help me fill in a DLA form - ta!

[Tortington]

i have filled it in - it was fairly straight forward - this is for my partially deaf dd. i haven't claimed before but her teaching support for the deaf teacher told us to give it a go.

i know this sounds really daft - but am trying to think of the things i do for her becuase she is deaf and am wondering if i have missed anything and thats where you come in.

i physically wake her in the morning - and would have to in event of fire or any other emergency. traffic could be a problem as she may not hear oncoming dangers.

we put the above and folled with " and warning calls for other dangers" but this is really general and they dont want general they want specific.

is there anything objectivly that you may think a deaf child would need help with - that i just might do as a matter of course that am not thinking of?

thanks

[Fio2]

put needs supervision and how long for
what prompts you give her and how often
whether she is vulnerable in certain situations and how you deal with this
do you need to interpret for her? do you need to interpret for other people? ie. help her communicate, how often and how long for?

I know this is a stupid question custy but do you go to a local library? as I notivced the other day when i went to mine (followed by mad neighbour ) that there were a few organisations on the pinboard that help you fill in DLA forms. CAB are really helpful too, i have been told. It is sort of knowing what words to put to get you that award.

the forms are hideous arent they cant believe you have never claimed, thats terrible someone should have mentioned it earlier

[JakB]

Yeah, emphasise time-frames. How much longer it takes you to do simple daily routines because of her hearing impairment. Can be everything- eating, playing, taking her on an outing.
Be as negative as you possibly can- think of your worst case scenario.
Hard, but that's what you need to do on these forms.

[Tortington]

it asks for things in minutes ( ar*ewipes) so the question is "why does the child need someone with them during the day"
the answer is " kcannot hear aproaching dangers and has difficulty in communication"

in days = 7

in minutes......errrr well its just a constant fear how do i measure that?

Q as above "during the night"
ans="cannot hear smoke alarms, cries of danger, safety instructions unless clearly provided by someone who knows her requirements"

in days =7
in minutes...... WTFeckityFECK?

does the child have a delay in their development of learning skills? understanding the world around them, following instructions, developing daily living skills?

ans=DDneedsinstructions exp[lained to her very clearly under a controlled environment people need to look dd in the face, speak clearly, limit background nois and ensure their lips are visible at all tmes

times a day? errrrrrrrr well whenever she wants to communicate with someone how the fickfockfack do you measure that?

minutes? are the DWP facking insane?

we haveno chance do we lol!

[coppertop]

The portage office helped me with my form for ds1 last year. In the box where it said Number of minutes they just wrote "all the time".

Remember to add that you keep having to remind her to wear the hearing aid(s) because otherwise she won't. Also mention that you have to stop her from feeding the moulds to the dog etc. It's all supervision that another child wouldn't need.

I sound like a stalker again.

[JakB]

For daytime with DD I used the phrase 'while awake (ie: if she's not asleep, she needs constant supervision). For nightime I used the worst case scenario of being up five to six nights in a row for several hours (eg: settles at 10, wakes at 12, goes to sleep at 6). Does your DD wake in the night and need attention?
Does this make sense?!!!
Agree that the forms are a bloody nightmare

[Tortington]

oh coppertop - i didn't think of that your a star!

[Davros]

Custy, your post made me laugh. Use that turn of phrase and they'll think you definitely need help
Yes, I put "constant" in the stupid minutes sections.

[Tortington]

keep them comming thanks - socci will put "through out" thanks

[coppertop]

What about putting things like:

"When dd is in another room I am unable to attract her attention by calling her name. Instead I have to stop whatever I am doing, go into the room where dd is and touch her on the shoulder to gain her attention. I must then make sure that she can see my lips when I am speaking to her and ensure that there is no background noise to distract her. If the television or radio are switched on I need to turn these down/off."

With traffic don't forget to add that she can't hear police/ambulance/fire engine sirens so needs someone with her even if she is on a safe pedestrian crossing. Add examples of any near-misses you have had.

[coppertop]

What about when she travels on a bus (if she does)? DD needs someone to interpret for her when she is buying her bus ticket. This is made even more difficult when bus drivers are behind protective screens (as most of our buses are around here).

[Tortington]

fio2 i was thinking about phoning someone to helpme but thatmeans i have to make an appt to go see them and i work and its ust an ar*e ache i didn't want - but if it has to be done it has to be done, might contact one of the sussex deaf societies and ask for help - shes broke her fking aids again so have to go to brighton anyway at some point cos audiology wont answer the wonking phone

should i put in that i have to travel 40+ miles roundtrip to get aids or get them fixed or for an audiology appt or getmoulds replaced when its dog feeding time? i mean its all stuff i wouln't usually have to do -i just dont know where to put it on the form.

davros lol maybe hubby could get carers allowence if i am clearly insane!

[Tortington]

oh bus is a good idea

[coppertop]

Is there any household equipment you use that pings/makes some kind of a noise, eg microwave? Dd needs someone to tell her that the timer has gone off.

Do you have a different phone to one you would otherwise have? Ours has an extra-loud ring (maybe you need someone to ensure that the ring is always at its highest volume?) and a light that flashes when it rings. It's all worth adding.

[JakB]

Custardo, could root out dd's forms and bring to meet-up? Totally different scenario but great example of the use of negative language to ram the point across

[coppertop]

Definitely put in any appointments you need to attend. Add that you have to make sure she has enough batteries and that you have to supervise sending off for more. Again something you wouldn't have to do if dd had no disability.

Also mention that dd has to take her hearing aids out when in the shower/washing her hair so if you need to speak to her then it takes more effort. Again mention that she wouldn't hear smoke alarms etc.

[Tortington]

oh wow coppertop - your just a genius i would have never thought of the phone or the microwave.

jakb - that would be very useful - if its not too much bother, thank you!

[coppertop]

Thanks, Custy.

I have hearing aids myself so I'm just trying to think of the ways dh has to help me out sometimes.

Another traffic issue is when you have large vehicles that make a bleeping noise when they reverse (buses, lorries and security vans). If dd can't hear those well she will need someone to supervise her to make sure she doesn't get knocked down by a driver who can't see her.

[Tortington]

cwoor your brill coppertop thanks

[biglips]

i havent read the thread properly (sorry!) but my friend got a deaf DS (5) and he got 50% hearing (wears hearing aids in both ears)...
he is on DLA for care and also for mobility as my friend said for the mobility side of it, he can run out into the road and wont be able to hear mum, etc... worth a try on both. (care and mobility)

[coppertop]

What about when she watches television? Does she need help/supervision to switch on subtitles? Do you have to make sure that she doesn't turn the volume up so loud that it disturbs the rest of the family or the neighbours? If she's watching something educational (or even non-educational!) do you need to watch it with her to make sure she has heard all the important bits?

[Tortington]

biglips thatsinteresting cos dd is 40% deaf and i never thought she would be entitled to anything. am confused becuase this form is all about how i have to help dd - isnt that the same as caring - is it a different form i am claiming form DLA1 section 1 & 2.?

and TBH will be floored if we actually get anything

[coppertop]

Even if they turn down the application it's worth following the appeals procedure. A high percentage of people are turned down but are awarded DLA when they appeal.

[heartinthecountry]

Its the same form for care and mobility custardo, so the one you are doing will cover both. Just that if you put all the traffic/crossing road/needs supervision when out and about stuff etc in then you may qualify for mobility as well as care.

Also, just to mention that to get the highest rate care you have to show that your child needs extra care at night as well as during the day.