Most people understand that teaching requires energy. We stand, explain, redirect, answer questions, solve problems, and make hundreds of small decisions. For a deaf teacher, there can be another layer that is easy for others to miss: the energy required simply to follow speech throughout the day.
I use bilateral cochlear implants. They give me access to sound, but access is not the same as effortless understanding. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains that cochlear implants do not restore normal hearing. My brain still has to interpret the signals it receives, especially when voices compete with classroom noise.
That extra work can lead to listening fatigue. It is real, and it deserves more attention in schools.
