ponderingsat80’s posterous

Why is being with someone who is hard of hearing so funny at times?

 My sister suffered hearing loss, and when she would visit it was all we could do to hold ourselves together when she misunderstood a word and repeated a similar sounding one that had absolutely no connection to what we were saying. “How about some tea?”  We’d ask.  “It’s much better, thank you.”  She thought we'd asked about her knee. We’d have to escape to the kitchen so that she’d not see us crack up.

 And one time while chatting with and elderly couple in the lobby of our condo building - he being hard of hearing  and with two obvious hearing aids cocked his head and asked, “What was that you said?” And his sweet but somewhat impatient wife dropped her arms, stamped her foot, and shouted what I had said into his hearing aid.  I had to turn around and fake a cough to cover a laugh! 

 My brother called one day and within minutes of our conversation I realized he could not understand a word I was saying - he answered yes or no when I knew he thought the opposite – he simply could not hear me! That was not funny.  But being with a person who is hard of hearing sometimes triggers in me almost uncontrollable laughter.  Why is that?

 And . . . guess what? -  I am the one amusing people now.  I am the one who has hearing loss – in both ears!  I must now use a tiny but very expensive hearing device in each ear.   They are inconspicuous, and I am grateful for that, but should I forget to put them in, and even when I do, people often have to repeat things, which is very frustrating for everybody.   Eating in restaurants is another challenge for people with hearing aids - not only do we hear ourselves chew, we hear the neighbour!  And more upsetting is trying to maintain a conversation with the person you are with – you hear mainly the people at the next table! The clatter of dishes, not to mention the music, makes it almost impossible; one must sit facing the other person in order to read their lips.

 When I first purchased my hearing aids, I made the mistake of leaving them on my night table when I went to the kitchen for a glass of milk.  I never imagined my little dog, sleeping on my bed, might find the shiny little devices interesting; I returned just in time to find her chewing one of them to bits!  Luckily they were insured and I was completely reimbursed, but when the insurance agent asked, “You lost it, really? - Lots of people report their dogs eat them.” I suppose I was technically correct in using the word ‘lost’ but felt myself blushing - he knew . . .    It’s not uncommon for dogs to chew remote controls as well as hearing aids . . . shame on me for lying.

 But not shame on me for laughing when a person with a hearing problem misunderstands a word – it IS funny. And now that I have joined the ranks of those with hearing disabilities, I know what’s going on when people retreat to the other room or hide their faces when I misunderstand a word – it is not only funny, it can sometimes be hilarious!