"What are you, deaf"?
I hear that a few times a month. I should be grateful that I do hear it, seeing that I am deaf in the right ear and have 50% hearing in the left. I supplement my hearing by reading lips. I don’t have any formal training but I guess I just picked up what I needed, to get by.
Most would assume that this is a great hindrance, but I say no! This has opened a new world of con-foolery and slick-trickery to me.
I always look a person in the eyes/lips/face area when they speak otherwise I will miss half of what they say. This benefits me as always seeming engaged and interested whilst I play the Family Guy theme song in my head.
Women seem to love this and have mentioned that it is nice not to have the other person just stare at their chest as they speak. I explain that I’m very hard of hearing and read lips a little, and unless their chest is speaking it wouldn’t help me follow the conversation. That always makes them giggle and smile.
In my professional life I have found this enormously helpful. In sales, the main rule is that you ask for the sale and then shut up. I ask for the sale and look at the customer until an answer is given. People are not deft at hiding their buying signs when you are staring at them. It speeds up the encounter and I am grateful.
Im not saying that I have super powers, but men fear me, and and women adore me. At least thats what I am saying in my head as I pretend to pay attention to this customer.
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