Hearing Loss: Social Security Disability Benefits

Do I Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits If I Have Profound Hearing Loss?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t always make it easy for those with profound hearing loss to get the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income benefits they deserve.  SSA evaluates profound hearing loss based on whether or not you have undergone a cochlear implant. Many claims for mild or moderate hearing loss are denied because SSA says:

(1) Your profound hearing loss won’t prevent you from working at least 12 months,

(2) Your profound hearing loss isn’t severe,

(3) Your profound hearing loss doesn’t meet the requirements of, or is the equivalent of, a Medical Listing,

(4) You can return to the lightest job you held in the 15 years before you became disabled, or

(5) There is other work you can do in the mythical national economy based on your age, education, transferable skills and your residual functional capacity.

Not all cases of profound hearing loss are severe enough to make you eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, but Nancy Cavey has successfully represented many SSA applicants with profound hearing loss.

You Have To Prove That Your Profound Hearing Loss Interferes With Your Daily Activities.

Ms. Cavey works to overcome the claims denial by working closely with you and your physician by showing that you:

• Meet the requirements for a disability listing, or
• Proving that your limitations are too great for you to work at your old job or any other job in the national economy in view of your age, education and transferable work skills.

She offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your Social Security disability claim.

What Is Profound Hearing Loss?

Only 30% of hearing loss falls into the category of “severe to profound.”

Severe hearing loss has 60 to 80 dB of hearing loss, which causes difficulty hearing loud speech but is heard if amplified. Profound hearing loss has 80 dB or more of hearing loss, with difficulty hearing and understanding even with amplification.

The hearing loss can be caused by damage to the inner and outer hair cells.

What SSA Wants To See In Your Medical Records

SSA will review your medical records and look for the following:

• A diagnosis of profound hearing loss,
• Audiometry testing,
• Word recognition testing,
• Results of an auditory evoked response testing,
• Detailed history of your symptoms,
• Detailed treatment history, including hearing aids, and your response to hearing aids, and
• Evidence that you have complied with treatment.

Profound Hearing Loss And Its Complications And The Listing Of Impairments

In the SSA’s “Listing of Impairments,” the listing for hearing loss without a cochlear implantation is found in Listing 2.10; the listing for hearing loss treated with cochlear implantation is found in Listing 2.11

If your hearing loss falls under either or equals a listing, you might be approved for benefits at Step 3 of the Five-Step Sequential Evaluation.

Listing 2.10 requires that you meet either one of the two following tests, without using your hearing aids:

• Audiometry testing reveals that your average hearing threshold sensitivity for air conduction must be 90dB or worse in your better ear, and you must have a bone conduction hearing threshold of 60 dB or worse in your better ear. Your hearing loss must be calculated by averaging your hearing at the sound frequencies of 500 hertz, 1,000 hertz and 2,000 hertz.

OR

• Word recognition testing documents that you are not able to repeat more than 40% of a list of standardized words spoken in the test.

Listing 2.11 provides that if you have cochlear implants in one or both ears, you automatically are granted benefits for one year after the implantation, regardless of whether your hearing improves within 12 months. After one year, your disability benefits will be extended so long as your word recognition on a “Hearing in Noise Test” is 60% or less.

Your medical records must establish that you meet every element of the Listing.

If you have profound hearing loss and another medical impairment, SSA is required to consider the combined effects of your impairments when determining if your condition is equal to a listing or when doing your RFC analysis at Steps 4 and 5.

If you don’t meet or equal a listing, then SSA will determine your entitlement to benefits based on medical and vocational criteria at Steps 4 and 5.

When Your Profound Hearing Loss Make It Impossible To Work

Profound hearing loss can significantly impact your ability to communicate effectively, follow instructions, and safely perform job duties, especially in environments where auditory cues are essential. This impairment may restrict your capacity to work in settings that require clear verbal communication or the ability to hear warnings and alarms, which are critical for workplace safety.

When evaluating your RFC, the SSA considers not only your hearing test results but also how your hearing loss affects your daily functioning and work-related activities. This includes assessing your ability to use assistive devices like hearing aids, your response to treatment, and any additional limitations caused by related symptoms such as tinnitus or balance issues.

Proving that you cannot perform past relevant work or any other work in the national economy requires comprehensive medical documentation and, often, testimony from vocational experts. This evidence helps demonstrate that your profound hearing loss, combined with other factors like age and education, severely limits your employment options.

It’s important to understand that even

Residual Functional Capacity For Profound Hearing Loss

The SSA will review your medical records at the Initial Application and Reconsideration stage of the claims process and determine your functional capacity to perform sedentary, light, medium and heavy work.

SSA medical consultants often opine that a Social Security Disability applicant can do light and sedentary work, and that will result in a claims denial. The lower your RFC the more likely that you can’t return to the lightest job you held in the last 15 years or perform other work. SSA doesn’t tell applicants or physicians about the existence and importance of properly completed RFC forms that explain:

• How your hearing loss impacts your capacity to communicate and follow instructions,
• Whether you can safely operate machinery,
• Whether you can work in a noisy environment,
• Whether you have difficulty concentrating for long periods of time,
• Whether you have psychological problems, including depression or anxiety, that would interfere with your ability to work.

This is not an exhaustive list of all of the questions on a hearing loss or other applicable RFC forms. But you can see that having an explanation of what you can do physically and emotionally is key to winning your case. We will need to show there are no jobs you could do given the amount of your hearing loss.

Many SSA cases are lost because the applicant did not obtain an RFC or the right RFC form, or because their treating physician didn’t properly complete the RFC form. That is one of the many reasons you should have an experienced Social Security attorney like Nancy L. Cavey represent you in your claim.

How Your Residual Functional Capacity Is Used At A Social Security Hearing

Many claims for profound hearing loss are denied both at the Initial Application and Request For Reconsideration stages of the claims process.

At the hearing stage, the Administrative Law Judge will determine your RFC and give hypotheticals to the vocational evaluator (VE) who will testify at your hearing. The judge will ask the VE to take into consideration your RFC, as determined by the judge, your age, education and prior work experience in determining:

• Whether you can return to the lightest job you held in the last 15 years,
• Whether there is other work you can do or could learn to do.

It is crucial that you are represented at a hearing to make sure the right questions are asked of the VE.

How Do I Get The Social Security Disability Benefits I Deserve For Profound Hearing Loss?

Profound hearing loss and difficulty communicating can interfere not only with your daily activities but with your ability to work. If you no longer can work or your doctor has told you to apply for Social Security disability, you should our Florida social security disability attorney to help you:

1. file your initial Social Security Disability application. The application process is confusing and designed so you make mistakes that can result in a delay or even a denial of your benefits;
2. challenge a wrongful denial of your Social Security disability application or Request for Reconsideration;
3. file a Request for Hearing and represent you at the hearing with the Administrative Law Judge who will decide if you get benefits. She will have your physician, if possible, complete the right RFC(s), prepare you for the hearing, prepare a hearing brief, and be prepared to cross-examine the VE.

The SSA is in the business of denying claims and will use any reason to deny your benefits. The odds of getting your Social Security benefits are greater when you are represented by experienced Social Security Disability attorney Nancy Cavey.

Contact Social Security Disability Attorney Nancy L. Cavey, Who Can Help You Regardless Of Where You Live In Florida

Profound hearing loss and difficulty communicating can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today!

SSDI Hearing Loss Lawyer

Ms. Cavey can explain the Five-Step Sequential Evaluation process used in every claim, the claims process and how to get your disability benefits for profound hearing loss.  Call today for a free consultation at 727-477-3263.

Why You Need an Experienced Disability Lawyer

Navigating the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system can be complex and overwhelming, especially when dealing with profound hearing loss. An experienced disability lawyer like Nancy L. Cavey understands the nuances of the SSA’s requirements and can help you gather the necessary medical evidence, including audiometric testing, word recognition tests, and detailed medical histories, to build a strong case.

How Ms. Cavey Helps You Qualify for Disability Benefits

Ms. Cavey works closely with your healthcare providers to ensure your medical records accurately reflect the severity of your hearing impairment. She helps demonstrate how your condition limits your ability to communicate effectively, follow instructions, and perform job duties safely. This comprehensive approach increases your chances to qualify for disability benefits, even if your hearing loss does not meet the strictest SSA listings.

Comprehensive Support Throughout the Claims Process

From filing your initial application to appealing a denial, Ms. Cavey provides dedicated support every step of the way. She prepares you for hearings, coordinates with vocational experts, and advocates on your behalf to ensure the Social Security Administration fully understands your functional limitations due to profound hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Disability Lawyer Serving All of Florida

No matter where you live in Florida, Ms. Cavey is ready to assist you with your SSDI hearing loss claim. With a deep commitment to helping individuals with hearing impairments, she offers personalized legal representation tailored to your unique situation.

Don’t delay seeking the benefits you deserve. Contact Nancy L. Cavey today for your free consultation and take the first step toward securing your financial future despite profound hearing loss.