Options
Yet more flatmate trouble
![[Deleted User]](https://w4.vanillicon.com/v2/444ff8c799218697794392a654517788.svg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 977 Forum Member
✭✭
This isn't to do with my autistic flatmate - he's improving now, thanks to the advice you all gave me! 
This flatmate is quite deaf. I don't know how bad his hearing problem is, but he can't hear you speak unless you're directly in front of him, so I assume he has to lip-read. He's not completely deaf though.
Obviously, we know he's half deaf, so he has to listen to music or watch TV on a much higher volume setting. However, listening to heavy metal music so loud at 3am that I can hear it in my bedroom (it's across and down the hall from his, not close at all) is taking it a bit far. We've asked him to turn it down - it's so loud you can hear it from outside or in other people's flats - but he just won't oblige.
Is this ignorance on our part? We assumed he could use headphones like the rest of us do, but I don't know if his deafness would make that more difficult.
The only reason I'm not in bed right now is that I can hear his television. It's so loud that I can tell he's watching Only Fools and Horses!
Just wondering if anyone had any idea on how we could broach the subject with him, because asking him directly to keep the noise down after 12am doesn't seem to have done the trick.
Thank you
Edited to add: I know this will sound implausible as people didn't believe me when I said I had an autistic flatmate, let alone a deaf one as well... I don't know why they've put so many disabled students in my flat. 3/8 of us have some form of disability! I assure you I'm not making this up.
This flatmate is quite deaf. I don't know how bad his hearing problem is, but he can't hear you speak unless you're directly in front of him, so I assume he has to lip-read. He's not completely deaf though.
Obviously, we know he's half deaf, so he has to listen to music or watch TV on a much higher volume setting. However, listening to heavy metal music so loud at 3am that I can hear it in my bedroom (it's across and down the hall from his, not close at all) is taking it a bit far. We've asked him to turn it down - it's so loud you can hear it from outside or in other people's flats - but he just won't oblige.
Is this ignorance on our part? We assumed he could use headphones like the rest of us do, but I don't know if his deafness would make that more difficult.
The only reason I'm not in bed right now is that I can hear his television. It's so loud that I can tell he's watching Only Fools and Horses!
Just wondering if anyone had any idea on how we could broach the subject with him, because asking him directly to keep the noise down after 12am doesn't seem to have done the trick.
Thank you
Edited to add: I know this will sound implausible as people didn't believe me when I said I had an autistic flatmate, let alone a deaf one as well... I don't know why they've put so many disabled students in my flat. 3/8 of us have some form of disability! I assure you I'm not making this up.
0
Comments
Otherwise, tell him to sod off and get another flatmate.
Its extremely selfish behaviour when headphones offer the perfect solution, or failing that, subtitles at least for the TV.
Being half deaf does not give him the god given right to keep the neighbourhood awake all night.
You probably have an anti social behaviour clause in your tenancy agreement so you need to make him aware that his excessive noise is antisocial.
Maybe ask your landlord to have a quiet word with him before you all get thrown out.
As for music well he needs to use headphones and get himself to a hearing test to see if he can use hearing aids.
I'd suggest the friendly approach initially as above as he may not be fully aware of the impact of his actions on other people. By all means ask if he can use headphones or other amplification methods that won't disturb anyone else.
If that fails, then it might be time to use the formal dispute resolution/reporting procedures but hopefully it won't come to that. Good luck again, SheepSheepBa!
This problem isn't because he is deaf, it's because he is being selfish as nobody needs to listen to loud music so late at night. That's a much trickier issue to handle than his deafness!!
Just a little aside about deafness - if someone is deaf it very rarely means they have no hearing - most deaf people have some hearing and they range from moderate to profound ... even profoundly deaf people would hear SOMETHING without their hearing aids (possibly only a pneumatic drill right next to them
If by any chance you would like more info on dealing with deafness the NDCS website is great (although it is about children it is very good about deafness in general) and so is the RNID site.
Hope that helps.
Because you seem to be having so many problems dealing with this, could you not ask to be moved? Otherwise people might start having a problem with you seemingly moaning all the time. Might be the easiest solution rather than causing friction getting others to do what you want. Down side is, you could end up with worse flatmates... maybe buy a decent pair of ear plugs;)
They were the words I were looking for!
I think that would be the only thing that would help the OP. Somd people just aren't cut out for sharing.
Yes, its odd what a tough selection she has had...
Not true.
OP, talk to him. Does he wear hearing aids? If not, I'd try to persuade him to speak to his GP re a referral to the local audiology clinic. Hearing aids would transform his life; he literally does not know what he's missing.
Otherwise, as regards the telly, subtitles are the way to go, and as for late night loud music, the same behaviour should be expected of him as of any hearing person. If he tries to play the disability card, give him short shrift.
Oops sorry did I put hearing aids??? I meant headphones! That's what the link under that was about.
PS Just read back and I really did say deaf ppl can't wear hearing aids comfortably! I definitely meant headphones ... d'oh!
2 people with disabilities out of a flat of 8? Not that astounding.
I never 'moan' about it, so please don't suggest that I do. It's not a case of 'getting others to do what I want', it's a case of everyone in the flat - not just me - being annoyed by this guy who won't shut up at 3am! It's not like I'm making a fuss over nothing and I'm not the only one who has asked him to be quiet.
Very droll. I'm in university accommodation.
Thanks :rolleyes:. I'm perfectly cut out for sharing, however. I really don't like how you're assuming that it's just me who's annoyed by this
:rolleyes:
OK, thank you!
I think you may have mistook what I said. Sorry if it sounded a bit rude(?).
I'm deaf, I like playing rock music at 3am, I don't see why I should wear headphones, why don't you wear ear plugs ? [ therefore 20 innocent folk lose half a nights sleep ]
Myself ? I would threaten extreme violence upon his ass.
I'm sorry if I mistook what you said... I'm always doing that. But my point remains valid; it's not just me 'moaning'.