The SSA's "blue e-book" of impairment listings states the requirements for automatically being granted incapacity advantages for hearing loss. There are special requirements for people with cochlear implants (one or each ear) and those without.

Hearing Loss without Cochlear Implants

To "meet" the SSA's listing for hearing loss without cochlear implants -- this is, to robotically qualify for disability advantages beneath the list -- you need to meet either one of two tests.

  1. A) pure tone and bone conduction audiometry.

    Your common listening to threshold sensitivity for air conduction ought to be ninety decibels (dB) or worse in your better ear, and also you must have a bone conduction hearing threshold of 60 decibels (dB) or worse for your better ear. This represents profound hearing loss. Your hearing loss wishes to be calculated via averaging your hearing on the sound frequencies of 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, and a pair of,000 Hz.

OR

  1. B) phrase recognition take a look at.

    You ought to no longer be capable of repeat greater than 40% of a list of standardized phrases spoken in a word popularity take a look at (which assessments speech discrimination). (phrase popularity normally begins to go to pot only while the pure tone common inside the better ear is 45 dB or worse.)

Hearing  Loss with Cochlear Implantation

This SSA applies when you have cochlear implants in one or both ears. For one year after the surgical procedure for implantation of cochlear implants, you are mechanically granted disability blessings (even in case your hearing substantially improves earlier than then). After one year submit-surgical treatment, if your word popularity rating on a "hearing in Noise take a look at" (HINT) is 60% or much less, your incapacity advantages will be prolonged until your word popularity rating improves (if it does).

Starting a disability claim for hearing Loss

If you don’t understand whether or not you are eligible for Social safety incapacity coverage (SSDI, wherein you need to have paid sufficient taxes into Social protection) or Supplemental security earnings (SSI, for low-profits filers), you may observe for each. name the SSA at 800-772-1213 to set up an appointment to fill out a utility for incapacity. when you fill out your software, consist of each how your hearing loss impacts your life out of doors of labor and how it impairs your capacity to paintings.

When you have each a hearing loss and some other physical impairment, make certain to encompass signs and symptoms of the opposite bodily impairment as nicely. if you need to assist with the procedure, or if you've been denied, communicate to a disability attorney for a recommendation on a way to continue.

Disabilities ratings for hearing problems

Hearing problems are rated under the VA agenda of scores Disabilities in section four.87, diagnostic codes 6200 to 6260. not unusual listening to troubles for veterans include hearing loss and tinnitus. different ear disabilities encompass:

  • cancer, entitled to a one hundred% score for 6 months following termination of most cancers treatment
  • peripheral vestibular issues (inner ear trouble main to dizziness), rated at 10% for infrequent dizziness or 30% when you have dizziness and occasionally stagger
  • lack of one or both ears (auricles), rated at 30% for loss of one ear or 50% for lack of both, and
  • perforated eardrum (the simplest available score is 0%).

Hearing Loss trying out necessities

Hearing loss because of loud noises that veterans were uncovered to all through the provider, which include airplane engines or gunfire, are quite common. To be deemed provider-linked, hearing troubles must be identified by means of a licensed audiologist and ought to include two assessments:

  • a Maryland CNC test (measures speech recognition potential), and
  • a pure tone audiometric take a look at (used to evaluate your level of listening to loss).

Make certain to inform your audiologist which you must have each check that allow you to fulfill the VA's requirements for carrier connection. And be sure to dispose of any listening to aids you can have before being examined.

The VA takes the auditory take a look at consequences and, the use of a numerical formulation determines the real rating to assign.

Author's Bio: 

Cynthia is freelance writer, an author and content marketing specialist. When not working probably spending time with her family.