I think right at the time somebody is dealing with a huge change, especially one that involves loss of something familiar, comfortable, and cherished, like hearing, it actually does help for people to acknowledge that this is hard and sad. To be told right then at that moment that it's not a big deal, when to that person, it is- that feels dismissive, and that person may get the idea that their feelings do not matter.
A comment that says something like, 'yes, this is a big change for you, and that is hard,' acknowledges their feelings and can be followed by, 'but you do have a deaf friend who is here to help you adjust if you want to talk to me, and my life as a deaf person has not been so tragic,' maybe something like that, combining sympathy with just a hint to other readers that you're not in agony over being deaf, could do the job of helping your friend and making some of her other friends stop and think?
Never mind- I didn't see Karissa's comment, or I wouldn't have posted because she already said kind of the same thing I did.
