Communication can be an important part of work, depending on the job. Mild communication difficulties are often manageable, but other communication problems may impact job performance. When this happens, your income might be negatively affected, and you may find yourself struggling to pay the bills. Talk to a Philadelphia disability attorney about whether this could qualify you for disability benefits.

Types of Communication Problems

There are several types of communication problems that can be caused by a variety of medical issues. Some communication problems are developmental delays that are not resolved by the time someone enters adulthood. Other communication problems can be caused by:

·      Brain damage

·      Mental health problems

·      Medical conditions

Some of the most common communication deficits are caused by some form of brain damage. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can result in communication problems. Depending on the brain injury severity, some communication problems can last a few years or become lifelong. These include:

·      Aphasia

·      Alexia

·      Agraphia

Aphasia happens when someone struggles to speak or understand speech. This can also impact the ability to choose the correct words when speaking with others. Alexia impacts reading while agraphia impacts writing abilities. Other communication deficits that can be caused by brain injuries include:

·       An inability to form sentences

·       Not being able to identify objects

·       Significantly slower speech

There are additional communication problems that may arise from conditions other than brain injuries. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is mostly concerned with how these communication problems impact your ability to work. One way the SSA determines this is through a residual functional capacity.

How The SSA Evaluates Your Disability Claim

A residual functional capacity evaluation is conducted by the SSA to determine how much your communication difficulties impact your ability to work. This includes assessing physical abilities, mental abilities, other abilities, and total limiting effects. Communication deficits will most likely show up under mental abilities and total limiting effects.

Mental abilities include understanding, following instructions, responding to others, and remembering what co-workers have said. Any interference with these abilities might make someone eligible for disability benefits. How these apply in your situation depends on the type of communication deficit you are struggling with.

Communication deficits that impact the ability to understand can impact the ability to follow instructions accurately. This may also affect the ability to respond to and modify behavior based on feedback. If the job requires customer service, then this could impact the ability to understand and properly serve customers.

Speech deficits can lead to similar challenges. Consider contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer if you think you have a communication disorder that interferes with work. A lawyer can help you figure out your eligibility for disability benefits.

Contact Edelstein & Nelson for Legal Aid

You might be eligible for disability benefits if you are struggling in a significant way with communication. Reach out to a Philadelphia denied benefits appeal lawyer if your disability benefits application had been delayed. All you have to do is contact Edelstein & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today. Our team of attorneys can help you figure out what legal steps to take.