Severe to profound hearing loss

Hi Debbe

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

The first thing I would say, in your PIP claim have you fully explained how you condition affects you day to day and did you send in supporting documents in regards to hearing loss and balance disorder.

We have very good guides in the members only section which has recently been updated 29th May 2020, 106 pages long.

In answer to your question, the assessors have to make reasonable adjustments, I am not sure how they will deal with someone who has severe hearing loss, members on this forum may be able to help with your question. You need to send in as much relevant supporting documents as you have to help you with your claim, including supporting letters from family and friends if they provide you with support.

Gary

Debbe

Assessors are told that lip reading is not considered an acceptable way to interpret verbal communication and so your ability to lip read or not or anything that stops you from lip reading such as the face masks that you mention should not be considered

The Communicating Verbally activity considers a claimant’s ability to communicate verbally with regard to expressive (conveying) communication and receptive (receiving and understanding) communication in one’s native language.

Gordon

Debbe

On the assumption that you do not know BSL, you have not mentioned it, then you should be arguing that you meet

e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support. 12 points.

The lip reading (and the masks) are a distraction that will undermine any argument that you meet this Descriptor.

Gordon