When is Hearing Loss Considered a Disability?

The question isn’t if hearing loss is considered a disability, but at what level does hearing loss become a disability?

Whether or not hearing loss is regarded as a disability depends greatly on how severe or extreme the individual’s hearing loss is. Understanding the varying levels of hearing loss allows you to better understand how it relates to Social Security regulations and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Navigating Social Security disability benefits can be quite stressful, but we never want you to feel overwhelmed. To help you understand the protections granted to hearing impairment disabilities, the team at El Dorado Hearing is here to explain everything you need to know related to claiming hearing loss as a disability.

What type of disability is hearing loss?

One of the more complicated aspects of disabilities is that different organizations classify them differently. A high-level overview of the different classification levels of a disability are:

• Impairment – This involves the physical structure of the body.
• Activity Limitation – Any typical activity that is limited. Hearing loss falls under this category.
• Participation Restriction – You or society restrict your involvement in activities or behaviors.

When you think about it, hearing impairment can actually fall into each of these three classifications, as the body’s structure impacts it, limits an activity (hearing), and can restrict your involvement in society.

What percent of hearing loss qualifies for disability?

Hearing loss is often broken into five categories: mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound.

At what level does an individual experiencing hearing loss qualify for disability?

While the answer may vary slightly depending on the organization, in most instances, an individual would need to reach one of the following thresholds to qualify for social security benefits:

• Hearing threshold is below 90 dB when measured by air conduction
• Hearing threshold is below 60 dB when measured by bone conduction
• Failure to repeat at least 40% of words in a word recognition test

Once any of these three thresholds are reached, the individual’s hearing loss may qualify for social security disability benefits.

Is wearing a hearing aid classified as a disability?

When undergoing a hearing test to determine eligibility for social security disability benefits, the individual will not be wearing their hearing aid.

Depending on the severity of hearing loss, the patient may use a hearing aid to amplify the sound around them, even if they fall below the social security disability benefits threshold. While a hearing aid can assist the individual in their hearing impairment disability, wearing a hearing aid does not automatically classify them as having a disability.

Schedule a hearing test with El Dorado Hearing of Tucson

To assist in managing your hearing loss, we provide complete hearing evaluations at El Dorado Hearing. Our hearing specialists are highly experienced and provide you with an in-depth hearing assessment to evaluate whether you have hearing loss and the extent to which the loss affects you.

For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make El Dorado Hearing of Tucson first on your list. We strive to make our hearing offices comfortable where everyone feels welcome.

If you are ready to regain control of your hearing, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and expert hearing specialists!