Ok I would pick the hear others one, because I am creative enough to make up my own means of speech-less communication and also already know sign language anyway, so woo. My linguistics studies might be a little bit interrupted, though, because I couldn't learn the native sounds as well anymore (you have to make them properly to really understand them).
Also I would probably learn shorthand, just because. Maybe I should do that anyway.
Ok here is a question: Would you rather have uni classes (or some other equivalent obligation) 4 days per week, with the amount of outside work [at home] averaging around 5 to 6 hours per night, and have work for 10-12 hours per day the other three days, so basically absolutely no free time or social life to speak of; OR have the same uni schedule with the same workload but not have the job and thus have no income?
Student loans is not an acceptable answer.