this is EXACTLY how i felt before i got my cochlear implant -- the image speaks for itself.
the ironic thing is that even though i hear so well today, i sometimes still feel like that poor little monkey. the reason? people think i hear everything now and don't bother speaking up, clarifying or repeating things for me. BUT i am not afraid to tell them this... and i encourage everyone else to do the same. no matter how well you hear (or not), NEVER BE AFRAID to let people know if you didn't catch something. you miss out on a lot in life if you don't fight for yourself!