🩺In the Dark

Another audiology appointment. Different hospital, same barriers.

It was winter, cold and still dark outside when I arrived at 8 a.m. I was the first patient of the day. The waiting room lights were dim—those low, night-light kinds that barely lit the space. I sat quietly, watching the clock, wrapped up in my coat, waiting to be called.

Apparently, I was called. But I didn’t hear them. And I couldn’t see them either—because the lights were still low and no one came around to check. Eventually, a clinician came over and gently tapped me on the shoulder. I jumped slightly, not expecting it.

He started talking, but I couldn’t lipread. It was still too dark. And then—click—the full lights flicked on. That’s when I saw it. A poster on the wall:

“Deaf Awareness Tip: Make sure there is plenty of light when talking to a deaf person.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Practice what you preach, I thought.

But joking aside, situations like this aren’t just inconvenient—they can be genuinely stressful. Being left in the dark (literally and figuratively) can cause anxiety, especially when you’re just trying to access something as routine as a hearing appointment.

Deaf awareness isn’t just about posters on the wall. It’s about the little things that make a big difference.

#DeafAwarenessWeek2025 #Access #HappenedAgain