say mumbled? Whispered? I have seen some meeting when comments made are uttered so low that it is impossible to hear more than a few feet away. I wonder what would happen if we were all able to hear everything that they said in public?

Let’s face it. The majority of attendees of the BoS meetings are senior citizens or close to it. How many of them are wearing aids or need to wear aids? How many of the board members have difficulty hearing?

What if we had amplification available at the meetings so that there was no question as to what, if any, comments were made under their collective breaths? After all, in the state and federal levels of our government there are microphones available so everyone can hear. Otherwise, what would reporters use to interview congressmen? A pad and pencil?? Hmmm. Let’s think a bit more progressively, shall we?