Hi, my name is Sukichip1!

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Sukichip1

Sensory impairment
Hearing. Wearing two aids and being told I’m going to referred to fitness to work, as masks are impacting my ability to hear,I can read peoples lips, and suffering more with ffp3 masks as people’s voices more muffled. When I asked if I could be excused from assisting in RA Sedation I was faced with abruptness and aggression, I tried to advise that a particular 
clinician voice was very hard to hear as pitch
of people’s voices differs.  I felt I was trying to put the patient first, due to clinician having to constantly repete her self to me and her voice raising with frustration due to my disability. 

I left feeling bullied frustrated and stressed by clinician and line manager. 

chiarieds

Hi @Sukichip1 - I'm pleased to be the first to welcome you to our friendly & supportive community. I'm very sorry to read about the difficulties you've faced; it should not be like that.

It's not the same, but when I was concerned about my daughter's hearing when she was very young, my husband couldn't understand. It turned out she had 80% hearing loss in one ear, & some in the other (due to glue ear, i.e. secretory otitis media). She could hear my husband, but not me very well due to the different pitch in my voice.

May I ask when you might see an Occupational Health professional?

Scope has some info on 'Reasonable adjustments' that may prove helpful. Please see: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/reasonable-adjustments-at-work/

Please note the links on this page that ACAS (https://www.acas.org.uk/ ), as well as EEAS (https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/ ) may also be able to advise you.

I'm so sorry you felt bullied. It's difficult for us all due to this pandemic, but you shouldn't have been made to feel like that in your workplace.