Profound Deaf without Speech

Hi Katie,
We don't seem to have a specific section on hearing impairment/deafness, because we tend to group things under the relevant descriptor topic. If you go on to the Members Guides for PIP, and in the 'find' button, which is normally under three vertical dots at the top right hand corner of all webpages (on google Chrome). If you enter 'hearing' this has 23 answers. Some of these refer to tribunal hearing, but a quick look through will reveal answers about hearing loss. as far as I am aware we don't have any BSL videos. Sorry.

When filling out a PIP form, think a little bit out of the box.
Preparing food - does your daughter need a special flashing alarm to know when food is cooked, if so, would she use this for the majority of days, when cooking? Are there any other gadgets she uses to aid/assist - (these could could comprise normal and hearing loss specific gadgets.) Does balance cause a problem moving around the kitchen or with carrying things?
Without any other disability I can't readily think of what might be required with taking nutrition, or managing medication - unless there is some sort of hearing therapy or assistance required to insert hearing aids
Washing/bathing - there have been 2 recent cases about this - involving the potential (but very serious risk) of not hearing a fire alarm if in the bath - points have been allowed for aid/appliance namely a flashing smoke alarm. Also in the other case, because the claimant had to take out her hearing aids during bathing, she was allowed supervision. So either of these might apply depending on need. Consider also balance issues which might also require supervision or assistance to get in/out of bath or shower- remember you get points for problems getting in either bath or the shower, if you can't do just one and need help you get points -
Dressing - possible balance issues, but recent caselaw has said that sitting on a bed or chair is normal for everyone so it would have to be a lot more than that to argue points for aid/appliance ie a seat
Reading - again recent case on this - unless there is a specific (not deafness reason why your daughter couldn't do this unless you could show that the hearing prevented her learning to read) unlikely to get points based solely on hearing loss.
Communication. - tribunals have held that lip reading is not communicating verbally to an acceptable standard. The rationale behind this is that a third party wouldn't necessarily know your daughter needs to lip read - he may mumble his words, or a heavy accent might cause difficulties. Also this needs to be face to face, and a busy setting might cause further difficulties. I guess it depends on how proficient your daughter is. Does she miss words, do you need to repeat or spell things out? Of course you could be 'communication support' for your daughter to 'translate'. Using text messages or a pen and paper does not comprise 'verbal communication'. However, consider whether your daughter can not express or understand verbal communication, which would comprise 12 points.
Engaging with other people might be avoided (as indeed with other activities) because it is too difficult/troublesome/painful etc - I suspect at the very least support will be required.
Budgeting - probably OK, based solely on hearing loss.

Mobility - potential points for requiring assistance on either/both unfamiliar or familiar journeys. Does your daughter use any form of navigation device made especially for people with hearing loss? This could also count. Obviously scope for points in respect of 'overwhelming psychological distress' if this applies.
Moving around - consider if there are any balance issues that make physical walking difficult or impossible.

All of the above descriptors need the activity to be done safely and to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time and repeatedly across the whole day as reasonably required.

Reas. time - if eg your daughter takes over twice the normal time of a non disabled person she should get points. Safety is about the risk of substantial harm - eg with epileptic fits - very dangerous if you fall over when you have one, but they might only occur once or twice a year.
Communication is likely to be required 24/7 - so if there are difficulties that prevent your daughter doing this across the whole day apart from a totally trivial amount of time then she won't be able to do repeatedly. (This applies to all descriptors, but it is less obvious that the activity will be required 24/7.)
Hopefully this has given you a few ideas to consider. There may well be other factors to consider to, so make sure you look carefully at each descriptor and then consider how your daughter can or can't do the activity. Consider avoidance (suggests difficulties.) Be realistic - don't just accept when your daughter suggests she can do something. All the 4 criteria have to be met for the majority of days. If not, then for PIP purposes no, she can't do it! Also consider help required rather than actually given. Slow speed, safety etc may all indicate physical help, some sort of aid/appliance or supervision.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
LL26