would i get disability?

George Michael

Hi folks

i am severely hard of hearing. this rules me out of a lot of jobs. if a requirement is "good interpersonal skills," then generally i dont apply for that job. even with the hearing aids i struggle to catch what people are saying. its so bad my hearing that i dont socialize much at all. I kind of need to lip read people to know what they are saying or i have to use subtitles for the tv.

The other thing as well is that because of my bad hearing the GAD kicks in and i get very nervous because i am afraid i wont hear something that is said. This makes me look and appear very unsure of myself. Because of my bad hearing my social skills are very poor.

Would i be able to claim disability because of this? I have worked before in a factory warehousing (lifting boxes), which was grand because i was left to my own devices. So i can work, its just only in a certain environment. But working in Mcdonalds or a coffee shop would be a disaster and i doubt (if i got a job in those sectors) i would be kept on.

intheclouds

Well you do suffer from a disability IMO. What does your doctor say about it?

What's your medical prognosis? Can anything be done to help your hearing?

There is a guy who is hard of hearing in my office. A programmer. It doesn't seem to affect his ability to work.

What about a trade where you could be your own boss and work alone, like a tiler or plasterer?

Of if you are more academically inclined, maybe something like accountancy?

George Michael

intheclouds wrote: »

Well you do suffer from a disability IMO. What does your doctor say about it?

What's your medical prognosis? Can anything be done to help your hearing?

There is a guy who is hard of hearing in my office. A programmer. It doesn't seem to affect his ability to work.

What about a trade where you could be your own boss and work alone, like a tiler or plasterer?

Of if you are more academically inclined, maybe something like accountancy?

ive never discussed it with the GP tbh. i will probably do the next time.

hearing aids are what i have had since i was young. they dont seem to work 100%. they help but i still need to lip read in order to hear effectively. if someone is beside me or behind me, i wouldnt catch what they say. all i hear is a mumble and i have to ask them to repeat themselves. or if i am socializing and there is a group of people, i struggle to hear what they say. i have to be looking at the person to hear them and it takes great concentration.

yea i think something along the lines of tiler or plasterer would suit. i have a degree in arts but i kind of only went to college for the experience. i dont think any of the professional jobs would suit. like i said the GAD kicks in and i get very nervous because im afraid i wont hear. you kind of really need exemplary interpersonal skills for the professional jobs. i would be struggling to hear whats been said on the phone even.

i think as well a large part of your role in some jobs is how you interact with people. you have to be able to get along with your co workers to build morale and so forth. i hold my hand up and say because of my bad hearing my social skills are a disaster. maybe an electrician or a car mechanic would be better.

the other thing as well is that when retrospective employers find out about my bad hearing, they usually are not impressed and just go for someone else, which is understandable from their point of view. the hearing aids are cumbersome too. the battery goes or they get clogged up with ear wax or else its too windy or else its too loud like in a nightclub.

thanks anyhow for replying. i will look into it with the doctor next time.

intheclouds

I definitely think you need to discuss this more with your GP, and maybe get referred to a specialist.

I know that there are different reasons for people to be hard of hearing and there are different types of hearing aids now too. I saw someone with a bone conduction device recently.

So there could be ways for you to improve the situation and that might open up more opportunities for you?

In my job we Skype message a lot rather than phone and a lot of people are foreign so wouldn't follow a fast moving conversation in English anyway so everyone just accepts that and works around it.

I can understand why you feel your social skills are lacking but it's probably not nearly as bad as you perceive it to be.

What about a job working with the hard of hearing community? Teaching sign language?

Gatling

I know my wife was told she wouldn't qualify she's two hearing aids recently fitted ,
It may be worth having a hearing accessment done again and maybe look into new hearing aids

njs030

Firstly your gp would have to fill in the form to say you're unfit for work for at least 12 months, there is a section they have to fill in about what your disability stops you doing which might be hard. There is specialists or other types of hearing aids that you could look into first.
You can work, it's just certain areas aren't suitable for you but I'm not sure that you would be classed as disabled.

George Michael

notjustsweet wrote: »

Firstly your gp would have to fill in the form to say you're unfit for work for at least 12 months, there is a section they have to fill in about what your disability stops you doing which might be hard. There is specialists or other types of hearing aids that you could look into first.
You can work, it's just certain areas aren't suitable for you but I'm not sure that you would be classed as disabled.

this is what i was thinking myself. i could work in certain jobs like factory work or cleaning etc. but working jobs wherein you are liaising with clients or the general public would be out of the question.