Rude woman at hospital

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So I am half deaf, I don't hear well and I'm in the middle of getting hearing aids.

I can hear but it just depends on the tone, the environment, what day my ears are having etc. It has made me feel very down and I'm really self conscious about it.

I was in a waiting room today at a hospital waiting to be seen. This wasn't related to my ears. It's busy, it's not in a room it was in a corridor. I was sat right by the door going to the appointment rooms so I could see when the doctors come out and could keep an eye when my name was called.

A doctor came out, and walked straight past me further up the corridor and called a name. He was softly spoken. I didn't hear the name he said but I was keeping aware for when he spoke again.

He called the name again louder which I realised was mine. I got up and went to the doctor and we began walking to the appointment room.

As I walked to the room I had to go past where I was sat, a woman who was sat a few seats up said loudly to me "he DID call your name out the first time you know!"

I ignored her as I was following the doctor. But inside I felt awful and I wondered why people feel they have to make these comments. I had no interaction with this woman either before hand.

Part of me wanted to turn round and go back and explain actually I am deaf, and that I'm getting help with it. But the other part of me just wanted to get away from her.

You can just say back to people like that 'well obviously I didn't hear him did I' in a shitty tone of voice if she's being shitty to you

Ignore it OP, hospitals can bring out an awful side to people. It’s nothing against you x

Honestly I would not worry about her. Some people make themselves feel big by making someone else feel small. Normally they have little else on their life. I would not give her another thought. Hope the appointment went well.

She was a nasty horrible bitch

People are full of problems OP and they take it out on others

ignore

hope appointment went ok

I'd have retorted "Well I'm actually DEAF, you know!" Or signed "fuck you" lol

But it's done now, be pissed off about it and then move on. There are ignorant shits like her everywhere, and sometimes we kick ourselves for not having a retort for them.

Lots of people don’t hear their name the first time it’s called in a hospital outpatient clinic, for all sorts of reasons. She was maybe feeling a bit anxious or on edge to have make such a pointless and silly remark to you but she had no business doing it and should have kept her thoughts to herself. Sorry you feel self conscious about your hearing difficulties, best of luck with finding a solution

I think you need to develop a thicker skin and not care what some random says to you in public. You are probably never going to meet her again in your life so dont give her headspace.

I am a bit deaf in one ear and if people call out to me in public I often dont hear them. A few weeks ago I was in the garden putting something in the bin when a man I dont recognise came to the fence and said something to me. He was dressed like a workman and probably touting for business. I really couldnt be bothered and it was too cold to stand about outside. I just pointed to my ear and made a barring motion with my hand and walked back in. I think he got the message that I was a deaf old bat.

Get yourself a humungous assistance hearing dog, or tiger, in a smart waiscoat with warning words written on it.
Train it to sit and stare at stupid people.
Hope you're ok, OP.

I'm sorry this upset you xx

but honestly, it's not worth being upset over. She was rude, but so what? She's no one to you. Her opinion is irrelevant to you (or should be)

either shrug it off or have a couple of stock phrases for the future.

• I couldn't hear him
• I'm partially deaf

or Fuck off & mind your own business.

i hope your appointment was ok & you get your hearing aids soon

Well she’s a cow.

But may I suggest that your notes should be marked to say that you have difficulties hearing?

I think it’s bananas that medics say our names and then smartly walk back to their room. I’ve several times had to bumble into the wrong room because by the time I’ve reached the corridor they’re back in their room and I’ve no idea which room that is.

I’d have said, I’m deaf!!!

I have trouble hearing when places are busy. Not because I’m deaf but because it just gets too overwhelming and I struggle to concentrate. A customer I was serving once got very frustrated and angry because I had to keep asking him to repeat something. When I said I have struggle hearing, he changed his attitude and apologised. I realised he thought I meant deaf, but either way it was true.

Some people just need shutting up.

It would have gone straight over my head as her problem and not mine. Perhaps she felt it was her turn/had waited a long time/was worried - perhaps he had called you a few times? But none of it matters really, does it? Hope your appt went well.

I'm the same OP! I'm 44 and my hearing is going, not enough for hearing aids, but enough that it can make it difficult. We've had a couple of award ceremonies for work, and my team knows to tell me when my names been called to go on stage as there's a chance I wouldn't hear! Like a pp said, I too would say sorry I'm deaf so could not hear. Try not to worry about it.

"Yes- too far away for me to hear, being deaf" or something along those lines and walk on if similar happens again. Have a direct, loud delivery- you're simply being to the point and refusing to be cowed.

Such rudeness deserves a direct reply. What a rude, silly thing for her to say.

Honestly I'd of given her the finger or at the very least my mum stare

Due to your hearing impairment they shouldn’t just be calling your name anyway. Our son is deaf, and despite him being a child we have always been collected by the receptionist for his appointments as he cannot hear his name being called. The only place where this didn’t happen had a screen where names were displayed with your room numbet when it was time for your appointment.

Next time you have an appointmet if you let the staff know you are deaf when you check in they will be able to use an alternate way to let you know its your appointment time.

Horrible, OP, I agree - and especially so when you're feeling insecure and frightened in a hospital environment.

If it was a member of staff, that's one thing, but otherwise: hospitals and motorway services are places where we meet the whole world, unfiltered in all its horror...and you often have to accept a level of boorish behaviour that you wouldn't encounter in your own daily life. I guess we've all had it at some point.

Silly woman. Just forget it.

I have to use noise cancelling earbuds when at appointments or in shops. The noise otherwise is overwhelming and causes issues for me physically (I have MEcfs). If they call my name before I've been able to clock them come out and switch the earbuds off, I sometimes end up going on the second call.

Waiting rooms suck for People with disabilities.