Hard of hearing / deaf - in an awkward postion

DeafLeopard

I'e been deaf since a child and it's never really stopped me doig anything. Until...Now.

I've got a job working in a nursery in the baby room and so it gets really loud and is really busy with noise.
However a few weeks ago i developed a viral infection which was fine. But, it led to my nasal passage being clogged up with muscus and so I couldn't hear anything for 2 weeks.

It's got better however, I can only hear properly in quiet environments such as sunday lunch in a pub or even shopping/walking down a street.
In busy environments It's really difficult to hear, even the person next to me or sometimes it's difficult for me to hear at all.
like today, i could hear voices and make out what they were trying to say but it was really blurred/muffled and muted, as well as hearing the background music which was too loud over these voices making it hard to engage in conversation.

I said to my manager that I won't be in tomorrow since i'm sicknoted off until tuesday...then it lead to a conversation that basically said that because of the above issue that work probably isn't suitable for me to work in because of all the noise, how difficult and uncomfortable it makes me when i'm trying to do my job & i can't because my hearing is a hindrance.

So bascially,
it's leading me to leave the job since it'll worsen my deafness and my other health issues (such as being stressed, depressed because i feel like i'm not doing my job properly etc...) and also, because as the time goes on it'll make every body elses job harder since we rely so much on communication with each other. Also my manager just doesn't want me to push myself in a job where it's actually making me even more ill just because i love it.

all my life i refused to not let it get in the way (mentally) but it's doing exactly that.

I don't get any support with or for it and i don't know BSL or any type of sign to be honest...and it just wouldn't work in my job anyway...

so what do i do? Is there any support i could get?
what jobs are suitable for me or what are my options?
up until know i knew what to do...

thank you in advance - sorry it's a long post.

matrix11001

Hi

First off - don't let them force you out without due process - your entitled to that under the Equality Act 2010 as you have a protected disability.

Speak to your CAB Office is a good start, also get a referral to the Audiology department in your local hospital - they can look into hearing aids. I don't like wearing them, but I forget they're there most of the time (I have the Seimens). Also a referral to Hearing Therapy might come up with some ideas.

They aren't allowed to let you go unless they follow strict procedure and your entitled to have work place adaptations. Access To Work can also help you there.

Your job centre will have a Disability Employment Advisor.

Also speak to your GP - they may be able to help you with your other issues.

Stay positive it will all be find in the end.

I was/am in the same position - not much support here. Now my diagnosis has got worse I've made sure they're pulling their weight and I get the support. It's shocking that people with hearing loss are practically on their own unless they really push, but there is a lot of help out there.

If there is a local hearing and sight centre it is worth contacting them as well. Some areas have deaf clubs - who are a great source of info/support.

Sncjw

Hi I was in a similar position due to losing hearing fully in right ear due to infection. I was off sick for 6 months but also I was a student nurse at the time. I was resisting some modules when it happend. After a year of investigating they removed me from the course, I felt the oh assesment and work place assesment was unfair. It's taken a while to move on but I have now. I'm not as angry as I used to be because of them. It was difficult to take action against the, due to my placement/uni. However work couldn't have been better in supportingme. They moved me to a different area of the shop and have been ever since. I've been looking for a career and found a job doing admin.

Now maybe you could be placed in a different area of the nursery or look into nurseries that are quieter. I understand the muffle ness as when im I'll i get the muffle too.

Regarding bsl it is an expensive language to learn but I attend deaf groups which have been great as you learn sign socially. There's always someone to help you.

As with you I was managing fine and when I lost this hearing I felt lost. I did have bursts of crying due to the lack of money and unable to go out due to money issues when I was on the sick. My family helped me get through it and pushed for appointments to be brought forward.

I too struggle with a lot of background noise so my family make gestures. I do feel a lil shoved out as I can't follow what's going on. Have you had a hearing test recently. If not ask your gp to refer you for one and they may see you need a stronger hearing aid if you have one or maybe a baha if you still have none conduction.
If you feel you can't manage with your current job see if there's any transferable skills you have to go into another job. It will be hard because it sounds like you love this current job with children. Maybe you could work in a school providing admin support. Yeah I know deaf people probably just get told to sit in front of computer screen which is what I was told by oh. When I went for interviews I asked what support can be put in place as I can't use the phone. Some were thrown back but I would have expected them to know I'm disabled as I ticked yes to be interviewed under the garunteed interview scheme. This scheme is used by some employers and means that if you meet the essential criteria and your disabled then your garunteed to be interviewed.

It's hard for deaf people because it's a hidden disability and not supported as it should be. I find it crazy that deaf have to pay a lot of money to learn a language that can help them in life.