How long will the needs last?
Hearing Loss Duration Guidance
The most common hearing conditions listed in the table below are covered by this duration guidance.
| Impairment |
|---|
| Conductive hearing loss due to Trauma |
| Other causes of conductive hearing loss / type not known |
| Deafness – congenital / Pre lingual |
| Sensorineural hearing loss due to Trauma |
| Sensorineural hearing loss - Other causes of / type not known |
| Hearing loss - mixed |
| Disease affecting hearing & balance - Other/ type not known |
Also consult the Visual Impairment guidance for award duration advice.
Details of each age group depending on the date of onset of the condition
Date of onset less than 2 years
For a child with hearing loss of less than 2 years the response to treatment is likely to be clear for the majority within 2 years.
| Age at date of claim | Award Period |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 | Award to age 3 |
| 1 -15 | 2 year award |
Date of onset more than 2 years
A child with hearing loss of more than 2 years is likely to be provided with aids and adaptations and adapt to their hearing loss with increasing age. At age 16 it should be clear whether the child has fully adapted or not.
| Age at date of claim | Award Period |
|---|---|
| 1 | Not applicable |
| 2 – 7 cochlear implant surgery done | 2 years (minimum) from date of cochlear implant |
| 2 – 7 cochlear implant surgery not done | Award to age 8 (or for 1 year whichever is the longer) |
| 8 – 13 (cochlear implant surgery not done/done but of limited success) | To age 16 |
| 14 -15 (cochlear implant surgery not done/done but of limited success) | 2 year award |
Reason for Renewal
The majority of children who are considered for cochlear implantation will have had this performed by the age of 8. After cochlear implantation, children require a few years of rehabilitation to teach them to listen to and make sense of the new sounds and to optimally tune the device. Most children are eventually able to hear conversation without lip reading and use spoken language for everyday communication. Therefore an award for a minimum of 2 years should be considered after cochlear implantation.
Otitis Media with effusion (OME) - previously known as Chronic Secretory Otitis Media
The majority of children with OME (glue ear) will improve without the need for treatment or medical intervention and almost all children grow out of the condition. OME can be relieved with a surgical procedure to drain the fluid and insert temporary ‘grommets’ in the eardrum. However, a smaller proportion suffer with persistent long term glue ear and may be unsuitable for surgery. Some of these children use hearing aids. Such cases should be discussed with Medical Services.
Other hearing conditions
With the exception of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media the conditions below are uncommon and for this reason there is no clinical information about them in this guidance but they may have care / mobility needs depending on the degree of hearing loss. Medical Services advice should be obtained in these cases.
| Impairment |
|---|
| Otitis externa - chronic |
| Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media |
| Mastoiditis |
| Otosclerosis |
Hearing impairment with visual impairment. You may need to consider whether H/R Mob Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) or blind/deaf deeming provisions are satisfied. See Visual Impairment Deeming Provisions
