My fight has mainly been with asking and being told I would receive and then getting something that isn't and being told it is what I asked for.
I don't think I see communicating a need as separate from a request, either speaking to me or spoken by me.
Things that are not needs that I think it unlikely would be met, or which I think would involve taking from others, I tend not to ask or mention. 'needs' that hit the same qualifiers I have more trouble with, and generally choose to do without, accepting there will be unpleasant consequences for myself.