If you are hearing impaired, you have likely come across some inconveniences over time. On top of the frustrations surrounding daily activities, it can be hard to make money without clear communication.
The good news is that you might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance. The right compensation can cover a large portion of your concerns, and possibly enable you to pursue treatment. However, you must prove to the Social Security Administration that your hearing loss comes from a medically determinable impairment. Before you file a claim, it helps to understand the two tests you will have to take.
Audiometric testing
If you do not have a cochlear implant, a professional must check your ear canals and tympanic membranes. From there, you will undergo testing for your speech reception threshold, word recognition, bone conduction and pure tone air conduction. If you do get a cochlear implant, you will be eligible for disability for the following year. Afterward, you will have to take the Hearing in Noise Test to see how much your hearing has improved.
Otological examination
Upon examination, you must present your medical history to an audiologist or physician. You will discuss your hearing loss’s effects on your tasks. The doctor will then need to look for problems in the middle ear, external ears and tympanic membranes.
After you take both tests within two months of each other, a medical professional may be able to determine the root of your hearing loss and how bad it is. If everything checks out, you should be well on your way to receiving your benefits and living a better life.
