To get annoyed when people make "jokes" about my hearing loss

[itsmeitscathy]

So, I have significant hearing loss in both ears to the extent that even with hearing aids I generally have to tell people I have hearing loss so they slow down/repeat themselves. Invariably some smartass replies "what?" and pretends they didn't hear me.

I've had this with people I know very well (hearing loss not from birth) and with new people as well. I think it's ignorant, rude and quite frankly just not on. I don't see why it's widely accepted as a funny thing to do.

However, whenever I make it clear that I'm not amused I get the reaction of "oh, it is funny, take a joke etc etc".

AIBU? I hear(!) it so often that even if it was funny, it wouldn't be by now.

I'm deaf in one ear and struggle to hear when there is background noise.
It is surprisingly common for people to respond with 'What?' 'Pardon?' when I ask them to repeat themselves because I'm hard of hearing.
What makes it worse is that I repeat what I've said because I believe they are genuine, until they begin laughing.
I don't know what the answer is. I have had this reaction from various people, people I know, people I don't know, checkout assistants, taxi drivers, bus drivers, in fact I've almost come to expect it, but it still upsets me and I'm still confused as to why it appears so funny.
The only people who don't do it are my family members.

YANBU I rarely mention being HOH and just smile and nod if I don't hear, in case people laugh. If it's essential I just ask them to repeat themselves and don't mention hearing loss. I'm not sure why deafness is considered laughable by so many people

Next time someone says "What?" say "I was calling you a fucking cunt, but you missed it so never mind". None of this "did you mean to be so rude" pussyfooting.

I too get fed up of this. I have significant hearing loss in my left ear and tinnitus. The joke is just not funny. I struggle in situations where there is a lot of background noise and particularly when I cannot see the mouth of the person speaking. It seems to be acceptable though. In my generous moments I like to think that people for some reason feel embarrassed and don't know what to say. Assholes.

Yanbu the jokes are awful! I refused to wear my hearing aid all the way through school and college because of dicks like that. My dh is really understanding and so are his family but there are twats out there that find it hilarious :/

MrsNuckyThompson
Yanbu. I genuinely can't believe this is something that happens often to you.

I'm partly deaf, have been since birth. It's a very common thing. Mostly for me it's just people who have recently discovered my disability, those who've known me for a long time just accept it's part of me now.

So yes, I do point out it's a disabilty and would they make jokes about people in wheelchairs.

I feel for you OP, and other posters who get grief!
I have an auditory processing disorder...I hear volume but struggle distinguishing sounds..other voices/music/telephones/TV etc, they all add noise and I can't interpret what is being said..
I have the piss taken out of me at work..my line manager likes to tell people including customers 'she is deaf as a post' [cross]
I have been known to say 'Diversity training need updating?'
Constantly saying 'pardon?' is wearing!

God, people can be arseholes.

Surely the only response would be to apologise and agree they had been thoughtless and offensive.

YANBU OP.

YANBU. I was born with impaired hearing that has gotten worse with age, I've lost count of the crap jokes.

I think it's one of the few disabilities that people feel free to mock like that. I have very poor hearing in one ear due to having measles as a child and I find this happens really frequently. People seem so irritated at being told to speak up. Like a PP, it's much worse with background sound.