Secure Your Benefits with the Assistance of Our Disability Lawyer

Even with the amazing innovations of modern hearing aid technology, hearing loss remains a significant obstacle for many individuals. Thus, it can often be considered a disability by the Social Security Administration. The National Institutes of Health report that roughly 37 million U.S. adults suffer from some level of impaired hearing. Not all are able to receive disability benefits, however. Read on to learn more about the process for qualifying for social security disability due to hearing loss. Then, consult with the expert disability lawyer here at Diane S. Hinman Attorney at Law for assistance filing your claim in the greater Buffalo, NY area.

How to Qualify

You do not have to be deaf to qualify for benefits, but your hearing loss must be significant in both ears. This requires either an average air conduction threshold of 90 decibels or greater or a word recognition score of 40% or less. If you have had a cochlear implant, however, you can automatically qualify for your first year after surgery and continue to receive benefits after that with a word recognition score of up to 60%. Alternatively, a medical-vocation allowance can be used to establish your disability if you can prove that your hearing loss negatively impacts your ability to find work that you can adequately perform.

SSA Requirements

Regardless of your qualification method, you will need an ear, nose, and throat specialist or other licensed physician to conduct a physical examination and show that your hearing loss is not due to a temporary condition such as wax buildup or an ear infection. A documented audiometric test will also be required. If these metrics do not register sufficient results or the Social Security Administration has other reasonable doubt regarding the extent of your hearing loss, they may send you to have your brainwaves measured through an auditory evoked response test.

If you have questions or concerns about securing Social Security Disability benefits, please contact our knowledgeable and experienced disability lawyer. Attorney Hinman is proud to serve clients throughout Amherst, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Lancaster, Niagara Falls, Orchard Park, Tonawanda, and West Seneca, NY.