Individuals who have significant hearing loss are entitled to disability compensation. For example, the Social Security Administration (SSA) insurance program offers two different types of benefits: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Benefits from SSDI are provided to those who are disabled and unable to work. To qualify for SSDI payments, a person must work for a specific number of quarters before. Contact the Wichita social security disability attorney if you want help applying for SSI and SSDI benefits.

Disability benefits for hearing loss

Benefits for disability are available to many people with hearing loss. However, a large number of individuals with hearing loss have jobs as well. The inability to hear is no longer an obstacle when searching for jobs. Science has made it possible to treat hearing loss using devices that will help you at work and school.

You must first apply to be qualified for disability benefits for hearing loss. On the Social Security website, you can submit an online benefit request. After applying, you must provide evidence proving you match the following SSA listing from the “blue book.” For example, SSD benefits can be obtained if you have Ménière’s illness. You must, however, pass one of two tests.

1. Air and bone conduction audiometry– Your ear’s average air conduction threshold must be 90 dB or less, and the same ear’s bone conduction hearing threshold must be 60 dB or greater.

2. Word recognition– With a phonetically balanced set of words, you must be unable to say more than 40% of the words.

Cochlear implants and hearing loss

Listing 102.11 is for children who are deaf but have a cochlear implant (a gadget that transfers impulses from the auditory nerve to the brain). A youngster with a cochlear implant may be eligible for disability benefits for a year after implantation, according to the SSA. Furthermore, any child with a cochlear implant under the age of five will be considered impaired.

How do cochlear implants work?

A hearing aid is not the same as a cochlear implant. A person with hearing loss can hear sounds more clearly because of hearing aids. Cochlear implants stimulate the auditory nerve directly, bypassing the ear. After that, the auditory nerve delivers signals to the brain, interpreting them as sound.

Furthermore, a person with a cochlear implant cannot hear the same noises as a hearing person. A person with a cochlear implant must also spend some time learning how to differentiate between the sounds. However, it enables many people to hear warning signs, hear sounds over the phone, & recognize some speech sounds.