Try living in my shoes just one day!

[Guest guest]

Ever wanted to tell someone with typical hearing that?

I just went to one of the worst meetings I've ever been to in my

life! There I was amongst my peers (except they all have typical

hearing),in a meeting about prepping the kids for the SAT's.

Now I came with my pocket talker, plus the room is looped! I also

have mastered my BEAM programs, and ADRO too! I went in confident

and left crying so hard I could barely drive home. And I wasn't

crying because I was sad! I was crying because I was mad!

I advocate for myself a great deal and do so with a smile. Tonight

I did so with a stern rebuke, and a pretty mean look. I can give a

mean one too, just ask my teens!

We broke into two groups, because some of us deal with those

preparing for their first SAT's, while the others are prepping for

PSAT. The microphone for the loop is " missing " . The meeting begins

and everyone is talking at the same time. I have everything

turned on. Even my brain. Fresh batteries, best light, asked to

switch seats with someone for a better place to see everyone, etc. I

had the hardest time getting just one voice, when the group 30 feet

away were all talking and laughing too. I asked a question and 4 or

5 women answered, at the SAME TIME. I had finally had it and put up

one finger (no, not that ONE y'all)and said very loudly " 1 person

ONLY PLEASE! " Now I know I said it loudly, because the other huddle

across the auditorium turned to look at us. So then one person did

answer, and I wrote the information down. The meeting continued

with people interrupting each other, and I'd glare at them and it

would jump start their brains long enough to do better for a few

minutes. After about 35 minutes I removed my implant, removed my

hearing aid and sat. Fuming. Everything in plain sight. After

all, I was sending a message. You are making it impossible for me

to hear, therefore I don't care to hear any of you.

Now everyone got rather quiet. At least I didn't see any mouths

moving. The director finally nodded to me because I'm a coordinator

for an event and was to give my 7-8 minute breakdown of what to do.

I ignored her. I knew I wouldn't get chewed out, because I had it

all written down on the agenda too. The meeting was over in 10

minutes.

One lady came up to me afterwards all concern and " compassion " and

said, " Are you going to have to get another operation? Did your CI

quit working? " Because I was unable to say what I wanted to, I

turned and walked away without answering.

It's a good thing I live 50 minutes from my meeting. I had that

much time to simmer down. Typical hearing professionals can be

really stupid sometimes. We all can, for that matter, but I haven't

been to a meeting that poorly planned EVER.

Ok, so now I come to my peers again. Only this time it's the ones

that matter. For most of you are late-deafened and do not hear with

just the ears you were born with either. So what did I do wrong,

and what should I do next time?

#2

Frederick, MD