Hearing Impairment

Hi Andy,
I'm sorry to learn that you are having hearing difficulties.
Sometimes people find writing a disability diary helps to quantify their limitations. Basically, find a notebook or few blank pieces of paper, and note down what you struggle with. Start in the morning, and continue for a few days maybe a week. Think about what went wrong, what well. Who/what could you hear? Why did you have problems, how long did this last? Could you understand everything? Think also about other issues such as fatigue, if this occurred, did this affect the other activities, even things like cooking, dressing. Does a sudden noise have the effect of distracting you making you unsafe, take more than twice a reasonable time,(ie if you weren't disabled,) Does it cause balance issues, maybe it means you need support whilst engaging with others, (descriptor 9,) or you feel anxious etc when with others or when outside.
Does the hearing problem cause safely issues eg so you can't hear a food timer, or maybe couldn't hear a fire alarm if you were in the bath? Can you hear traffic? Also ask a friend or relative for their input too, as this can shed some insight.
Being safe applies to all the descriptors.There has to be a real risk of substantial harm, irrespective if it may not happen often. So, if you can experience limitations from your hearing problems, (over and above communication,) that can happen regularly or spasmodically, but gives a genuine risk, you should be eligible for points as you won't be 'safe'.

There have been a series of recent cases about avoidance. One case concerned a deaf lady who avoided crowded places, as these caused too much problems. Or alternatively avoiding buttons etc by using pull on clothes. These sort of things should allow points in the relevant descriptors. So think about any avoidance due to disability too.
I have tried to include problems that I know can occur with hearing issues, to illustrate what sort of things could be relevant. Of course you may have additional difficulties. Just make sure you include all the details, not just under communication. Think also if there is any interaction with other illnesses that you may have.
Please read the members guides if you haven't done so already.
I hope this helps.
LL26

Hi Andy,
Whilst it is really important to give examples, try to relate these to descriptor activities. Whilst I utterly understand rustling a newspaper or an extractor fan causes additional problems, DWP will say you don't need to rustle the paper to read it, and you can cook without the fan!
But, maybe the fan comes on automatically, or you live in a very confined space and need the fan on if so this connects directly to the descriptor activity of cooking. Or its more avoidance, as you know it will be awful, then it becomes a pattern. So, it's really important to show a direct relation of your hearing problems and the limitations you have with each activity. Dont give DWP the opportunity to deny points because you give examples of non descriptor problems or there's no obvious connections to your health issues.
I hope this helps
LL26