What are some symptoms of Aphasia that may qualify someone for disability benefits?

When a person suffers brain damage the results can be serious and create lifelong problems for people. Just one of the many problems brought about by brain damage is "developmental aphasia" which is either complete or partial language impairment. Aphasia almost always has a significant impact on a person's ability to complete basic life-skills as well as making adequate education progress, and perhaps most importantly, maintaining gainful employment.

Because aphasia affects language symptoms include either the inability or difficulty to: pronounce or form words; read and/or write; comprehend language they hear; speak spontaneously; or name objects. For it to be aphasia, these symptoms cannot be the result of other conditions like a lack of education or some environmental factor. They must be symptoms that appear due to an abnormality in the brain.

In order to receive disability benefits developmental aphasia must be proved by a diagnosis from a qualified specialist or doctor. An example of this is when a child is screened for developmental aphasia by a speech and language pathologist when completing a special education evaluation. For verification, all screenings need to be confirmed by a medical doctor.

For Social Security Disability benefits the developmental aphasia disability must have lasted or be expected to last for more than one year. This diagnosis, or prognosis, must be fully documented in the claimant's medical records. For those under 18 years of age, proof must demonstrate that his/her developmental aphasia is marked by severe functional limitations.  For those over 18 years of age they need only prove that the condition prevents them from being able to work.