South Carolina Social Security Lawyers: Loss of Speech & Social Security Benefits
What You Should Know
Even though many people can not work without speaking, it is extremely difficult to obtain social security benefits from the SSA after losing your ability to speak.
Reasons for speech loss include brain tumor, Down syndrome or other congenital disorders, emotional or psychological problems, trauma or brain injuries, injury to or weakness of the muscles used to speak, medication side effects, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or throat or tongue cancer.
In order to qualify for social security benefits, the individual must show an inability to produce useful speech in any way. The SSA says that “in order for speech to be ‘useful’ the claimant’s speech must be loud enough, able to be understood and able to carry on an extended communication.”
In evaluating loss of speech, the ability to speak by any means includes the use of mechanical or electronic devices that improve voice or articulation. Impairments of speech may also be evaluated under the body system for the underlying disorder, such as neurological disorders.
Social Security also states that loss of speech as loss due to any cause, with the inability to produce, by any means, speech that can be heard, understood, or maintained.
Many different disorders can result in a loss of speech or some form of speech disorder. Loss of speech due to the nervous system and mental disorders are a part of a separate regulation. Mechanical loss also has a separate regulation as well.
You need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as you and your doctors agree that you have an injury that will prevent you from working.
Unfortunately, many people have to wait for a while to see what happens with their medical condition and treatment. During that time, people usually run into a great deal of financial trouble due to medical costs and inability to work.
Talk With Us About Your Injury
The best way to learn about speech loss that can result in SSD and SSI is to talk with one of our Social Security Disability Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm. 803.252.4800 Call us for free and find out if you are eligible to receive benefits.
