If you’re struggling with hearing loss, it’s important to know what percent of hearing loss qualifies for disability before you file a claim for benefits. Under strict federal guidelines, the Social Security Administration only pays disability benefits for total disability. Benefits for partial disability or short-term disability are not an option.

If you need disability benefits for hearing loss, call the Chicago Social Security disability attorneys at Ankin Law for a free case review, 872-529-9377.

Hearing Loss and Disability

Hearing loss is a common condition that affects people of all ages, but it is most prevalent in older people and workers who are subject to loud noises on a daily basis. As the third most common health problem in the United States, hearing loss impacts about 48 million people each year, resulting in diminished quality of life and relationships and job loss.

There are three different types of hearing loss, depending on which part of the ear is damaged. The ear is made up of the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each section is composed of structures that play distinct roles in the process of converting sound waves into signals that go to the brain. Damage to any part of the ear may result in mild temporary hearing loss or long-term or permanent hearing loss that may not be treatable. Symptoms of severe hearing loss include:

  • Difficulty hearing speech and sounds
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Pain in one or both ears
  • Pressure or fullness in one or both ears
  • Problems distinguishing words and background noises
  • Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)

When hearing loss occurs, an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) can run tests to determine the severity of your hearing loss. If you are diagnosed with severe, permanent hearing loss in one or both ears, you can apply for Social Security disability benefits. If your medical disability for hearing loss is diagnosed as a permanent impairment, the SSA will look at what percent of hearing loss qualifies for disability.

What Percent of Hearing Loss Qualifies for Disability?

According to the SSA guidelines, severe hearing loss is in the range of 71 to 90 decibels. If your hearing loss is severe, 70 dB or worse in your better ear, you can’t perform work that requires good hearing and good word recognition. This rules out any work that requires communicating with the public over the telephone or radio, and jobs that require the operation of hazardous machinery.

To determine your percentage of hearing loss, the SSA relies on the following tests performed by a licensed audiologist or a licensed otolaryngologist (ENT). During testing procedures, patients are not allowed to wear hearing aids. Doctors must perform ear examinations and write up an otologic exam report with a description of the external ear canals and tympanic membranes, along with any middle ear abnormalities.

  • Audiometry – Your average hearing threshold sensitivity for air conduction must be 90 decibels (dB) or worse in your better ear, and you must have a bone conduction hearing threshold of 60 dB or worse in your better ear. Your hearing loss needs to be calculated by averaging your hearing at the sound frequencies of 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.
  • Word Recognition Test – When reviewing a list of standardized words, you will automatically qualify for benefits and implants if you can only repeat about 40% of the words.

If the SSA suspects that your hearing is not as bad as your audiometry tests indicate, you may be sent to an audiologist for auditory evoked response testing, which measures brainwave responses to tones. You may also require additional testing if your bone conduction test results are inconsistent with your audiometry test results.

Is Severe Hearing Loss in One Ear Considered a Disability?

The SSA is concerned with how well you can hear in your better ear. If you have one ear with good hearing or only mild hearing loss, you will not get disability benefits. You will only be approved for benefits if the hearing in your better ear is so poor that you meet the test requirements in the SSA listing for that ear, or your hearing impairment prevents you from finding or performing work.

Is Disability Automatic for Hearing Loss With Cochlear Implants?

If you have cochlear implants in one or both ears, the SSA uses a different listing to determine disability, (listing 2.11). Social Security will automatically grant you disability benefits for one year after the cochlear implantation (regardless of whether your hearing improves within 12 months).

After one year, the SSA will terminate your disability benefits unless your word recognition is still poor for words spoken at 60 dB. If your word recognition on any version of the “Hearing in Noise Test” (HINT) is 60% or less, with your implant adjusted to normal settings, the SSA will continue to recognize your hearing loss as a disability.

Can You Still Get Benefits if You Don’t Meet Testing Requirements?

If your hearing loss does not meet the requirements of testing, you may still be eligible for SSDI benefits based on how your hearing loss impacts your ability to perform work. The SSA will consider your job status and your ability to perform various job duties based on the guide to financial stability after disability.

In some cases, the SSA may find jobs that you could do where hearing is not important to your work duties. If you don’t have the job skills or education to perform those jobs, you may be able to get disability benefits based on a “medical-vocational allowance,” especially if you are 55 years old or older. The SSA refers to benefits awarded based on an individual’s inability to perform work activities as a “medical-vocational allowance”. Unlike disability benefits, this type of allowance takes into consideration the types of work activities you are unable to perform.

What Are the Challenges When Filing for Disability With Partial Hearing Loss?

Social Security disability benefits are available to people with profound hearing loss or deafness, but not for moderate or mild hearing loss. The SSA guidelines detail how significant your hearing loss must be to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) disability benefits. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) counts hearing loss and deafness as disabilities, meaning that employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees who have severe hearing loss or are deaf.

Since there are SSA requirements for filing a disability claim for hearing loss, you may need to talk to Social Security disability attorneys before filing for disability. In Illinois, disability claims are handled by the Bureau of Disability Determination Services (DDS), the state department that makes initial determinations about eligibility for Social Security disability. When you apply for benefits, DDS is responsible for reviewing your application and all necessary medical information to support your claim.

Illinois disability attorneys often work with DDS and represent claimants who need disability benefits. If DDS has questions about your claim or requires additional information, your attorney can follow up to ensure that DDS has everything they need. Statistics show that at least 60% of Social Security disability claims are denied due to mistakes that can destroy your Social Security disability case.

Filing a Disability Claim in Illinois

When you file a claim for SSDI benefits in Illinois, the amount of benefits you can receive for severe hearing loss or deafness depends on your lifetime earnings. The SSA will calculate your disability benefit by looking at your average income over your lifetime from jobs where you paid FICA taxes or self-employment taxes. In 2024, the average SSDI payment for an individual is $1,537, but almost two-thirds of SSDI recipients receive less than that, and only 10% of SSDI recipients receive $2,000 per month or more.

Disability claims are often complicated because benefit amounts depend on lifetime earnings, and age and work experience factor into that. The most common age when disabilities begin is age 55. For 55-year-old workers who have worked most of their lives, the average SSDI payment is $1,000 to $2,800. This is a big range, but it’s based on work history and payment of Social Security taxes. The exact amount of money people get for SSDI each month is unique for every individual. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a complex, weighted formula to calculate benefits for each person.

Because disability claims are difficult to assess, you should know how to find a good disability lawyer who can evaluate your case, help you determine benefit payments, and work with DDS. Claims can take 6 to 9 months for approval through DDS, so you need someone who can keep you informed about the progress of your claim.

If you have hearing loss and need disability benefits, contact us for a free case review. Our Chicago disability attorneys can help you get benefits.