Qualifying for Disability Benefits With a Speech Disorder

Since speech disorders are usually diagnosed in children, they can qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program by meeting both the medical and financial requirements. These rules would also apply to undiagnosed adults with speech disorders.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a guide to disabilities called the Blue Book. It lists all qualifying conditions for each disorder that the SSA considers benefits for.

A person can qualify for benefits for speech disorders in several ways. The first is by having a hearing loss, since it is the cause of the majority of speech disorders. Here are the specifics:

•  A 50-decibel or less air conduction hearing threshold (children age 5 and younger)

•  A 70-decibel air conduction hearing threshold. (This can also be a 40 decibel threshold in a bone conduction hearing test.). Both apply to children aged 5-18.

Word recognition scores can also qualify a child; if a child has a score below 40 and also has significant speech and language limitations, that child will also qualify.

Children up to age 5 with cochlear implants also qualify. If the child is older when they have this surgery, they can obtain disability one year after surgery.

There are also cases in which a child can qualify without having hearing loss. Children with autism or Down syndrome fit this category, and most automatically qualify. The Blue Book lists disability ratings for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome separately; both require that the child must exhibit severe deficits in verbal/nonverbal communication as well as social interaction. SSA will consider all the evidence when making a determination for a child without hearing loss but with other disorders.

Finally, your child may qualify if they have another speech disorder not mentioned above that causes an inability to:

•  Communicate with others
•  Follow directions
•  Attend school

The SSA will require extensive medical evidence to determine qualifying for disability benefits with a speech disorder: an official diagnosis, doctor’s notes, surgical notes, hearing or other tests performed and similar information. If your child sees an audiologist, have that person provide as much detail as possible about your child’s case.

To meet SSI, the child must qualify both medically and financially, meaning the family must demonstrate financial need and have a very low income. The child can apply and qualify individually after their 18th birthday.