Developmental Aphasia: Detailed Records for Your Disability Claim

Developmental aphasia is a birth injury usually the result of birth hypoxia which causes a deficiency in learning to speak normally on a level which is consistent with the child or ultimately the adult’s mental and physical development age.  An individual diagnosed with developmental aphasia can apply for disability related benefits with Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs.  Both programs will require detailed medical records for review in evaluating an individual’s claim for benefits based on a developmental aphasia disability.

Acceptable Sources for Required Medical records

The following are acceptable sources of medical records and information by the Social Security:

• A medical doctor
• A licensed psychologist
• A qualified speech-language pathologist

Medical Report Requirements

The medical reports submitted with an application for disability benefits are required to include each one of the following pieces of disability related information:

• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Medical history
• Clinical findings of all physical and mental examinations
• Laboratory findings
• Statement by healthcare provider detailing the above required medical evidence and stating specifically what tasks the applicant is able to do despite the impairments arising from the disability

For adults applying for benefits based on a developmental aphasia claim the required medical statement should include a statement describing your ability or inability to engage in work related functions such as speaking, hearing, understanding instructions, respond appropriately to supervisor commands, interact with co-worker and similar job related functions.  For a child applying for benefits based on a developmental aphasia claim the required medical statement should include a statement describing how the disability limits the child’s ability to function in daily activities compared with other non-disabled children of the same age.  The activities may involve communicating with teachers and other students, completing learning tasks and participating in classroom activities and similar related tasks.

It may be helpful to note that the Social Security will also accept disability evidence from reports made individual other than a treating physician such as a nurse, physician assistant, chiropractors, and therapists and from non-medical sources such as a spouse, relative, neighbor, teacher, day care worker or a social worker.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family is submitting an application for benefits based on a developmental aphasia claim it may be helpful to discuss the application and disability with a disability attorney in order to efficiently complete the application and disability evaluation and determination process.  A lawyer can review the medical records to determine if all the information need to evaluate the disabilty is submitted with the application.