If you are disabled and unable to work due to loss of speech from any cause, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Some of the most common causes of loss of speech in adults are stroke, head injury, infection, brain tumor, & dementia. Sometimes the loss of speech is sudden (i.e., a stroke or head injury) and other times it is gradual (i.e., dementia or brain tumors). You may qualify for SSDI or SSI if you have – or are expected to – suffer from loss of speech for twelve months.
Social Security Listing
Social Security evaluates loss of speech under listing 2.09. To meet the listing found in the Blue Book, you will need medical records from your treating doctors. You should also provide records from any hospitals or clinics you saw as a result of your loss of speech.
Listing 2.09 can be met by providing medical documentation of your loss of speech, meaning you cannot produce any speech that can be heard, understood, or sustained. You can prove this by providing consistent and ongoing medical treatment, properly documented by your doctor, clinic, or hospital.
I Don’t Meet the Listing!
If you do not meet the listing, you may still qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. To win your disability case, you will need medical evidence that (1) shows your disability and (2) indicates your limitations. Social Security needs reliable medical evidence from your doctors to show them that your condition prevents you from working.
Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons for a denial is due to lack of medical evidence. It is important that you keep a log of all doctors, hospitals, and clinics, you have seen for your loss of speech. You should tell Social Security about all relevant doctors, starting with the one who administered the first test. Social Security needs to see medical evidence that you lost your ability to speak for at least twelve consecutive months.
If you have loss of speech due to any cause and are unable to work due to your condition, contact a local attorney today if you have questions or wish to apply for disability.