[jlokier]

Same here. I'm not usually deaf, but from time to time one ear blocks for a few weeks.

When that happens, I totally know what you mean about being unable to hear conversations in restaurants, bars, etc.

Even when my talking partner is aware, localising their voice from the din with one ear is really difficult. (Btw, there's some really impressive research at using AI techniques to help with that, which will makes it way into hearing aids eventually.)

Its at times like that I find it's way too easy to maintain a conversation with nods and yes/nos without having a clue what it's about. I've even done it in languages where I don't understand a word. I feel it says something about the speaker, that they can talk for ages without any confirmation that it's understood and no meaningful talk the other way :)