Assessment via phone for people with speech disability

yanni said:

I have every sympathy for you. I have severe-profound hearing loss and there is no way I can manage an hour long phone call. If the assessor has an accent or is softly spoken there is no way I am going to be able to understand them.

 On my PIP review form I asked for the assessment to be done via text relay as a reasonable adjustment under the Equalities Act. I am still waiting to hear from them.

The only positive is that if you are claiming communication difficulties the assessment itself will be prove of those difficulties.

 It may be worth trying to speak to the assesment provider today by text relay and making it clear that you are not going to be able to complete an assessment by phone and that you are asking for an assesesment by text relay as a reasonable adjustment under the Equalities Act 2010 and that to fail to do this is against the law. It might make them reconsider?

 Good luck

Yanni I have contacted them twice both times told it’s not possible , I already receive pip for this condition & others so there fully aware , face to face is easier though a struggle to hold a conversation that long it’s totally different than trying to speak on a phone even video is easier as they can see you struggling and allow for palsies in the conversation I never use a phone for calls .I feel embarrassed and ashamed of how I sound and just hate this whole disability thing where they want someone to talk for you , my partner could not possible put into words my daily struggles what it feels like for me Iv learnt to make adjustments even I don’t think of as it comes natural now the norm for me , I feel and sound such a winge bag I don’t mean too . Was only told recently that they have exhausted all possible help for me medically and because they tried new surgeries for my particular condition the time factor waiting to see if it would work the surgery which would of helped is now not possible to late , I’m as low as I can get and this blasted pip assessment just seemed to of tipped me over the edge feel so bloody useless 

Firstly thank you for all your advice I wish had found you earlier , I got myself in a right old state woke with massive migraine vomiting all morning worrying about it , though I know I’m genuine I still get so stressed . I got through it the guy was understanding just hope because I did get through it they see that as I don’t have issues , I will pay severely for this conversation with my swallowing and discomfort which they won’t see. I will write though as I do feel it isn't on .

@Tori_Scope thank you for your help , once it was over I settled down my migraine has subsided but they knock me silly for days , may I ask if you know. If people get help with bilateral vestibular weakness this is a new thing Iv added to my claim as my hearing balance is affected daily ,I tried to explain best I could but the guy I felt didn’t understand as he was asking questions that all meant the same thing about going out felt he was trying to catch me out or something I just told him how I am on the days I cannot go out alone , I was also asked what education I had what on earth does that have to do with a condition that started in my 40s. 

@poppy123456 thank you , yes I understand that and I did try to explain the problems it causes and what we have adapted or use to help me