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Original poster

Is deafness a disability?

81 replies

FindingMeno · 25/10/2022 11:19

Interested in others thoughts on this.
I am a moderately deaf hearing aid user and I don't class myself as having a disability although I am eligible for a disabled person's railcard.
I just muddle through problems and don't expect anyone to make any particular adjustments to help.
But maybe I should if I need to? Is deafness a disability and is it only such at a severe or complete level?
Opinions please!

OP posts:
deliverooyoutoo · 25/10/2022 11:19

Yes

hoowhoo · 25/10/2022 11:20

Yes

Beamur · 25/10/2022 11:21

Yes. You are differently abled in a world where the default is hearing.

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General health
Asher33 · 25/10/2022 11:21

It depends how you're affected. I'm not that deaf (don't use hearing aids) but the effects of the hearing conditions I do have can be disabling.

Everydaywheniwakeup · 25/10/2022 11:21

It is, although the level of deafness would affect how disabled by it you are.

Fushiadreams · 25/10/2022 11:21

It’s not a yes or no answer as hearing loss is not always an absolute.

What level of hearing loss is considered a disability?

A person will be considered disabled if their average threshold for air conduction hearing is at least 90 decibels and their average threshold for bone conduction hearing is at least 60 decibels, or if they score 40 percent or less on a word recognition test

AntlerRose · 25/10/2022 11:22

I think its good to ask for adjustments you need and not just muddle through.

AIMummy · 25/10/2022 11:23

No, only if it significantly affects your ability to carry out your day to day activities. Loads of people in this country have a hearing impairment (like myself) but not all would consider it a disability.

Asher33 · 25/10/2022 11:25

Beamur · 25/10/2022 11:21

Yes. You are differently abled in a world where the default is hearing.

"differently abled"?

Fushiadreams · 25/10/2022 11:25

AIMummy · 25/10/2022 11:23

No, only if it significantly affects your ability to carry out your day to day activities. Loads of people in this country have a hearing impairment (like myself) but not all would consider it a disability.

Nit really there is parameters as posted. It’s like your eyesight. Needing glasses doesn’t make you disabled, but enough sight loss and it is considered a disability. With both sight and hearing it’s not a straight yes or no.

Original poster
FindingMeno · 25/10/2022 11:27

Fushiadreams · 25/10/2022 11:21

It’s not a yes or no answer as hearing loss is not always an absolute.

What level of hearing loss is considered a disability?

A person will be considered disabled if their average threshold for air conduction hearing is at least 90 decibels and their average threshold for bone conduction hearing is at least 60 decibels, or if they score 40 percent or less on a word recognition test

I don't know how you would know that information- I don't.
Maybe you are told if it applies.

OP posts:
MoreTeaLessCoffee · 25/10/2022 11:27

Some in the Deaf community would argue that you think you should "muddle through" because that this is something you have been conditioned to believe by a society that can't be bothered to make adjustments. Would you think the same of a wheelchair user? Oh well, things are difficult but you just have to get on and make the best of it?

A positive can-do attitude is a good thing and not everyone is a natural activist, but yes, I think if you want adjustments you have every right to demand them.

Asher33 · 25/10/2022 11:27

Fushiadreams · 25/10/2022 11:25

Nit really there is parameters as posted. It’s like your eyesight. Needing glasses doesn’t make you disabled, but enough sight loss and it is considered a disability. With both sight and hearing it’s not a straight yes or no.

Show quote history

Those parameters are as to whether you can be registered as deaf. Not as to whether it's a disability.

XAQ · 25/10/2022 11:27

I always think it depends on how YOU see it. I have MS and don't consider myself disabled. Even though others would look at me and say I was.

IncompleteSenten · 25/10/2022 11:32

I think that if you would be protected under the equality act then yes, from a, what's the best word? Formal? Legal? Medical? perspective then objectively speaking you have a disability.

LetItGoHome · 25/10/2022 11:44

My daughter was born with a rare condition where she doesn't have any hearing on her left side. So single sided deafness. having a single sided deafness causes all sorts of other problems such as being unable to localise sounds, which can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. I'd say technically it is a disability but I always describe her as having a hearing impairment.

Decafflatteplease · 25/10/2022 12:04

I would say yes. I'm moderately deaf and wear hearing aids. I need adjustments made for me in meetings etc eg being able to lipread etc so I'd class it as a disability.

HollyHocks13 · 25/10/2022 12:14

There's a difference between being deaf and Deaf (with a capital D). I work very closely with the Deaf Community (those whose first language is BSL) and they feel very strongly that Deafness is their culture and not a disability.
It's very different for someone who has hearing loss and uses English.

Arayes · 25/10/2022 12:15

Yes, by basic definition. Hearing is an ability, a lack of hearing is a disability. That's objective truth.

The question of whether a person feels disabled by it is a different, subjective matter.

Beamur · 25/10/2022 12:18

HollyHocks13 · 25/10/2022 12:14

There's a difference between being deaf and Deaf (with a capital D). I work very closely with the Deaf Community (those whose first language is BSL) and they feel very strongly that Deafness is their culture and not a disability.
It's very different for someone who has hearing loss and uses English.

Yup.
Not everyone who is deaf considers it a disability. I have quite significant hearing loss myself. I'm not part of the Deaf community as I can hear and don't/can't use aids. It is sometimes limiting for me and I do need some measures to help.

Phillipa12 · 25/10/2022 12:28

My son is moderately deaf, at school he uses a radio aid so that he can access his lessons fully. At school he is registered as D for disabled rather than SEN. If you asked my son if he has a disability then he would say no, as would his brothers and probably most people who know him.

Mangolist · 25/10/2022 12:29

LetItGoHome · 25/10/2022 11:44

My daughter was born with a rare condition where she doesn't have any hearing on her left side. So single sided deafness. having a single sided deafness causes all sorts of other problems such as being unable to localise sounds, which can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. I'd say technically it is a disability but I always describe her as having a hearing impairment.

My daughter and I are the same (microtia?) I grew up struggling and not wanting to talk about it as it definitely wasn't considered a disability, but now I know how incredibly hard it was and is. Directional sounds are a nightmare, having to make sure we sit in the 'right' place, even being disbelieved
There are hearing aids now available for for SSD but we don't have them - for me it would just be too frightening and dd, being born this century, has much more understanding given to her.

glassfully · 25/10/2022 12:36

Hearing impairment is treated as a disability at the university where I work. We have a team that go through what reasonable adjustments can be made and put them into a formal document for us to share with lecturers. Things like ensuring group work is done in separate rooms (so they aren't battling background noise from other groups) and having questions during presentations written on a screen so they don't stress about mishearing or being unable to answer. There isn't a fixed level of hearing impairment to qualify. It's for anyone who struggles and could benefit from adjustments.

Nat6999 · 25/10/2022 12:41

Yes it is, ds has just been diagnosed with moderate to severe hearing loss & has just had to reapply for his PIP, the hearing loss has gone on his forms.

Original poster
FindingMeno · 25/10/2022 12:50

glassfully · 25/10/2022 12:36

Hearing impairment is treated as a disability at the university where I work. We have a team that go through what reasonable adjustments can be made and put them into a formal document for us to share with lecturers. Things like ensuring group work is done in separate rooms (so they aren't battling background noise from other groups) and having questions during presentations written on a screen so they don't stress about mishearing or being unable to answer. There isn't a fixed level of hearing impairment to qualify. It's for anyone who struggles and could benefit from adjustments.

That sort of thing sounds seriously helpful.

OP posts: