Do you declare your disabilities?

[DarrenM343]

Free prescriptions I receive for 5 years which I hope nobody begrudges me as a cancer patient. Only other thing I have is a key to use disabled toilets but that was sent to me as part of a package. Been told I could likely claim for various things, at least temporarily, but claiming benefits feels wrong to me as an early retiree with hopefully temporary issues to manage, but if anything becomes permanent where I felt I'd not be able to work if I wanted to then I'd look at the options. Thankfully most things have been provided (so costs not too much higher than normal), although paid for hospital parking until I found out I should be parking for free. A few days paid over £15 a day.

 

[dcsarge]

My hearing is normal, as I have also taken the audiogram. But I have a similar thing of struggling to follow conversations in noisy environments, and I wonder if I have some auditory processing disorder.
My immediate thought is I don't want to get anything for it, I guess. But then again, if I were entitled in that way, then there shouldn't be any qualms about that if it genuinely helps. I probably just need to tell people more or ask questions though, rather than nodding or saying 'hmm, yeah' all the time.

I read an article the other day about smart glasses, and they offer some promise for helping with hearing issues.

When was tested for tinnitus I was told my hearing was perfectly fine for my age, the tinnitus is more likely neurological and linked to my chronic migraine. Oddly up until a few years ago I really struggled to hear conversations with any sort of low frequency noise in the the background.

Made a few jobs very difficult when no else had issues. Couldn't stand bass heavy music and it would make me physically ill, even if it was carrying from a distance. It changed a few years ago and opened up a host of previously intolerable music to me.

My wife has two bone anchored hearing devices, after have hearing aids that led to recurring infections. She had hearing issues from childhood but crap parents who did sod all about it. She never realised how much she lip read until we were together and she started seeing a G.P more frequently. Still took years to get anywhere.

Her consultant, who tried inner ear implants to make up for the destroyed bone, told her she should be claiming DLA as it was then. My wife never liked to feel like it was an issue that required financial support, especially as my son had been born with a severe life limiting condition. It was only a few years ago that she acknowledged it was best for hospital staff to know she had hearing difficulties when he is admitted, as she always stays with him.

We have always gone with the 'we manage and there are are people worse off who need the help more' mindset. Probably to our detriment sometimes. I started saying yes a bit more when my son finished school, as support in adult services became a lot harder to access.