In the pop song, “Good Vibrations”, by the “Beach Boys”. The singer croons about “she is giving me the excitations”. Well, when I opened my new hearing aids, the audiologist assured me that the speach would be sent directly to my aids making the volume louder. What wasn’t mentioned is the voice I hear from my phone is not heard by others in the area. this is great if one is reading a book or a podcast but it can be creepy for others.
For example, I can hear my phone ringing in my ear, without being near my phone. Tapping my hearing aid , will answer the call. I can talk and disconnect by the same method. If I am in a meeting my side of a conversation sounds like this
“Hello”
“Yes, I can be there.”
“Ok, See you then.”
People near me imagine that I am starting to talk to myself for no reason. My husband, though used to these one sided interchanges and still wonders.
The most difficult interchanges are with Siri and going through e mail. My part of the conversation could run like this,
“Read it.”
“Next.”
“Send.”
I try to be in a quiet space with some privacy, like a bathroom stall. If I answer too softely, Siri will ask me to repeat my request. I usually raise my voice to accommodate conversation. I will emerge only to find a person with a puzzled expression.
“Do you need help?”
I want to shout,”Yes, I need to send and retreave my email in peace.”
I am waiting for Alexa, Siri and google to strike up a conversation without me. That will give me excitations,
Is there anyone out there?
Phone ringing.
In my ear beeping.
Tap phone, say hello.
A.I. on the phone.
I sigh , wait my turn.
Wait so long, I forgot what to say.
Carolaspot@aol.com
traveling up and down the blind highway 