hearing loss and PIP

Hi Gordon...thanks for replying. I've had a look at the PIP claim guide Q11 mixing with other people but I couldn't find anything about how physically not being able to hear speech adequately to mix with others generally fits in? In various situations the only way I could interact / follow verbal discussion would be if someone stood close to me and relayed the jist of what others were saying it to me directly or typed it into a screen for me to read or write it down. Could you advise if this does fit into this Q/ descriptors? Much appreciated.

Thanks for that Gordon. All I can hope is that at Tribunal they recognise it as such as so far DMs have not accepted this.

For me, trying to socially engage with hearing people is impossible. They talk about what was on television, about sports events, about their families and so on. They tell jokes and make funny comments. When conversation is unstructured like this, it is very hard to follow if I do not have someone to interpret for me. People talk quickly, don't take turns or introduce new topics, sometimes they are looking away, it is hard to know who just added that comment and so on. I find it difficult to hear and understand when more than one person speaks at once. I find it difficult keeping up with changes of speaker so missing the beginning of what each speaker says, making it harder to lip-read.
When in a group situation, l need some one to tell me the subject matter that is to be discussed in order for me to pick up words that will help me to follow the conversation. For example, "we are going to talk about the surprise party for...". I miss out on vital information if I don't get social support.

When I am mixing with hearing people it is often difficult for me to break into a conversation. If two or more people are talking, a hearing person will be able to decide when to speak because he or she can hear the intonation and can judge when a part of the conversation is about to end, or when is the right moment to add something related to the topic. I, however, cannot hear these cues and so will often be uncertain as to when I can break in. I hesitate to break into a conversation as I don't want people to think I have bad manners and rude for talking over them. I need social support to engage with hearing people so that I don't look foolish. I need someone to let me know when it is appropriate for me to add something to the conversation.

I have deaf speech, and hearing people don't understand me. I have to keep repeating myself and use gestures. This is frustrating for me, so I don't bother talking. I need someone to explain to others what I am saying. Only if I get support, I will try to engage with other people.


Hi Sam
I have submitted my daughters MR. She was born profoundly deaf and relies on lip reading and sign language to communicate.
I included the following for my daughter in her PIP2 form, hope it helps.
Engaging socially with other people:

At parties and other social gatherings, I miss out on information, as it is impossible to lip-read a person in motion. I can't lip-read because of dim lighting and more than one person speaking at the same time, I can only follow one person at a time. Even when lip-reading one person, I find it difficult to understand what they are saying if they don't face me and keep turning away. I find it difficult to lip-read in poor light or if the person has a beard or an accent. My lip-reading is largely guesswork because different people have different lip patterns for the same words, and different words have similar lip patterns.
There cannot be any background noise as it makes it hard for me to follow speech. My level of understanding is delayed as a result of my profound hearing loss and subsequent language and communication delay. I only understand simple language. Sometimes, I pretend that I have understood when I haven't, in order to not look stupid.
I can't join in conversations during lunch/dinner invites as people are all talking at the same time and I can't see who is talking. People talk whilst chewing and will not put their cutlery down to gesture to me. This is why I avoid mixing with hearing people because I feel excluded and find it too stressful.
For me, trying to socially engage with hearing people is impossible. They talk about what was on television, about sports events, about their families and so on. They tell jokes and make funny comments. When conversation is unstructured like this, it is very hard to follow if I do not have someone to interpret for me. People talk quickly, don't take turns or introduce new topics, sometimes they are looking away, it is hard to know who just added that comment and so on. I find it difficult to hear and understand when more than one person speaks at once. I find it difficult keeping up with changes of speaker so missing the beginning of what each speaker says, making it harder to lip-read.
When in a group situation, l need some one to tell me the subject matter that is to be discussed in order for me to pick up words that will help me to follow the conversation. For example, "we are going to talk about the surprise party for...". I miss out on vital information if I don't get social support.

When I am mixing with hearing people it is often difficult for me to break into a conversation. If two or more people are talking, a hearing person will be able to decide when to speak because he or she can hear the intonation and can judge when a part of the conversation is about to end, or when is the right moment to add something related to the topic. I, however, cannot hear these cues and so will often be uncertain as to when I can break in. I hesitate to break into a conversation as I don't want people to think I have bad manners and rude for talking over them. I need social support to engage with hearing people so that I don't look foolish. I need someone to let me know when it is appropriate for me to add something to the conversation.
I decline invites for dinner, bowling and parties from hearing colleagues. I decline going to family functions like weddings and birthdays as I get too stressed and anxious whilst mixing with them. I feel frustrated and upset because of my difficulties with communication. I get depressed and angry as I feel isolated. I end up sitting by myself looking at my phone. Colleagues from work go out together socially on Friday nights to the cinema, bowling, restaurant, clubs etc. I don't go because it is too noisy, and I get upset because I can't communicate with anyone.

I found some quotes from other deaf people which may help:

“I think the fact that the impact of deafness doesn’t just manifest itself in communication isn’t well understood. It’s about the energy involved in lipreading and being attentive all day long.” L– Deaf adult

“Many people don’t realise how exhausting listening, concentrating, filling in gaps, guessing the subject, and deciphering body language, lip patterns and facial expressions, is.” – Deaf adult

You can also get more information here
www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/~/media/F...ent_v1_April_14.ashx

Sorry about my long message above. I have just realised that I copied and pasted the wrong way round.