Not everyone realizes how rigorous the Pennsylvania disability benefits application process can be depending on the type of disability you are seeking assistance for. Otoscopic exams are an important step in the hearing loss examination required by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Anything that disrupts the accuracy of your otoscopic exam could potentially delay your disability claim. Talk to a Pennsylvania Disability Attorney to learn more about what your options are in this situation.

What Are Pennsylvania Otoscopic Exams?

A Pennsylvania otoscopic exam is used right before audiometric testing to improve the accuracy of the results. Otherwise, the results could be biased and lead to an incorrect decision regarding your disability benefits application. Since the SSA relies heavily on medical evidence when approving and rejecting disability claims, making sure your otoscopic exam is done correctly is vital.

You can ask the SSA to recommend a place to do these hearing tests, search for a reputable place yourself, or ask a Pennsylvania disability lawyer. The main goals of an otoscopic examination are to prove there are no physical ear conditions that could distort the results of the audiometric test like:

• Ear infections
• Fluid built up in the ear
• An obstructed ear canal

During the otoscopic exam, a physician or audiologist will thoroughly exam the outside and inside of your ear and then describe the physical appearance of your ear, detailing anything that could affect the results. Once this is done, the physician will decide whether an audiometric test can be performed without any biased results. Audiometric and other ear tests may involve:

• Pure-tone air conduction tests
• Bone conduction tests
• Word recognition tests

You should not be allowed to wear hearing aids during these tests since this could also bias the results and hurt your chances of receiving disability benefits.

How Do I Qualify for Pennsylvania Hearing Loss Disability Benefits?

Other than taking these hearing tests with a medical professional, there are other things you will need to do before you can qualify for Pennsylvania hearing loss disability benefits. In the SSA residual functional capacity evaluation, the SSA will not only look at the results of your hearing tests but will also look at your:

• Job history and skills
• Education level
• Age
• Past training
• Physical and mental limitations caused by your hearing disability

This information will be used to formulate a functional report, a description of what limitations your hearing disability causes in your daily life like caring for others, working, and going to the store. The details in this report are part of what determines whether you need disability benefits or if you can continue to work despite having a disability.

Disability Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Do not panic if your disability application was denied or delayed. You can talk to a Pennsylvania Delayed Insurance Benefits Lawyer who can help you figure out what information might be missing from your application. Contact Edelstein & Nelson at (800) – 300 – 0909 for a consultation today. Our legal team of Pennsylvania disability attorneys will help you gather the information and evidence you need for a strong disability claim.