Can I Be Eligible for SSDI Benefits for Hearing Loss After Cochlear Implantation?
Hearing loss, and the varied forms it takes, can be a reason for a person to seek Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). In order to be eligible for benefits based on hearing loss, you must show that your condition, based on medical evidence, is expected to last for at least one year (or to result in your death), and you must be able to show that your condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Hearing loss is a recognized disability in the SSA’s Blue Book, a guide used to determine whether a condition meets the required definition of a disability.
How is SSDI eligibility for hearing loss affected by cochlear implantation? In general, it will depend on the individual’s circumstances and experience with cochlear implantation, but if you have already been approved for SSDI benefits, you may be eligible to continue receiving them for at least one year following cochlear implantation. Our SSDI eligibility lawyer can explain in more detail.
What is Cochlear Implantation?
According to the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, a cochlear implant “is an electronic medical device designed to restore the ability to perceive sounds and understand speech by individuals with moderate to profound hearing loss.”
Cochlear implants are not hearing aids. Hearing aids are also medical devices that assist with hearing, but hearing aids “deliver amplified sound acoustically.” A cochlear implant, differently, “bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlea and stimulates the remaining nerve fibers directly through the application of electrical current.” The success of cochlear implants depends on many different factors, and they are not successful for all patients who receive them, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Can I Receive or Continue Receiving SSDI Benefits with Cochlear Implants?
Whether you are currently receiving SSDI benefits or are planning to apply for benefits due to hearing and sensory loss, you may be wondering if you will be benefits-eligible if you receive cochlear implants.
Under the SSA Blue Book, you can still receive SSDI benefits after cochlear implantation. For one year after initial implantation, hearing loss treated with cochlear implantation is still considered to be under a disability. After one year of implantation, if the recipient of the device has a word recognition score of 60 percent or less, they can remain eligible for SSDI.
Contact Our National Social Security Disability Eligibility Attorney for Help Seeking Benefits Due to Hearing Loss
Have you experienced hearing loss as a result of a traumatic incident, long-term exposure issues, or a serious medical diagnosis? If so, you may be eligible to obtain SSDI benefits through the SSA. For some individuals who experience significant hearing loss, it may be possible, as we discussed above, to have some hearing ability restored through cochlear implantation. If you have undergone — or are considering undergoing — cochlear implantation, the SSA does allow your continued SSDI eligibility for a period of time, as we indicated. To find out more about your continuing SSDI eligibility for hearing loss or to seek advice about having benefits reinstated, you should get in touch with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. Contact our firm today for assistance with your SSDI benefits.
Sources:
ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/2.00-SpecialSensesandSpeech-Adult.htm#2_11
acialliance.org/page/CochlearImplant
