‘They Were All Completely Deaf’: Woman Recounts ‘Worst Experience’ Working as a Texas Roadhouse Server
That must have been very awkward
Working as a server for a long time prepares you for many situations, but McKenzie (@mckenzie5821) faced an unexpected one. In a TikTok video, she described it as the “worst experience” she has ever had.
McKenzie explained that she had just started work at a Texas Roadhouse eatery when a large party of 14 arrived. She approached them professionally, exchanged pleasantries, and asked about their drink orders.
However, she noticed them staring at each other and at her, visibly confused. “They’re all looking at each other really confused and just staring at me,” she said. It was then she realized that all of them had hearing impairments. “And it turns out they were all completely deaf, all 14 of them. So it was rough,” she added. That clearly explains the staring.
“How did you make that work?”
McKenzie’s story is part of a long line of similar accounts about Texas Roadhouse that have gained popularity online. In the comments section of her post, a few people shared similar experiences and what they did in those circumstances. One person noted that, like McKenzie, they served a table of hearing-impaired guests but added that they knew about the disabilities beforehand, which, in their view, should be normalized.
They said, “okay so I’ve actually had this too. but it was like 10 ppl. they made a reservation so I was aware before getting them and I feel like that should be standard in this situation? at the very least your host had to know…?” Another person also described a similar experience and explained what they did.
They said, “This happened to me at my first serving job ever and I whipped out my phone and let them write in my notes app what they wanted and whatever and it ended up being really fun and hilarious and they had the best time.”
Some people in the comments section suggested what McKenzie could have done in that situation. A few suggested asking the guests to write down their orders or any other requirements to make communication easier.
One user wrote, “This isn’t bad lol they can just write down what they want or point. They deserve to go out to eat. Worst experiences should be like getting degraded by a customer imo.” Another said, “They’re getting pen and paper and pass it around.”
Steps to improve communication with hearing-impaired individuals
A Mayo Clinic article, authored by someone who identifies as deaf in one ear and has 30 percent hearing loss in the other, states, “successful communication requires the efforts of all people involved in a conversation.” The author highlights essential do’s and don’ts for communicating with hearing-impaired individuals, emphasizing that one of the most crucial steps is to face the person directly, at eye level, and in well-lit conditions whenever possible.
He also urges people not to speak to a hearing-impaired person from another room. He stresses that the person is unable to see them, making it even more difficult for them to understand what they are trying to say because they cannot see the movements of the mouth.
The article also notes that the person trying to communicate with a hearing-impaired person should “speak clearly, slowly, distinctly, but naturally, without shouting or exaggerating mouth movements.” The article explains that shouting can distort the sound of speech and might make it more difficult for the hearing-impaired person to understand what the person is saying.
The Mayo Clinic article lists several other tips like this that can simplify communication between a hearing-impaired person and someone who isn’t, and you can read about them here. That being said, while it’s understandable that McKenzie felt flustered when encountering unfamiliar interactions, recognizing the experiences of both parties is crucial for finding a suitable solution in such situations.
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