Too Loud For Someone Who’s Deaf?

Communicating at Christmas parties & celebrations

Politely declining invitations to join friends for Yuletide festivities has become a Christmas tradition for us. It’s not that we’re party poopers or miseries who’d prefer sitting at home watching Xmas repeats whilst sharing a Satsuma rather than make merry – it’s that the loud volume of pubs, restaurants or party venues (even more so at Christmas than the rest of the year) has a very detrimental effect on Sue’s Meniere’s.

No complaints here about us not having a good time while others have high times or how we feel aggrieved at not being able have fun. That’s the way the cookie crumbles and we can still enjoy cookies – chocolate and walnut for preference.

I’m absolutely certain though that there are some we no longer join who think we must be miserable Scrooge-like gits who just don’t want to be friendly. After all, how can someone who can’t understand speech or hear thunder have any problem with loud sounds? If you’re reading this then I don’t need to explain the working of the human audio system (even if I could) or how excessive noise vibrates the internal microphone.

No, for all of you doing ‘at home’ rather than going down the ‘Hammer and Blood Blister’ to  partake booze to the accompaniment of that bloody ‘Mull of Kintyre’ song or joining friends for Xmas dinner at the ‘Ruptured Ferret’ I can only say we do understand what it’s like. We did try a few get togethers at first, but the consequences were too dire to repeat.

Those who know and care about Sue are understanding and more concerned that she loses out in the fun stakes. Only yesterday a declined request led to an invitation for Sue to come for a country-pub lunch when the trade has, literally, quieted down.

Taking avoiding action seems preferable to Sue being pole axed and we’ll catch up with friends when the surroundings are easier on the deaf ear.

For those in the same situation – take care of yourselves and have a Merry and healthy Christmas.