TTC Talk

So today on the way home from work, I plop myself down on a seat beside, what I presume to be a young middle-eastern woman on the Bloor line.

I was minding my own business, playing on my iPod Touch for a few moments when suddenly the woman tapped me on the arm.

I look at her, and she speaks, "Hi, can I talk to you? Can I ask you a few questions?

Puzzled, I respond, "Um, sure. Ok."

She doesn't really introduce herself or anything like that, but she goes on explaining her situation and I'm listening intently, partly because I could almost barely hear her over the noisy subway trains rolling along the tracks. Her situation, it appears, and from what I could hear, is that she has a hearing problem as well.

I believe she had surgery, or is going for surgery for her hearing problem. Come to think of it, I think she already had it because she later on talked about how her doctor needed to monitor her progress and the medications that she is taking. I never knew there was medication to be taken, perhaps they were painkillers? I don't know.

In any case, she just wanted to know how long I had my hearing aids for and if they were beneficial. She also wanted to know if I had any problems with people when I had my hearing aids.

So I told her that I have had them since I was very young and that I didn't know whether I was born this way, but it seems that I may have contracted an ear infection that led to my condition today. Thus, I also told her that I have been wearing an aid pretty much my entire life. I also told her that the could be expensive, but the government would subsidize some of the costs. Overall, I told her that hearing aids are very beneficial to your hearing if you need them.

Furthermore, the problems with people I had, were very minimal. Adults tend to be a bit more understanding than younger people and kids tend to be the ones that ask me the most about my hearing aids because they don't know what they are. They'd ask, "What is that in your ear?" or "What are you wearing?" or "What is that for?" So I tell them that it helps me hear better, and then the kids understand. I'm just glad that they never asked me to take it out so they can try it on. LOL. In any case, I reassured the woman that there shouldn't be anything to be worried about.

She stated that she was looking into hearing aids should she require them; should her hearing deteriorate, but it seem that she was content with my answers as she seemed to be smiling while contemplating or digesting the information I had just given to her. I also gave her the name of the new place that I now go to get my check ups.

It was refreshing to have a conversation with a complete stranger on the subway, even though it was very brief. It just goes to show that not everyone keeps to themselves and are grumpy all the time. I guess she was lucky that I didn't just plop myself down on the seat and immediately begin to take my nap like I usually do.

I hope that the woman won't need the aids though. :)