What evidence is available?
| Sources of evidence | Information Provided | Limitation of Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Claimant / Carer | First source of information and associated evidence. | Does not have specialist knowledge. |
| GP | Symptoms, investigations and treatment/management. | Does not have specialist knowledge.
Unlikely to have information about resulting disability or needs. |
| Audiologist, ENT or audiology consultant | Symptoms, investigations and treatment/management, and may have information about resulting disability or needs. | May not have information about resulting disability or needs. |
| Social worker | Resulting disability or needs. | May not have information about symptoms, investigations and treatment. |
| Teacher of deaf children | Resulting disability or needs. | May not have information about symptoms, investigations and treatment. |
| Speech and language therapist | Symptoms, investigations, treatment and resulting disability or needs. | N/A. |
| Professional involved in communication support | Resulting disability or needs. | May not have information about symptoms, investigations and treatment. |
| Orthoptist | Assessment of vision (visual acuity and fields) | May not have information about symptoms, signs, investigations other than assessment of vision, treatment/management, and unlikely to have information about resulting disability or needs |
| Optometrist | Symptoms, signs, investigations including assessment of vision, treatment/management, and likely to have information about resulting disability, needs and provision of low vision aids. | None |
| If considering entitlement to H/R Mobility component under the Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) provisions, the following evidence source must be used: | ||
| Consultant Ophthalmologist | Symptoms, signs, investigations including assessment of vision, treatment/management, and likely to have information about resulting disability or needs | None |
List of NHS hospitals with ophthalmology departments
