Disabling Effects

Within this range a hearing aid may be required depending upon the frequencies affected by the hearing loss, the persons’ occupation and whether they have a dual sensory disability. They will be unlikely to require communication aids, to lip read or use manual communication (BSL). They will have speech that can be understood by strangers and will be able to hear and understand a normal voice at I metre. Background noise may be intrusive.

Mobility

The ability to walk is likely to be unimpeded.

They are unlikely to have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar places and are likely to be able to ask for and hear directions. They are likely to be aware of common hazards.

Care

The resulting disability is unlikely to affect their ability to independently carry out activities of daily living.

They are likely to be able to identify common hazards in the home.

Disabling Effects

They are likely to gain benefit from amplification either from a hearing aid or by external devices. They may rely on a combination of amplified sound and lipreading. They will have speech that can be understood by strangers and will be able to hear and understand a normal voice at I metre with appropriate amplification. Background noise will have a notable affect in understanding speech.

Mobility

The ability to walk is likely to be unimpeded.

They are unlikely to have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar places and are unlikely to require guidance. However, they may not be able to hear traffic and other hazards adequately, for example to enable them to be aware of a hazard approaching outside their field of vision. They may also have difficulty with judging the direction, distance, or velocity of the source of the sound.

However, in the absence of other factors such as a learning disability, significant visual problem or mental health problems, this may be compensated for by increased visual awareness and by taking a little extra time.

Care

They are likely to be able to attend to tasks of personal care.

However, they may have problems with communication and may need a variety of types of communication support. The most common are lipspeakers, speech-to-text reporters, and notetakers. Communication support may be provided professionally or informally, for example by family or friends with the requisite abilities. Refer to the 'Communication methods' page for information.

They are likely to be able to identify common hazards in the home with appropriate amplification.

Disabling Effects

They will be more dependent on communication devices such as a textphone or videophone than those with a moderate condition. They are likely to lip read, but if BSL is the person’s first language, they may have no or limited lipreading skills. They are likely to use manual communication if the onset of hearing loss was before the development of language skills (pre-lingual deafness). Prelingually deaf adults may also have difficulties with written English. They may be eligible for a cochlear implant, but this is unsuitable for many deaf adults, particularly those who are prelingually deaf. They will be unable to hear and understand a raised voice at 1 metre. (Although in ideal conditions with aids they may be able to hear a raised voice, this may be adversely affected by background noise). Speech may be affected such that they may not be understood clearly by strangers.

Mobility

The ability to walk is likely to be unimpeded.

These people will be unable to hear speech and may rely on lip reading or British Sign Language (BSL) if they are skilled in these methods, however they will still have problems with communication unless accompanied by a BSL interpreter.

In addition, they may not be able to hear traffic and other hazards adequately, for example to enable them to be aware of a hazard approaching outside their field of vision. They may also have difficulty with judging the direction, distance, or velocity of the source of the sound.

Those who are prelingually deaf may have unintelligible speech and if the person cannot read or write, may not be able to find their way about on unfamiliar routes.

People with this level of functional restriction may have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar places and may require guidance outdoors.

However, in the absence of other factors such as a learning disability, significant visual problem or mental health problems, this may be compensated for by increased visual awareness and by taking a little extra time.

They may also satisfy the H/R Mobility criteria under the Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) or the deaf/blind deeming provisions. Click on the link Visual impairment deeming provisions and consult the Vision guidance.

Care

They are likely to be able to attend to tasks of personal care.

They are likely to be able to attend to tasks of personal care.

However, they will have problems with communication and will be unable to hear speech and may rely on lip reading or British Sign Language (BSL) if they are skilled in these methods. BSL users need to use a BSL interpreter for the translation of spoken English to BSL and vice versa. If they have difficulties with written English they may also need translation of the written word to BSL and vice versa. Those who do not use BSL may need a variety of other types of communication support. The most common are lipspeakers, speech-to-text reporters, and notetakers. Communication support may be provided professionally or informally, for example by family or friends with the requisite abilities. Refer to the ‘Communication methods' page for information.

There are many environmental aids available, which may help in some situations.