Does Hearing Loss Qualify Me For Disability?

Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities in the US, affecting over 30 million Americans. Hearing loss can be classified with any degree of trouble including a minor loss to a complete loss of hearing. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with hearing loss by an audiologist or other specialist, there could be help available. Many people wonder if they can qualify for some form of disability assistance like those with back or neck problems do. If your hearing loss impacts your ability to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers financial assistance to people who are unable to work due to diagnosed hearing loss.

Someone with diagnosed hearing issues may qualify for two types of disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are programs that might be applicable if you have qualifying hearing problems. The medical qualifications will be the same for both programs, but each has its own eligibility criteria. Hearing Health USA is a company that specializes in audiological issues and can provide a diagnosis for hearing loss and offer treatment options. You will need this kind of evaluation to qualify for these disability programs.

Social Security Disability Insurance

The first type of disability benefit that you could qualify for is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This is awarded to an adult between the ages of 18 and 66 who is no longer able to work due to hearing loss. You have to have been previously employed and have been working throughout much of your life to qualify for SSDI benefits. You must have a documented diagnosis and you must be able to demonstrate your hearing trouble directly impacts your employment. To determine if you have worked enough to earn enough work credits based on your age, you can check the Social Security Administration's website.

Supplemental Security Income

The second disability benefits program that you could qualify for is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). There are no work requirements to receive these benefits, however, there are rather strict financial limitations. For an adult SSI applicant to be eligible, they cannot earn more than $733 per month. Parents' income will be evaluated for children applying for SSI benefits.

Qualifying with Hearing Loss

When you apply for disability benefits for hearing loss, the SSA will compare your condition with its own medical guide known as the Blue Book. The Blue Book will say exactly how severe your hearing loss must be to be eligible for disability benefits. Hearing loss can be found in both the children’s and adult versions of the Blue Book. For hearing loss that is not treated by cochlear implants, you will need to meet certain criteria with a medical examination and diagnosis. The criteria depend on the amount of hearing loss or your word recognition score.

If you’ve received a cochlear implant, you will automatically qualify as medically disabled. After one year, your case will be reviewed to see if your hearing has improved enough that you would no longer qualify. A cochlear implant is only “automatically” disabling following the surgery. Before you have the surgery, you will need to meet the other criterion.

Applying for Benefits

If you think that you qualify for disability benefits because of your hearing loss, you can check out the SSA's website. You can get an abundance of information about applying and the requirements. If you have not yet had one of the examinations that are recommended to evaluate your hearing loss, you should speak with an audiologist and have one or all of the tests performed. The more medical records that speak to how severe your hearing loss is, the better your chances of approval.

To get extra help with your disability claim, you may hire a disability lawyer to help you navigate the process. Disability lawyers in Fayetteville North Carolina can help if your claim is denied. Your chances of having your initial claim denied are pretty high. As a result, you will have to file an appeal and possibly attend a hearing. If you seek the help of an attorney, they can help move your claim through the process and provide guidance for ways to improve your chances of approval.