Hard of Hearing Community

[geff_chang]

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Deaf communities exist, but I think
the Hard of Hearing deserves a different community in itself.

I have:
- profound hearing loss in the left, and
- severe hearing loss in the right

I wear hearing aid for the right, but not for the left.
If I wear aids for the left, all I hear is noise. Words are not clear.
I use analog (conventional) hearing aid.
I am not comfortable with digital; the sound is too faint.
Analogs are AMPLIFIED, and I've gotten used to them.

I am a lip reader, but I cannot understand on lip reading alone.
So I read lips, and listen at the same time.
I mix and match what I see and what I hear.
If it's just sound, there's a chance I'll guess the word wrong.

I can't understand a song if I do not see / read the lyrics.
In the same way, I can't understand a movie or a TV show if there are no subtitles.

I hate phone calls. I'd rather text, or email.
Because if I take a phone call, I can't read lips,
and chances are I'm just going to say "Yes" to things I don't understand.
And I cannot understand certain accents either.

I don't like noisy places. I can't hear people well there.
I don't like people who talk behind me either; I can't read their lips.
Given that, I just give up on social activities.

Between the world of the hearing and the Deaf, I am really lost.
So I wonder, is there anybody else like me here?