While I do understand about not being able to hear much, if any, of what’s being said during dinner conversation, I do think it’s inappropriate for you to read at the dinner table unless you’re surrounded by immediate family.
When you accept a dining invitation from friends and acquaintances you really do need to put the book down and at least attempt to be a part of the group. Reading a book isolates you from the rest of your dining companions and sends the message (whether true or not) that you find the company you’re with boring and not worthy of your attention. In essence you might as well be eating alone at a separate table.
It’s different when you’re sharing a meal with immediate family because they fully understand your difficulty in being able to follow conversation because of your hearing loss.
I don’t think its polite to read at the family meal table, ever.
One of the rules at the Academies is “No reading material in the wardroom.”
I came from a family that read at the table. They explained that the meal is not just a place to take sustenance. It’s an opportunity for team building, esprit d’corps, communication, etc.
For families, I think its even more true. Disconnecting yourself from the conversation by pouring yourself into a book is bad form for family members. As the kids get older, the opportunities to be together as a family start to decrease, and its even more important to keep meal times ‘sacred’ as it were.
Hard to show apparent interest for prolonged periods when you can’t hear/understand what’s being said. Sitting there looking bored out of your mind isn’t any better than doing something engaging; if someone is completely lost in the conversation, I’d expect & prefer they do something interesting than feel obligated to feign obviously non-existent interest.
My momma would have slapped me upside the head.