Hear & Out

Thank you for this post; it's really important. There are probably many tactics I've tried, but the one that comes to mind first, especially in a sympathetic environment, is to go and get some coffee while my Cochlear Implants (CIs) are turned off, preferably being held visibly in one of my hands. If it's still needed, I'll explain that I need a hearing break. While we, as hard of hearing individuals, may think that normally hearing individuals don't require breaks, including hearing breaks, they actually do need them too. This also legitimizes the concept of hearing breaks for them and emphasizes our need, and everyone's need, to work in a sympathetic environment.