Page 6 | Pip for unilateral hearing loss

SomeCommonThing · 2023-01-05T17:40:15+00:00

I'm thinking of applying for pip for one sided hearing loss, I've been moderately deaf in that ear for as long as I can remember and have worn a hearing aid since I was a child. I feel my hearing is getting worse and have an appointment to request another hearing test, I have also finally accepted I actually have a disability, and decided to maybe try apply for pip. I was wondering if anyone on here had any experience of claiming for a similar condition?

itsgettingweird · 07/01/2023 17:10

SomeCommonThing · 05/01/2023 19:17

As it seems to be relevant to some posters, Any award would be used for daily living. There are certain things I cannot do or avoid doing to accommodate the hearing loss, such as use public transport. I can't hear the announcements and find it too stressful and it makes me really anxious to try and get on the train, so would use it to contribute to the running of my car to get to work.
I will avoid certain shops and stores and pay more to order online unless DH can be with me at the store to speak to the sales people. Being completely honest I will pay for my hearing aid batteries as the NHS often give me the wrong ones for my aid and it's a 40 min drive to the clinic. Whether people deem this good enough or not I don't know.
As an aside I actually find my hearing aid makes it worse sometimes as it amplifies all sounds which then makes it harder to follow one sound if that make sense.

You need to also think about the mobility part with regards the fact you can't use public transport with assistance and or certain public spaces.

When I do ds form I always look at each descriptor - think about what I can do - think about what he can do with support and can't do with support and what he can't do without support.

Write it all down. PIP also asks what you would do if you had support.

Think beyond what you've got use to as someone who's always had hearing loss to what you could do if you weren't someone with a hearing impairment iyswim? There's your differences.

Original poster

SomeCommonThing · 07/01/2023 17:17

itsgettingweird · 07/01/2023 17:10

You need to also think about the mobility part with regards the fact you can't use public transport with assistance and or certain public spaces.

When I do ds form I always look at each descriptor - think about what I can do - think about what he can do with support and can't do with support and what he can't do without support.

Write it all down. PIP also asks what you would do if you had support.

Think beyond what you've got use to as someone who's always had hearing loss to what you could do if you weren't someone with a hearing impairment iyswim? There's your differences.

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Thank you, this is a really helpful post, I really appreciate it.

OP posts:

safetyfreak · 07/01/2023 17:24

I have a 10yr old DD who has severe hearing loss in one ear, she struggles in situations with loud background noise and cannot locate sounds however, I hope as a adult she can get a job she enjoys and lives a full life.

My DD is able to pay for items in the shop on her own and will be using public transport soon, she may struggle to hear at times but its something she has to overcome.

I cannot see how you can apply for Pip with just unilateral hearing loss, it appears this is more about your mental health than your hearing loss.

Hellocatshome · 07/01/2023 17:28

OneSidedHearing · 05/01/2023 18:08

That is so interesting. I am completely deaf in one ear (so no hearing aid) and over time have met plenty of people who also have this condition. We all live normal lives with only the most minuscule adjustments to everyday life. It has never affected me to the extent that I would think of myself as disabled even though technically I am. And I'm certainly not scoring any points on the document linked above. I will never enjoy stereo sound and I can't tell where a sound is coming from (I tend to get a bit stressed driving if I hear an ambulance but can't yet see the blue lights). I struggle socialising in noisy environments (think pub) and I always position myself on the same side of people/ a specific corner of the table, and I always pick the phone up on one side (which inconveniently is also my writing hand). I do sometimes completely miss people speaking to me if they have not first attracted my attention, and I usually tell new acquaintances very early about y deafness because they might think I am ignoring them .
Of course if my "good" ear also started to fail that would be different premise.

Are you me? This is exactly my position and exactly the kind of adjustments I make for myself. I'm always the driver as if I sit in the passenger seat I cant hear what DH is saying etc. I have never considered myself disabled as there is nothing I cant do. Although the careers advisor at school said it would prevent me being a pilot but that hasn't yet come up in my life.

OneSidedHearing · 07/01/2023 17:44

@Hellocatshome Hi yes that's exactly it. Mine is the other side and I'm the only driver in the family so I always have to remind people to really speak up in the car when I'm driving. Good thing DH is not the talkative type... I remembered one more thing: going to the cinema when they used to do the 3D dolby surround sound demo "the audience is listening" or some such thing. Completely lost on me 😁
And did you know that both your phone and your computer have a setting somewhere in the accessibility section that allows you to combine both R&L stereo audio channels into one output. Really this is not an uncommon condition and you mostly don't notice it in people.

Itisbetter · 07/01/2023 18:07

From a practical point of view if you have an iPhone you can train it to listen for the smoke alarm for you, so you don’t have to wait for dh to be in.

support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iphf2dc33312/ios

Itisbetter · 07/01/2023 18:13

I’m sorry if this is something you’ve tried ages ago but have you been assessed by an OT? They have loads of tried and tested ways of making life safer and easier and the assessment and subsequent suggestions might both make life easier and be useful demonstrating how your disability impacts your function.

HoneyDragon · 07/01/2023 19:32

@Soubriquet think you and I need to check our deaf privilege with our magical hearing aids and let the hearing folk get the benefit of escaping fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and other emergency evacuation. If we die at least we can go thinking “what are the fucking chances?” 😉

Soubriquet · 07/01/2023 19:39

HoneyDragon · 07/01/2023 19:32

@Soubriquet think you and I need to check our deaf privilege with our magical hearing aids and let the hearing folk get the benefit of escaping fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and other emergency evacuation. If we die at least we can go thinking “what are the fucking chances?” 😉

Yeah. Imagine the headlines

”deaf women die in fire cos they didn’t hear the alarms. Neighbours are quoted to say “well…who would have thought a fire would have started””

itsgettingweird · 07/01/2023 20:11

”deaf women die in fire cos they didn’t hear the alarms. Neighbours are quoted to say “well…who would have thought a fire would have started””

Yeah. And we already have had knobhead politicians making stupid statements about people should have just got out. So I sadly don't think you're far wrong with it. People do need to check their privilege.

Lougle · 07/01/2023 21:42

PIP guidance is risk severity Vs likelihood. So, for example, a very minor risk that is quite likely to happen to most people at some point (e.g. small scald from boiling water) is 'acceptable'. A big risk that is quite unlikely to happen (such as a fire) is not 'acceptable'. So the not being able to hear a fire alarm counts as a need for supervision (and is specifically given as an example in the guidance).

NotMyDayJob · 07/01/2023 21:54

safetyfreak · 07/01/2023 17:24

I have a 10yr old DD who has severe hearing loss in one ear, she struggles in situations with loud background noise and cannot locate sounds however, I hope as a adult she can get a job she enjoys and lives a full life.

My DD is able to pay for items in the shop on her own and will be using public transport soon, she may struggle to hear at times but its something she has to overcome.

I cannot see how you can apply for Pip with just unilateral hearing loss, it appears this is more about your mental health than your hearing loss.

This is the point I have been (gently) trying to make.

Please be assured that there are many people with unilateral and bilateral hearing loss who live good lives. As long as your daughter knows how to make the right accomodations she will (hopefully) be fine.

The only thing I really regret is 'pretending' I wasn't deaf for so long. Such hard work. Entirely pointless.

FatGirlSwim · 08/01/2023 02:28

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 15:45

So a fire is really likely to happen 50% of the time? Get real

It has to be reasonable for it to happen.

The 50% rule doesn’t apply here. What applies is ‘constant risk’. So, for example, in the case of a person with epilepsy, they won’t be having a seizure while carrying a pan of hot water 50% of the time, but the risk is 100% of the time. The fire alarm is the same.

FatGirlSwim · 08/01/2023 02:29

TheShellBeach · 07/01/2023 05:03

Thank you for this.
It is just further evidence that DWP assessors are inadequately trained.
Have you seen the AMA thread which is current?

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More often than not, PIP assessors are incorrectly applying the law.

GG2022 · 09/01/2023 14:04

Thanks for clarification on your position @FatGirlSwim I am completely with you on this.
I suspect the reason 80% of PIP appeals are successful is because DWP assessors work to certain guidelines and a very generic approach, rather than looking at each case individually. One person with unilateral hearing loss may face different difficulties to another, whether due to their living arrangements, or how they travel to work. If a blanket approach is used then its pointless.

How PP can dispute the importance of hearing a fire alarm going off is beyond me! I would also disagree with the PP who implied that the PIP award for unilateral hearing loss is more about mental health than hearing loss.
If driving a car and a passenger is giving directions but your hearing loss is on that side making hearing where you are supposed to go tricky - i would say that is nothing to do with mental health and all to do with not being able to hear!
For those with hearing loss leading 'normal lives' making small adjustment - well done to you. Its good you don't feel you need the extra support that PIP can offer and means the system isnt abused.