Hi, my name is Sukichip1!

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.

Sukichip1

Yes I also have 80% loss  in both ears now hearing deteriorated after so many operations since being 4 yrs old. But I have managed well with 24/7 tinnitus, and bilateral aids I am hoping for a call from Ohs next week. 

Thanks for your contact ?

chiarieds

You're most welcome @Sukichip1 - My daughter was only nearly 4 years old, but she'd learnt to lip read with me I worked out. When I talked behind her she couldn't hear a thing. She's fine now after having grommets for a while.

Please do let us all know how you get on with your OH call next week, & we are all here to support you. Thank you for your reply.

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Sukichip1 and welcome to the community  

I'm sorry to hear that your hearing loss is having an impact on your work, hopefully the appointment next week will help towards resolving the situation. You've done very well to manage with 24/7 tinnitus.

The links provided above by @chiarieds are definitely worth a read, reasonable adjustments in particular could be something you would benefit from massively in the work place.

Just to let you know, I have moved this discussion to our visual and hearing impairment category.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @Sukichip1 How are you getting on today?