NEL scores are established during an interview process between the assessing medical practitioner and the client. Establishing the appropriate score involves subjective considerations and often the descriptions in the Guide do not precisely correlate to a client's exact circumstances.
Some clients may have a tendency to exaggerate the effects of the impairment while others may adopt a stoical attitude and downplay the real effects of suffering from their impairments upon their lifestyle.
The assessing doctor and the client will usually indicate whether there is disagreement or a discrepancy in the scores arising from the interview process.
As the assessor you should satisfy yourself that the NEL scores appear reasonably proportionate to the condition suffered. For instance, a high rating for suffering (mental distress) would normally be accompanied by evidence of a proportionate use of pain relief remedies such as counselling, medication, etc.
A high suffering rating may also indicate the presence of a diagnosable psychiatric condition for which liability may or may not have been found.
The assessor should be satisfied that the suffering is due to the compensable condition and is not contributed to by other factors.
A common sense approach should be adopted where differences are marginal.