Social Security’s rules recognize a wide variety of special senses and speech conditions which, if severe enough, may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits from the SSA.
The Listing of Impairments addresses these conditions in section 2.00 Special Senses and Speech. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Loss of visual acuity. Remaining vision in the better eye after best correction is 20/200 or less; Contraction of the visual field in the better eye; Loss of visual efficiency; Disturbance of labyrinthine? vestibular function (including Meniere’s disease), characterized by a history of frequent attacks of balance disturbance, tinnitus, and progressive loss of hearing.
- Hearing impairments (hearing not restorable by a hearing aid) manifested by: (A) Average hearing threshold sensitivity for air conduction of 90decibels or greater, and for bone conduction to corresponding maximal levels, in the better ear, determined by the simple average of hearing threshold levels at 500, 1000, and 2000hz. (see 2.00B1); or (B) Speech discrimination scores of 40 percent or less in the better ear.
- Loss of speech due to any cause, with an inability to produce by any means speech that can be heard, understood, or sustained.
- Meniere’s Disease is an inner ear disorder that affects an individual’s balance and hearing. The inner ear is comprised of semicircular canals, or labyrinths, which are fluid-filled tubes. These canals (as well as a nerve in your skull) help interpret your body’s position and maintain your balance. The endolymphatic sac helps filter and remove fluid in the semicircular canals. Meniere’s disease occurs when the endolymphatic sac becomes swollen.
