New Hearing Loss and Access to Work

[Yasai]

My hearing loss is very new and was diagnosed in July of this year. It's currently considered mild, my left ear is worse than my right due to having a perforated eardrum as a child in the left ear.

I had an assessment with Audiology for hearing aids and learnt so much about it that I didn't know before. My hearing is absolutely terrible in places with background noise (my place of work unfortunately has a lot of this), places like concert venues (learnt when I had my second vaccine at such a venue) and I was recommended an Assistive Listening Device for these occasions.

I've noticed recently while at work that my hearing is getting worse - I get thrown off and disoriented far more easily by noises and while I used to get like that at the end of a shift, it's now happening 2 hours into a shift and interfering. I can't put off the Assistive Listening Device any longer and want to know more about the process of getting the VAT discount and the paperwork around it.

I'm going through Access to Work with my employer currently but my manager is very busy and often forgets to chase these things up, so I'm trying to sort it myself but I have no idea where to start.

I'm also arranging my ENT appointment at the moment but that may take a while and I'm really hoping it isn't necessary for sorting out anything with Access to Work.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[alpacagirl]

I have NHS hearing aids and bought a streamer + TV adapter so I can stream from my phone/iPad and TV to my hearing aids. As I have a severe hearing loss it makes a lot of difference to me. To buy without VAT wasn’t that difficult, I filled in an online form on HMRC website explaining what I wanted to buy asking if I was eligible for VAT discount, the VAT team emailed back confirming I was and telling me which form to fill in - this was back in 2017 so can’t remember exactly. I may have had to send a photo of my NHS battery book. Good luck!

[Yasai in reply to alpacagirl]

Thank you very much! I was worried about being able to provide any evidence for HMRC to consider in the application, but I suppose I could ask Audiology to send me some paperwork to sort that issue.

Currently waiting for an ENT referral to further explore why I have acquired a hearing impairment as it started in February of this year. If it gets worse I am predicted to get hearing aids in the next 1-2 years, but right now they would actually make the hearing loss worse.

I ended up getting a middle ear infection in both ears after the Hearing Aid Assessment and it's been getting harder to hear my work colleagues, so I need to get it sorted out ASAP.

Thank you very much for replyjng 😁

[alpacagirl in reply to Yasai]

Sounds as if something is wrong - a hearing assessment shouldn’t really result in a middle ear infection. It is difficult when you can’t hear well at work - hope the ENT referral comes through quickly😊

[Yasai in reply to alpacagirl]

It was caused by the ear drops and irrigation I was told to do prior to the Hearing Aid Assessment. The Audiologist had real trouble actually seeing the left eardrum because it was so angry. ☹️

I followed the leaflet's guidance I was sent from Audiology, but the Audiologist told me she discouraged patients from using the ear drops and irrigation prior to an appointment for this exact reason. Lesson learned for next time.

Work is always incredibly tiring due to the hearing loss. Having to really be aware of everything going on, trying to figure out what direction a noise has come from, trying to help a customer when they're in a group of others all talking at exactly the same time...I usually leave work feeling a bit annoyed by the whole thing.

I have gotten myself a lanyard and badge clearly stating I have a hearing loss after several misunderstandings from customers who thought I wasn't listening on purpose. I'm trying my best with the hearing I do have 😟

Thank you very much! I moved recently and got all of my hospital referrals sorted out last week. With HMRC I don't have a lot of "evidence" to go with my request but I'm hoping that anything from Audiology / my GP will be enough until I can see ENT.

[XeniaBrciks]

Hi, I have been using Synaps-XT for about two months and I am extremely happy with the result. Indeed, these supplements work. I recommend them with confidence.🙏👇

bit.ly/SynapsE-XT

[Hidden]

Hello Yasai. It sounds like more going on with you inner ear/nerve damage/ balance issues. I have sensorineural hearing loss (since 2014) and wear one hesting aid though I was issued with two.

Like you I find situations with loud background noise make me feel imbalanced. I also get a lot of mental fog and find it hard to concentrate on listening for long periods. Words are distorted and I can't distinguish consonants very well. Like you I have to piece conversations together.

I have been told it is likely that I have Menieres Disease. What you are going through is similar to what I went through at work for the last two years I was there. It is utterly exhausting and sounds like you have Menieres or similar vestibular condition.

Good luck at ENT and don't let them dismiss you. It is often difficult to explain what you are experiencing. I was googling vertigo and trying to describe what I was going g through and find tge word disequilibrium fits it best as I wasn't getting a spinning sensation as such. (though I used to a few years ago).

I no longer work and have applied for PIP. I tried to soldier on a bit longer than I could manage. It is difficult- especially if you 'look well' to others - but it is utterly exhausting. I sympathise with you. Please put your health first. Best wishes.