Hello! I am a Starbucks barista with hearing disabilities & I wear hearing aids. During the hiring process I told my managers and they said it was okay and that they'd work with me. When I first started working, not many of my partners knew about this and I didn't want to make them upset by asking them to repeat themselves. But now, they are all aware of my hearing loss and they help me when I am on DTO or doing other things and I cannot hear. I don't have any speech difficulties, but I'm sure the other partners would happily chime in if the customer or her was having difficulty conversing with a customer.

I suffer more because of my hearing. It wasn’t too much of a issue at a cafe only store. I was good on register to the point they would put me there strategically. Not because of my hearing problems, but because I was nice and knew how to count money quick. If you smile at the customers usually that’ll be enough to prevent too much fuss. It was a busy store but I knew the routines well so I didn’t need verbal direction after a while which helps. It became second nature. Utilize the senses you have to be your best strengths.

I didn’t talk much when not necessary. It was a personal choice tho. It just made my experience either. It’s hard to have a convo when I can’t rlly hear u. The baristas and I had fun with it tho. To hear what crazy thing I think they said. I kept the big 3: greet, ring, and ask for help.

Drive thru was difficult tho I didn’t stay there long. Ppl have less patience or tolerance if u ask them to repeat themselves. But it depends I was bad with the buttons too but if u conquer them Ik it’d ease the experience. Talk about ur struggles with your manager, shifts and baristas when relevant besides the initial fair warning.

I have hearing loss in both ears and DTO is hell for me. If your friend can get on at a cafe store it’ll probably not be as much of an issue