Is Tinnitus Seen as a Disability?

[Mario]

Your views

 

[J. Wing]

My tinnitus started in 1999 and I applied for disability retirement in late 2005 because of my tinnitus and it was approved.

 

[Emma]

I live in the USA. It is stated that for military personnel returning from war, tinnitus is the most highly reported disability. I think that is meant literally.

 

[Mario]

I think it depends on severity and how long you've had it and where your from. etc etc

 

[Emma]

I do consider it an 'invisible disability". The same can be said about conditions like trigeminal neuralgia. You cant see how much someone suffers. If someone is in a wheelchair or missing a limb, the disability is more obvious but I do believe you can have an invisible disabilty like T.

 

[Mario]

I think if you want it to be a disability then it will be, if you try and improve it, it won't be as much, maybe even the miracles of not having it anymore

 

[Louise]

Well I've done everything to improve mine and I am disabled by it. It certainly isnt for lack of trying and trying to adjust my mental attitude. The thing is relentless and just keeps getting worse.

I've read lots of articles citing T as 'disabling' but I'm not sure that it is seen as such officially. The things that come along with T however like severe depression and panic disorder are officially seen as disabling I think.

 

[Mario]

The point I think is, those you've mentioned is life long term disabilities, Tinnitus can go tomorrow, but you know it probably won't, but Tinnitus, if you put your mind to it, is just another "sound" that you hear.

 

[Markku]

The point I think is, those you've mentioned is life long term disabilities, Tinnitus can go tomorrow, but you know it probably won't, but Tinnitus, if you put your mind to it, is just another "sound" that you hear.

Tinnitus can cause disablement. Usually (at least in Finland, so I'm making a generalization here) the cause of disablement can't be solely tinnitus, however it very well can be mentioned alongside with depression, stress, anxiety, etc. that can accompany tinnitus. There is a ICD-10 code for tinnitus and as far as I know it is "H93.1 Tinnitus auris".

So one's disability's reason could be:
H93.1 Tinnitus auris
F33.2 Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features


While I think most people will habituate and tinnitus will not cause permanent disablement for many, there are always the exceptions. It's very well documented that tinnitus can cause other mental problems and simply make it impossible to continue at one's work. And disability retirement can ensue.

Sometimes I think about people whose tinnitus is ever changing. Multiple sounds. Doesn't stay "constant". I'd imagine habituation and living with that would be way harder than for the more usual high yet constant pitched ringing.

In summary, tinnitus is such a subjective condition and while the physical reasons for it vary, so does psychological aspects. Pardon my french but it can be a bitch to tame.

Speaking about its disablement factor... there are recorded cases of suicides because of tinnitus. I think nobody can know how the other person taking that action really felt and judging them is futile. Of course it makes me sick when I read about tinnitus taking lives, because tomorrow is always unknown and situations often improve, plus with good pharmacological and psychological therapy these dark thoughts can often be helped.

My answer to the question thus is: It can cause disablement. How different countries mark the cause on the papers differs. For some, while on the disablement leave/retirement, tinnitus can improve and they might decide go back to work. Disability isn't always a lifelong sentence.

 

[click]

The point I think is, those you've mentioned is life long term disabilities, Tinnitus can go tomorrow, but you know it probably won't, but Tinnitus, if you put your mind to it, is just another "sound" that you hear.

Maybe that's true for you Mario.

But for many it isn't.

I don't think that there is a single person in here who wouldn't 'put their mind to it' if they could.

It's something that varies in severity from person to person and you cannot judge how you would cope if you had someone else's tinnitus.

Even though some T can be 'measured', the brain is too complex for anyone to be able to judge precisely how another individual is affected by their tinnitus.

 

[Paul D]

Disability classification or not, I think that most sufferers, like myself, still have to get up and go to work regardless of the severity of the condition on any particular day. I'd speculate that in the US, civil service and military personnel would be the only ones who could capitalize on T as a disability. Not an option for those of us in the private sector.

 

[J. Wing]

Another sound?? No. As far as disability retirement what you need most when you apply for it is to have a doctor that is willing help you out 100%. I was lucky cause when I asked my doctor he said absolutely he would fill out the paperwork involved. He saw me from the very start and also was in the emergency room when my wife took me there cause I was suicidal. My wife hid the gun. I would have done it and the doctor realized how serious my tinnitus was. Mine started in 1999 and I tried to work through it but finally applied in late 2005. My disability retirement request was approved Feb. 2006. My pay was reduced 55% and my healthcare premiums almost tripled. It was the best I could do.

 

[Tammy Rowe]

I am thinking of going on disability. I live in the US. Anyone living in The States get disability from social security?

 

[Michael Leigh]

I am thinking of going on disability. I live in the US. Anyone living in The States get disability from social security?

In the UK Tinnitus is regarded as a disability and people can get disablement benefit/social security. However, simply saying you have tinnitus will not get a person far. Certain criteria has to be met that I will not divulge in an open forum. I am only assuming but would think, a similar thing would work in the USA. I have heard only people that are in the military and have tinnitus are eligible for disability in the US? If you PM me I will advise you of the requirements that are taken note of by social security/benefit agency here in the UK for someone with tinnitus. It might help if you were to get something similar to show to disability in the US.

Michael

 

[GregCA]

I am thinking of going on disability. I live in the US. Anyone living in The States get disability from social security?

I looked into it (in California). The doc told me it is unlikely that a disability claim would be granted on the basis of Tinnitus alone. However, he mentioned that there is a path through the depression aspects of T, as it appears one can go on disability because of depression (according to him).

 

[Tinker Bell]

I looked into it (in California). The doc told me it is unlikely that a disability claim would be granted on the basis of Tinnitus alone. However, he mentioned that there is a path through the depression aspects of T, as it appears one can go on disability because of depression (according to him).

Agreed. From what I have read, a disability claim in most countries is granted for the anxiety and depression that often accompany tinnitus. Not tinnitus alone.

However, in military service, hearing loss can sometimes be used for discharge if you have a role that would continue to damage your hearing.

 

[Starthrower]

I am thinking of going on disability. I live in the US. Anyone living in The States get disability from social security?

I know of at least one person who applied for disability from the postal service and received it. I don't remember the details. But it took over a year for him to qualify based on tinnitus. I also remember that person being personally debased on a forum by a "professional" poster about being able to get disability. He was threatened to be turned in to the government for claiming disability funds for tinnitus - because he disagreed with that person. As a result that person disappeared from posting.

It is possible but it is a long process.

 

[dpdx]

T is a disability in my opinion.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

If you live in California, Federal Social Disability, the Federal Government will more than likely reject you on the first try. On the second or third try, (a few years has passed) the decision is then more heavily decided by guidelines of the State of California. No longer having employment due to stating that sounds in your workplace were too high and having a doctor's statement supporting that makes a difference per California guidelines.

California considers high pitch or loud tinnitus as a 10X coping factor. California considers that some can not wear headphones and use certain prescribed drugs with certain employable positions regardless of any Acts.

 

[Rajin]

What about your Job if you paying into Long Term Disability weekly . That is different from SSI.