I had a similar incident. I was on my lunch break. I went from the breakroom to a backroom that's near the jewelry case. I don't pay attention to them if I am on break, but they never realize when I am on break. I feel that it's my time when I am on break, and they need to respect me when I am on one. Sometimes they insist I get someone during my break! I am like, go get someone else who is not on break!
Anyway, well, I came right back out when I was done with break (which wasn't that long left), and there was a lady standing by the jewelry case, so I just came right out to my register like nothing. Then, I guess I heard her and turned around. This lady said, "I was just calling you there. Can you hear? Can you hear?" While pointing her finger to her ear like a curious and nosy person. I wasn't pleased with the way she asked, so I just said, "that's fine, and I went over to the jewelry case to help her." She was trying to ask like she had a right to know, and I went on to ask what she wanted to see ignoring her "can you hear?" question. She then pointed to something. I am like, "What is it? A necklace?" It could be a bracelet or necklace. So she told me, and she was still curious to know if I was deaf. She was talking to me a bit differently. Then, she was done. Anyway, then came another customer talking to me normally, and the lady was looking to see if I acted 'deaf.' lol.
Anyway, well, I went back to the register, and the other girl who was backing me up on register said she wanted to punch her face, and she felt it was stupid of her to ask "can you hear? can you hear? while pointing to her ear. It was kind of embarrassing to be honest.
I felt she was being unpolite, and it's dumb to ask "can you hear?" because I can, but just not like a normal hearing person especially when it's noisy or the person is more quiet spoken than others for me to hear them. Some people ask if I am deaf, so I answer, 'yes.' But this lady was just grrr!!! Even the other girl felt the same 'cuz she was right there seeing the whole thing.
I think the lady was uncomfortable that she didn't stay much in the store and left because I couldn't find her. Sometimes I just don't know what to tell them. It seemed she was asking in a nosy way.
I haven't encountered anyone make a big deal about it if I can't hear them. Sometimes they stand behind me, and the customer in front of me will tell me someone's behind me without further thought if I am deaf or not. Others just come up and ask if I don't respond like they don't give much thought when I 'ignore' them, you know?
This lady was just grr!!
I am sorry it happens to you. I guess just ignore them or try to find a clever way of responding to them that makes them realize they are being jerk while you remain cool. Or just ignore the question and say, "I am sorry I didn't hear you..do you need help?" in a polite way or something. It'll probably throw them offguard. I mean, there will be some people who will clam up and go like "never mind." Then, just let them and mentally shrug your shoulder like you don't care because they are the ones who gave up and you didn't. Try to remember that there are a few who don't know how to be polite.
