DLA for Deaf Child?

Mintcar

Hello, my son has had a very late diagnosis and we have recently had it confirmed that he is severely deaf in his right ear. He has been fitted with a hearing aid.

The National Deaf Children's Society say that it is unlikely we would be awarded DLA at this stage in his life - he is now 8yrs old. He is 'only' deaf in one ear, so I tend to think that it is probably true. He doesn't need as much 'care' as a younger child. However, he needs supervision in traffic situations, needs taking to audiology for appts and consultant appointments regularly from now on.

Just wondered if anyone has been awarded DLA for a child with unilateral hearing loss, at this age.

Thanks.

Oldernotwiser

You don't get awarded DLA for a diagnosis but for care and/or mobility needs.

Mupette

Mintcar wrote: »

Hello, my son has had a very late diagnosis and we have recently had it confirmed that he is severely deaf in his right ear. He has been fitted with a hearing aid.

The National Deaf Children's Society say that it is unlikely we would be awarded DLA at this stage in his life - he is now 8yrs old. He is 'only' deaf in one ear, so I tend to think that it is probably true. He doesn't need as much 'care' as a younger child. However, he needs supervision in traffic situations, needs taking to audiology for appts and consultant appointments regularly from now on.

Just wondered if anyone has been awarded DLA for a child with unilateral hearing loss, at this age.

Thanks.

Sorry but at age 8 you as his parent would take him anyway,
you wouldn't let a healthy child cross a busy road, if they had an appointment anywhere you would be expected to be there too.

Sorry to be blunt, but have another think and see what care needs he has in relation too his hearing impediment.

mobility? does he have any needs there
care? what care does he need that another 8 year old wouldn't need.

Good luck but i don't think there would be anything, but get expert advice rather than a forum, DLA is tricky to get for someone like me (I have M.S.) i have mobility and care needs, i do get DLA but just submitted my renewal.

Tigsteroonie

Have a nosey around the RNID website - my circumstances were much different (baby, bilateral hearing loss) but I found some good information there on what extra care would be appropriate and how to phrase that on the DLA submission.

My advice is to try for DLA - if you don't get it, you haven't lost anything for trying.

Mintcar

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't get awarded DLA for a diagnosis but for care and/or mobility needs.

Yes, I do understand that. That is why I was asking for any advice from others in the same situation. Thank you.:)

malibu6

You should contact NDCS specialist team who can allocate you with a local representive who can give you a booklet on what you can claim for on care and mobility.

You need to do a daily diary of then there been a communication breakdown , does your child speak words correctly and clearly , does he behave differently when in a large group such as feeling isolated !

Apply anyway

Mintcar

Mupette wrote: »

Sorry but at age 8 you as his parent would take him anyway,
you wouldn't let a healthy child cross a busy road, if they had an appointment anywhere you would be expected to be there too.

Sorry to be blunt, but have another think and see what care needs he has in relation too his hearing impediment.

mobility? does he have any needs there
care? what care does he need that another 8 year old wouldn't need.

Good luck but i don't think there would be anything, but get expert advice rather than a forum, DLA is tricky to get for someone like me (I have M.S.) i have mobility and care needs, i do get DLA but just submitted my renewal.

Hello! Thanks! Actually I was quoting those things as some of the criteria that I've read in relation to awards for the benefit for the hearing impaired. Having to take your child for further appointments on an ongoing basis was listed as something to mention on the form. Not that I personally consider that as necessarily criteria for receiving benefit at all. It is a minefield!!! Mobility criteria comes into play with crossing the road, ANY road, not just a busy one.. and not understanding the dangers or not hearing traffic from coming behind - he needs constant supervision when out - whereas other children of his age are out playing with their friends in nearby estates or do not need supervision. Riding a bike and doing other things that kids of his age take for granted are also more precarious. That is a major factor for my son as he can't locate noise. This is within and classified within the mobility criteria. Also care in dangerous situations. He would not hear a fire alarm if sleeping on his good ear etc etc.

I just wondered if others have any experience in this field.

Thanks for your help. We didn't think of DLA before at all, until I saw it mentioned.

Mintcar

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Have a nosey around the RNID website - my circumstances were much different (baby, bilateral hearing loss) but I found some good information there on what extra care would be appropriate and how to phrase that on the DLA submission.

My advice is to try for DLA - if you don't get it, you haven't lost anything for trying.

Hi - yes thanks!!! That's what I figure - if we get it - bonus - a university fund for him. If not, hey-ho.

Jacob would have been unilaterally deaf since 14 months after we nearly lost him to viral encephalitis. It took this long for a diagnosis!! At least we have it and thank God he is now aided! :)

Mintcar

malibu6 wrote: »

You should contact NDCS specialist team who can allocate you with a local representive who can give you a booklet on what you can claim for on care and mobility.

You need to do a daily diary of then there been a communication breakdown , does your child speak words correctly and clearly , does he behave differently when in a large group such as feeling isolated !

Apply anyway

Thanks!!! I think because of his extremely late diagnosis, we have compensated and so has he for his hearing loss. Therefore, I hadn't considered DLA at all! However, since his aid it has changed my perspective. Now, when he isn't wearing it - I notice how much he lip reads (well, I'd noticed it before really) - he struggles in groups, he can't hear all of a conversation particularly if more than one person is speaking at a time. He doesn't like participating in group things often and feels disorientated... He speaks brilliantly - as I mentioned, he has lip read and over compensated from a very early age. I have to make sure that I watch him extremely closely when out walking etc etc.

I think we'll apply -nothing venture, nothing gained. The diary is a great tip

dmg24

Mintcar wrote: »

Hi - yes thanks!!! That's what I figure - if we get it - bonus - a university fund for him. If not, hey-ho.

Jacob would have been unilaterally deaf since 14 months after we nearly lost him to viral encephalitis. It took this long for a diagnosis!! At least we have it and thank God he is now aided! :)

As Oldernotwiser has said, DLA is for care and mobility needs. If you don't need to spend the DLA money on such needs, that would be a strong indicator that he does not have them.

Mintcar

dmg24 wrote: »

As Oldernotwiser has said, DLA is for care and mobility needs. If you don't need to spend the DLA money on such needs, that would be a strong indicator that he does not have them.

It isn't means tested though - I can cope with extra care because our income allows for this - we have enough funds to cover extra care as we are in a fortunate position that we don't have a mortgage and would spend any extra funds on making our son's life easier. Doesn't mean that we can't claim it and aren't entitled to it. ???