The Secret Deafie: A misunderstanding at the hand dryer

Posted on May 8, 2012 by



The Secret Deafie is a series of anonymous columns written by different writers. Today’s Deafie tells us about a misunderstanding following a concert.
One evening, after a concert I’d taken part in was over, I was chatting to my friends when a pretty woman who looked to be in her thirties walked over to my group.
“I’d just like to say thank you very much for the concert,” she said shyly, “It was sublime!”
Our group smiled politely at her and we all said “thank you.”
Just before we were about to head home, I decided to go to the toilet to put my hair up when the same woman came over to me.
I saw through the mirror that she had said something to me but the noise of flushing toilets and hand dryers was far too loud to work out what on earth it was.
“Sorry?” I asked, trying to concentrate on lip-reading her on her second attempt.
Yet again, her voice was muffled by the noise and to make it twice as hard, her lips were impossible to read, so I simply couldn’t work out what she was trying to say.
“I’m really sorry, it’s too loud in here for me and I can’t understand what you’re saying – I’m hard of hearing.”
Just as I had finished my sentence, the hand dryer turned off.
“I’m sorry,” she replied, “Can you repeat yourself? That hand dryer was far too loud for me to hear you then. I’m partially deaf.”
As you can imagine, the conversation ended up with both of us in hysterics at our miscommunication!

Do you have a story or experience you’d like to share? If you’d like to write a Secret Deafie column, just email thelimpingchicken@gmail.com

The Limping Chicken is supported by Deaf media company Remark!, training and consultancy Deafworks, and provider of sign language services Deaf Umbrella.

Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:

The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf  journalist,  screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.

Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.

Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.

The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:

Posted in: the secret deafie