Common Challenges Faced By The Hearing-Impaired In Daily Life

If you or someone you love is hearing impaired, you know that this condition can present many difficulties and challenges. It is a condition that requires adjusting and adapting, and in some cases, depending upon the severity, it may impact your daily life in a variety of ways. If you find yourself struggling with hearing impairment, you may wonder whether or not you should seek disability benefits for your condition. Let’s take a closer look at common hearing impairment challenges.

A Look at Common Challenges

Those who suffer from hearing impairment often struggle with many daily challenges, including:

• Difficulties with communication: Those who struggle to hear well often have difficulties with communication. Because it can be hard to hear what others are saying, it can be difficult to know what to say in response. It can easily create anxiety for the hearing-impaired person who is constantly trying to “keep up” with a conversation and understand what is being discussed.
• Inaccessible learning and employment environments: Those with hearing impairment often have unique challenges in their learning and employment spaces. Sometimes, schools and workplaces are not equipped to accommodate those with hearing difficulties, making it difficult to learn and work effectively.
• Stigma and prejudice: Unfortunately, those who don’t understand a particular condition or situation can treat others with stigma and prejudice that is entirely undeserved. Unfortunately, those with hearing impairment often find themselves in this situation.
• Depression and anxiety: Understandably, dealing with all of the foregoing challenges, and particularly social isolation, can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety among those who are hearing impaired.

Understandably, all of these challenges can make day-to-day life with a hearing impairment very difficult. Depending upon the severity of your condition, it may even render you unable to work and earn an income as you otherwise would. If this is the case, you may wonder if you should consider a claim for benefits.

Can You Receive Disability Benefits for Hearing Loss?

In determining whether an applicant may be approved for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration requires that two factors be met. First, the individual must have a medical condition that the Social Security Administration considers to be a disability. In the case of hearing loss, the Social Security Administration typically assesses the condition as follows:

• Hearing Loss With Cochlear Implants: If someone who has hearing loss that requires a cochlear implant, they will typically be considered disabled for one year after the procedure is performed. After the one-year period has passed, the person may still be regarded as disabled based on word recognition testing or other sufficient medical evidence.
• Hearing Loss Without Cochlear Implants: Those who have not had cochlear implants to correct hearing loss should know that the determination of whether or not they are considered “disabled” by the Social Security Administration will depend upon the medical evidence presented, including the results of hearing tests and medical examinations. The physician should examine not only the extent of the hearing loss, but also the effect that the hearing loss has had on the person’s daily life. It is important that a licensed otolaryngologist or audiologist perform any audiometric testing. Typically, hearing loss is considered to be disabling if the person’s average threshold for air conduction hearing is at least 90 decibels, and their average threshold for bone conduction hearing is at least 60 decibels. Alternatively, if the individual scores 40 percent or less on a word recognition test, they may be considered to have a disabling condition.

Regardless of the type of hearing impairment you have, in order to be considered for benefits, you must also satisfy the second condition required by the Social Security Administration, which is that the condition has rendered you unable to work for a period of at least one continuous calendar year or more.

Understandably, all of this information may seem overwhelming. The law can often be complicated and confusing, so if you’re wondering how to begin seeking the disability benefits you need, that’s normal. At Disability Experts, we’re here to help.

Disability Experts – Here For You

At Disability Experts, we know how difficult life can be when you struggle with a disability. If you’re hearing impaired, you deserve to focus your energy and time on living your life to the fullest, despite the challenges you may face. The last thing you need is to worry and wonder about how you’ll pursue the disability benefits you need. The good news is you don’t have to. Instead, you can leave those matters to us. We’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf and keep you informed and involved in your claim every step of the way. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.