I have always enjoyed going to live theatre. But the decline of my hearing often turned the actors’ words into a frustrating garble. Then a small miracle began appearing in theatres that puts their voices right into my hearing aids. I can now understand virtually every word.

The venerable German company Sennheiser is rolling out what they call MobileConnect. In a nutshell, it connects your hearing aids directly to the theatre’s sound system via wifi. Your smartphone then uses bluetooth to put the signal from the actors’ and/or stage microphones into your aids.

The result is a clean, clear feed that your hearing aids will tailor to compensate for your loss just as they do in everyday use.

Despite the high tech it’s a very simple system to use.

Here’s what you need: First you have to have bluetooth equipped hearing aids that connect with your phone. Next, download the free iPhone or android app. Search for “MobileConnect” by Sennheiser in the app store.

Among its features, the app has a simple, well designed graphic equalizer meter which lets you adjust the frequency of the sound if desired.

Next time you book tickets ask if the theatre is equipped with MobileConnect or look for a sign in the lobby. Many theatres have older systems with hand out headphones. Unfortunately, they are basically simple amplifiers, not very clear and very hard to use with hearing aids.

David Grassby of G.H Grassby and Associates is installing the MobileConnect system in Canadian theatres and other venues. “We’re putting it into classrooms, lecture halls and churches. I think it has a huge potential.”

Grassby is receiving more and more installation requests. He’s sees that demand growing as more people adopt hearing aids equipped with bluetooth.

For anyone with hearing loss who enjoys live theatre or who wants to better understand what the teacher, lecturer or pastor is saying this is very good news indeed.