I am learning how to speak up for myself. I have learned to tell people to keep their usual speaking volume. One time a nurse came into a quiet empty waiting room and loudly said she was going to take my blood pressure. Another time a technician at Mayo gave me an IQ test in a volume that was clearly stressing her voice. I wish I had explained to her that mine is sensorineural loss, which is not improved with volume increase but is improved with quiet background, slowing speech down, and allowing me to see her face clearly. It is getting easier for me to ask people to slow down. I still have trouble when people get agitated after I ask for a repetition of what they said. Some people react as if I wasn’t listening. I’m learning, and will be glad to read any tips you might have.