Deaf To Reason, Part 19
One of my coworkers is deaf. She is clearly wearing hearing aids and wears a badge on the front of her uniform stating that she’s deaf so that customers are aware there might be some communication issues.
I witness a couple of customers walk up behind [Coworker] and start asking her something.
Customer #1: *To [Customer #2].* “Oh, wait, she’s deaf! Look at her hearing aids.”
Customer #2: “Oh! Okay.”
And with that [Customer #2] starts clapping really loudly and forcefully right behind my coworker’s head.
I run over.
Me: “Excuse me, what are you doing? My coworker is—”
Customer #2: “—deaf, we know, but now she’s just ignoring us!”
My coworker has now turned around and sees all three of us close to her. She looks confused.
Customer #2: “Finally! We get your attention!”
Me: “What did you think clapping behind a deaf person would achieve!”
Customer #2: “I know deaf people can’t hear words, but they can still hear other stuff!”
Customer #1: *To [Customer #2]* “Uh, no. Fully deaf people can’t hear anything.”
Customer #2: “What?! No! I thought deaf people only couldn’t hear people talking. You mean they can’t hear anything at all?!”
They eventually left, with one of their minds a bit blown. Later I am talking to my coworker along with another coworker who speaks sign language. I explain what the customers said and my coworker signs back:
Coworker: “They said that? Wow. Makes me kinda glad I’m deaf!”
Related:
Deaf To Reason, Part 18
Deaf To Reason, Part 17
Deaf To Reason, Part 16
Deaf To Reason, Part 15
Deaf To Reason, Part 14
