The Academy supports the Social Security Administration's (SSA) efforts to update and revise the rules used to evaluate hearing impairments and disturbance of labrinthyne-vestibular functions of adults and children who apply for, or receive disability benefits under the title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment based on disability under title XVI of the Social Security Act. The Academy emphasizes the critical role of audiologists and encourages SSA to employ audiologists in its state agencies to ensure the most qualified professionals in making benefits eligibility as it relates to hearing loss.

• Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 73 FR 47103 (August 13, 2008) to revise the criteria in the listing of impairments that they use to evaluate claims involving hearing loss
• SSA Summary of Use of Listing of Impairments (PDF)
• Academy Comments to SSA (June 13, 2005) (PDF)
• Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (April 13, 2005) (PDF)
• National Research Council Committee on Disability Determinations for Individuals with Hearing Impairment. Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits (2004)