I find myself saying "I can't hear you" because normally that's what happens...people speak before ever being introduced. It makes the other person flustered.. repeating or shouting. So then I explain I'm deaf ....and get this sick smile look of pity sorry glance away. Sigh. I want to grab this speaker and say "hey I really would like to engage with you in conversation" but it's his or my next on line in the supermarket or where ever...and that's the end of that attempt to break thru social isolation.