If an individual has profound hearing loss or is deaf, he or she might qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify, your hearing loss must meet the requirements of the Social Security Administration (SSA) listing or meet the disability requirements through a medical-vocational allowance. If your better ear is classified as “good hearing” then you won’t qualify for disability benefits. To meet the requirements to be eligible for disability because of hearing loss without cochlear implants, you must undergo testing.
How Are Hearing Loss Tests Calculated?
A pure tone and bone conduction audiometry test must reveal your average hearing threshold sensitivity for air conduction must be no better than 90 decibels in your better ear. The test must show you have a bone conduction hearing threshold of 60 decibels or worse in the better ear. This shows that you have profound hearing loss. If your test results meet those requirements, you should be approved for disability benefits. Another test you could take is a word recognition test. If you cannot repeat more than 40% of the standardized words spoken to you in a word recognition test, you would qualify for benefits.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have hearing loss and test reveal that the hearing in your better ear is impaired, you might be eligible for disability benefits. You should consult with a Social Security disability attorney. Your odds of a successful claim are much better with the help of an attorney. Get your free case evaluation today, so you can make sure your disability claim is on the right track.
