Unspoken Rules in a Hearing World.
- emmadeafandblonde
- Oct 1
- 1 min read
In this world, there are unspoken rules, not written in policy or spoken aloud, but understood and often designed without considering individuals like me.
We hear messages like:
Speak up for yourself, but not too loudly.
Fit in, but avoid asking for "special" treatment.
Keep up, even when the environment isn't accessible.
These are the implicit guidelines of a hearing world - a world where it's assumed that everyone hears the train announcements. When a doctor speaks with their back turned, they expect you to follow instructions. Where group chats are overwhelmed with audio notes, and video content plays without captions. Where meetings begin without ensuring everyone can grasp the discussion.
Navigating these rules has been a lifelong challenge. It's exhausting. I have smiled and nodded, pretending to understand. I have brushed off requests for repetition, reluctant to burden others for the third time. I have entered spaces, unsure if anyone would communicate with me, and stayed, all to spare others' discomfort.
But what about my discomfort?
Why do we view accessibility as an inconvenience instead of the foundation it should be?
The hearing world thrives on assumptions that communication is solely verbal, that clarity arises from sound, and that inclusion is merely optional rather than essential.
I've learned that these unspoken rules are not mine to uphold. I need not diminish myself to ease others' discomfort. I have every right to ask for what I need. And when the world isn't ready to meet me halfway, I will continue to educate, advocate, and challenge the status quo.
True inclusion starts precisely where assumptions end.
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