The Joy of Not Looking Deaf

The Joy of Not Looking Deaf

As we get better at lipreading, friends and family have an unfortunate habit of forgetting we can't actually hear very well. We spend half our time reminding them to face us when they speak. I have a friend who catches herself mid-sentence, realises she's turned away, and gets thoroughly cross — usually because I've missed the punchline. Then she blames me. "You don't look deaf," she says. I'm still working out the appropriate response to that one.

Hearing aids are wonderful things, but they don't produce perfect sound. I recently ordered a bathroom mirror over the phone and had a pleasant conversation with what I was convinced was a helpful woman. Turns out it was a man. Last week I briefly thought someone was discussing putting restaurants into space. They weren't.

If your friends and family could do with a gentle nudge on how to communicate better with you, the RNID has some excellent tips worth sharing with them: Communication tips for friends and family – RNID

And finally — three pensioners on a bench. "It's windy today." "No, it's Thursday." "Me too, let's go for a beer." We've all been there.