Loss of either sight or hearing can significantly impact an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks of living, including job-related activities. People with partial or full loss of either of these sensory functions may qualify to receive disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Insurance programs.
Disabling Effects of Sight or Hearing Impairment
Whether an applicant has lost hearing or sight capabilities as a result of disease, or has been blind or deaf since birth due to a genetic condition, communication can be extremely challenging for these individuals. Inability to perform employment activities is just one aspect of the far-reaching effects of sensory impairment.
Establishing and maintaining personal relationships is often difficult, and patients must undergo ongoing life skills training and various types of therapy to learn to live with sight or hearing deprivation. Speech therapy is often recommended for hearing loss patients to help them articulate verbally. Sight-impaired patients may need to use various adaptive living devices, sight dogs, Braille training, and other mechanisms to help them get along in the world.
Hiring an Attorney to Prove Sight or Hearing Disability
In order to be approved for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, an applicant must demonstrate how the sight or hearing impairment prevents them from performing income-earning activities. This may not seem like a difficult task since sensory deprivation so obviously impacts communication, but don’t assume that you’ll be approved based on your disability alone.
At the application stage, you’ll need to provide solid proof of disability that is verifiable by medical professionals and prove that the disability is significantly limiting. Showing permanent damage to the auditory or visual system is crucial, as well as explaining the cause or causes of the damage. For instance, age-related sight loss may be evaluated different than genetic vision impairment. Hiring a skilled legal professional before you apply for benefits is a wise choice. Your SSD attorney can handle all of the paperwork and make sure your case gets the attention it deserves.
To find out more about SSD and determine if you have a claim for disability benefits, please browse our legal directory to find an SSD attorney in your area.
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