Posted on 07/29/2020 9:24:58 AM PDT by sickoflibs
My loss is severe but not that bad. *IF* I am wearing my hearing aids and the person enunciates well while facing me I do alright most of the time
All bets are off with them wearing a mask. I rode out of town today on my bike. I don’t wear my hearing aids when riding, that would be really stupid, I wear earplugs to prevent the loss of more hearing.
I went into Sam’s to pick up a prescription and they nicely asked about a mask at the door. I politely said I have a medical exemption. No problem after that. One lady employee come up to me to comment on my helmet (it has the INDIAN logo on it) and say she was glad I wasn’t riding a Harley LOL, we had a nice chat.
After that I went to Culver’s for lunch and they had signs EVERYWHERE saying don’t enter without a mask, don’t take your mask off except at the table while eating. No one said a word to me. But I had *fun* trying to understand the girl taking my order - the mask muffled her voice and I of course couldn’t see her mouth, all with restaurant background noise. What a joke. I ate at a table outside because 3/4 of the seating inside (with air conditioning grr) was marked Do Not Use. I did have a nice chat with some normal people outside at the table next to me, they were admiring my bike and asking about it.
Through both establishments I was the only person without a mask except for those actually eating food. Except when outside of course.
Lol. Yet, we're supposed to offer knee-jerk support of police. Sorry. I'm not buying either side.
In Maryland masks are required inside most businesses where personal interaction with public is required.
But Not outside, unfortunately Maryland is hot and humid in summer and few want to be outside,
I see no direct police enforcement of it here.
Born deaf in left ear, horse wreck ruined the right ear in 1981.
I have tried hearing aids but all they do amplify *everything* and I’ve had hearing loss for so long that my brain just won’t “learn” to ignore the background cacophony.
Words get lost in background noise and honestly, I feel like a wild animal dropped into a loud crowded city.
Very nerve wracking.
The only place I’ve gotten crap is Walmart, that one Goodwill and his cardiologist’s office.
They were not happy about my worthless stretch lace mask and handed me a “real” one.
So I tied it in such a way that it was little more than an awning for my nose.
Not “real” police but the affirmative action mask nazis at Walmart will push you.
All the other stores really don’t care.
90% of the employees are walking around with their muzzles on their chins or their noses sticking out.
A fair number of sheep shoppers are all geared up like the Black Plague is here.
So far, none of them have jumped me about my no mask.
I’ve already got a naturally wicked scowl and I reckon it’s only gotten worse since this started.
[occasionally, some will nearly lose their minds and try to climb up a grocery store shelf to avoid me...which makes me laugh]
Plus, I’m always dressed in black with Doc Marten boots and very visible 10” spike buck “keychain”.
I do not look approachable, as a norm.
I habitually wear The Walking Dead shirts that say “We Are All Infected”, “We Are The Walking Dead”, “Beware: Infected” or “Warning: I Bite”.
:)
I was told by an ENT about 2005 that hearing aids would not help because of my loss of “discrimination”.
A couple of years ago an ENT told me that the technology had progressed a LOT since then and I should try them. Also my life was getting miserable in the sense that I had so much difficulty talking to people in public places that I hated sitting with a group or asking the waiter to repeat things over and over. My family was patient, but I could tell it was frustrating for them. So I gave it a shot.
He said the audiologist at a nearby Sam’s was as good as any at the really expensive places. So.....
The ones I got have 96 frequencies that can be tweaked. Plus he told me that it would take multiple visits to get it right and it would take time for my brain to adjust also. Nothing would happen in a hurry. He was right, it took a while. But I am now much better off than I was without them.
Although, I can’t sit at a table in a restaurant with a group and follow anyone except those siting right next to me. And of course the tinnitus is still awful. I told my wife that I could think of one positive aspect of death....blessed silence.
Since the masks are essentially worthless, there is no “proper” way to wear them. Unless like me you consider not wearing them at to be the proper way since they are actually bad for if you wear them any length of time.
Well guess what
BUT now there’s an extra exemption for people who cannot hear/understand people wearing masks.
HA!
This bonehead has an exemption for government building.
He’s a total loser. I’m not playing his stupid game.
I’m printing out that bloody mess and highlighting BOTH exemptions and carrying it with me everywhere.
Mask nazis wanna nazi, we’ll throw down.
That sounds like the wildly expensive ones that I have no hope of ever affording.
Normally, I get by just fine.
This covid/mask crap has been the only hitch in my gitalong, all these years.
They were about $3400. I had a little left in my HSA and I floated a 2 year loan for the balance.
If you went to one of those hearing aid chain stores they would cost at least double that I’m guessing.
They’ve really improved my life, so I hope they hold out for a long, long time, money being what it is. Go to Costco or Sam’s and see what they have to offer. They are as good as the chains and a lot cheaper - cheaper being relative of course. But, if I recall, there was a period of 30 or more days where you could return them and get your money back. Worth checking.
There is no way I could afford anything even close to that.
I am grateful for your compassion but I’ll just stay in my reasonably quieter world.
:)
Sometimes I wish I was rich. Then I could buy them for you my FRiend.
You are just the sweetest thing, ever.
Honestly, I would rather have money to fix the motor in the Suburban.
Contrary to what Dodge wildly claimed, you CANNOT stuff a 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood into a Magnum.
[yes, I have tried]
:D
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