u/CactusBumble

Hi, I’m 21 years old and I was born with single-sided deafness. I’m about 60-75% deaf in my right ear, and fully hearing in my left. I personally feel like my left ear is more deaf than diagnosed, I could lose the ear and I don’t feel like my hearing would change.

I’m writing this because a couple days ago, an older coworker mocked me after I asked him to speak up multiple times because we were in a loud environment and he was speaking quiet. I explained that I was deaf in an ear and he accused me of lying because “you’re too young to have hearing issues”. We were with another coworker and he leaned over and said “she can’t hear” in a mocking tone. I already told my manager, but I’m just really bothered by it. I’m already exhausted from the challenges of hearing. It just really bugged me. I feel like a freak

Edit: Correcting info on which ear is which

From 18-19 I was micro dosing testosterone, with the highest I ever dosed being .35 ml weekly. I never intended to be on testosterone that long, only long enough to achieve effects. Now I have a voice that’s around the low androgynous to male range. For the past year I’ve been using my naturally high testosterone rates and PCOS as my excuse. Problem is, no one’s buying it. I thought of saying I was a smoker and damaged my voice that way, but given that I’m only 21 and in reality have never touched a cigarette, I don’t think people will believe that either. My mother also died from smoking related lung cancer when I was 14, so I have objections to that answer anyways.

I’m currently in the process of voice training back to a female pitch, but for now, any excuses that could seem believable?