Daily living component activity 7 descriptor B (2 points)
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.
Who it may apply to
Daily living component activity 7 descriptor B may apply to an individual who requires a hearing aid or a cochlear implant in order to hear to an acceptable level due to a difficulty with their hearing function, or who requires an electro larynx in order to speak due to a difficulty in being able to form speech.
Who it’s most likely to apply to
Daily living component activity 7 descriptor B is most likely to apply to an individual with needs relating to a sensory condition or conditions.
If someone does not wear a prescribed hearing aid or cochlear implant
You should consider exploring why an individual does not wear a prescribed hearing aid or cochlear implant, to establish if there’s a good reason including but not limited to:
- chronic ear infection
- damage to the cochlea or auditory nerves
- the individual is totally deaf
- discomfort in wearing them
If there is a good reason, then function without the aid should be considered. If there is not a good reason, expected function with the aid should be considered.
If an individual cannot speak or hear to an acceptable standard even with the use of aids or appliances, then a higher descriptor may be more appropriate.
Examples of aids and appliances
Aids or appliances may include but are not limited to:
- hearing devices
- electro larynx
- speaking valve
- pointer
- adapted mouse for a computer
- eye tracking device
- pen and paper
- aided augmentative and alternative communication methods such as speech generating devices
Who it’s unlikely to apply to
Where an individual is either:
- prescribed a hearing aid but is able to hear to a sufficient level without it
- prescribed a hearing aid in one ear and has functional hearing in the other
then daily living component activity 7 descriptor B is unlikely to apply.
If an individual has been prescribed hearing aids or cochlear implants in both ears and is unable to use them, the reasons for not being able to wear them should be established before considering a higher descriptor.
Example: an individual who had throat cancer, who satisfies daily living component activity 7 descriptor B
Cariad had a cancerous growth on her throat and as a result, had an operation to remove some of the structure of her throat. This means that she is unable to produce sound when she’s talking. However, she was given an electronic voice box.
Application form and supporting information
In her application for ADP, she explains that she holds this against her throat and the vibrations of her throat make the words come out of the device.
This is supported by a letter sent from the ear, nose and throat doctor.
Case manager’s decision
As Cariad cannot express verbal communication herself, she requires a device to do this for her. The case manager determines that Cariad satisfies daily living component activity 7 descriptor B, because the electronic voice box is an aid in expressing verbal information.