Quote Originally Posted by CountryWolf07 View Post

What just bothered me was that she asked me a lot of questions due to my hearing -
if I could hear the doorbell, if I could hear the dogs barking,
small and big, dogs whining... phone going off..
and this was all right after I told her about my choice to have a cochlear implant
to improve my life, etc.

She was more concerned over my hearing if I could hear enough ...
A couple ideas for the next time:

* Carry a write-up explaining just what a cochlear implant actually is and how it works
* Example: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.asp

* Work out a series of 'show & tell' type "tests" that you can do to demonstrate
your capabilities to hear and recognize real-world sounds ...
** Respond to & talk on a telephone
** Respond to a doorbell or a knock on a door
** Respond to a smoke detector or fire alarm
** anything that you're comfortable doing

Don't make excuses - just show folks that you're 'normal' and can fully function
in the environment without special accommodations.

And don't be timid about showing folks your College DEGREE - earned at
a 'regular' college without a lot of special arrangements or aids.

Just show 'em You can DO IT!