if I don’t hear/can’t understand initially then ask them to repeat it, but only once.
if I still don’t hear/can’t understand just nod and smile as if I did understand, and listen to the next things they say to try to figure out what I missed in steps 1 and 2. The key is: if you do figure it out that late, mask that revelation and instead pretend you knew along.
You’d be surprised how infrequently I’ve been called out when going past step 3. I’ve reached that point a few dozen times over the years. But I’ve been caught out… maybe once? If they ask a follow-up question I just bullshit my way past it and then try changing the topic.
As someone prone to mumbling, I often notice when people get to step 3, but there’s really no point in calling them out - that only makes it more awkward. The problem is not 100% on their side (closer to 100% on my side, actually), so I just move on. Usually it’s not that important anyway.
i’m very very mildly hard of hearing (tinnitus. i’m a musician and didn’t protect myself in my teens. now i get to read lips to process about 1/3 of oral communication!) so i got that going for me. there’s always a few pair of hearos in my bag now.
My rule of thumb has long been:
try to listen to what they say.
if I don’t hear/can’t understand initially then ask them to repeat it, but only once.
if I still don’t hear/can’t understand just nod and smile as if I did understand, and listen to the next things they say to try to figure out what I missed in steps 1 and 2. The key is: if you do figure it out that late, mask that revelation and instead pretend you knew along.
You’d be surprised how infrequently I’ve been called out when going past step 3. I’ve reached that point a few dozen times over the years. But I’ve been caught out… maybe once? If they ask a follow-up question I just bullshit my way past it and then try changing the topic.
As someone prone to mumbling, I often notice when people get to step 3, but there’s really no point in calling them out - that only makes it more awkward. The problem is not 100% on their side (closer to 100% on my side, actually), so I just move on. Usually it’s not that important anyway.
I’ve been caught out by really stupid questions like 'You don’t like me, do you lol."
“YES.”
😮
i’m very very mildly hard of hearing (tinnitus. i’m a musician and didn’t protect myself in my teens. now i get to read lips to process about 1/3 of oral communication!) so i got that going for me. there’s always a few pair of hearos in my bag now.