One of my professors is deaf; she became deaf at such a young age that she doesn't remember every being able to hear.  For her, being deaf is not a handicap, since she doesn't know what "hearing" is.  For her, not having a sense of hearing is "normal".

I have the feeling that it's that way in many churches today.  If the gospel (first importance) is not preached from the pulpit often enough so that it's missed when it isn't there...the flock doesn't miss it...can't have the realization that they are hungry for it, since they don't know what they're hungry for!