Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition where your brain can’t understand and interpret auditory signals the way it should. People with APD can hear, but they may have trouble understanding certain sounds. There isn’t a cure for APD, but treatment helps people manage the condition. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 2.00 of the Blue Book.
Does Auditory Processing Disorder Qualify for Disability?
There are no standard diagnostic evaluations or criteria associated with APD. In other words, physicians do not agree on how to diagnose or identify the condition or how to treat it. It is a difficult condition to document as a result, but the SSA still requires extensive medical records to substantiate any diagnosis on which a disability application is filed. Your medical records, including your auditory test results and neurological exams, and psychological evaluation results, are all important aspects of your SSD application.
As there is no dedicated listing for APD in the SSA’s Blue Book, to qualify for benefits when a condition is not listed with the SSA, applicants must either:
- match another listed condition, proving through medical records and other documentation that APD is equally severe to the listed condition,
OR
- have a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment that shows APD severely limits functional ability, thereby preventing gainful employment.
There are no listed conditions in the SSA’s Blue Book which closely match APD in symptoms or diagnostic means used to evaluate and diagnose the condition. For this reason, applicants for SSD benefits with APD must qualify under a medical vocational allowance following an RFC evaluation.
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
To apply for disability benefits, it’s important to understand the disability application process. If you’ve been diagnosed with auditory processing disorder and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
