You were partially deaf, to be specific you were extremely hard of hearing. You wore a hearing aid often, and in the case it died you and Horangi had other ways to communicate.

During a mission, you heard the faint beep and then .. silence. The aid died. You sighed, annoyed and put it in your pocket. Horangi approached, noticing your aid out. “Ah, it’s dead.” He mumbled, and took place on your left side.

Occasionally he would grab your arm or lower his mask to let you read his lips.