Speech Disorder

Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits If I Have A Speech Disorder?

A speech disorder impacts your ability to communicate. There are many causes of speech disorders:

• Apraxia is inconsistent production of speech and rearranging of sounds. It can be caused by a stroke or progressive illness.
• Dysarthria is a weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles. Caused by damage to the nerves, brain or neck injury, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, a surgical accident or cerebral palsy.
• Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express written or spoken language. Can be caused by strokes, brain injury or tumor and degenerative diseases of the brain.
• Voice disturbances. Can be caused by injury or disease of the larynx.
• Dysphonia is difficulty speaking because of repetitive or continuous spasm of the muscles that control the vocal cords.

A speech disorder can change the rhythm of your speech, the sounds you make while speaking or repetition of words. Speech disorders can lead to depression, anxiety and other psychological problems.

Not everyone with a speech disorder is entitled to disability benefits. Disability insurance companies don’t always make it easy for policyholders to get the disability benefits they deserve.

How Disability Carriers Handle Speech Disorder Claims

Disability carriers are notorious for denying and terminating many speech disorder claims. Carriers commonly argue that:

1. Coverage is excluded by the pre-existing condition clause of your disability policy.
2. Benefits are limited under the subjective limitation clause.
3. You’ve had a speech disorder for years and have not been disabled before now. You will have to overcome the carrier’s argument that you have been working with these problems for years and nothing has changed. It is crucial that your medical records develop the progression of your symptoms.

Many disability claims are denied. Carriers have other reasons to deny claims. They’ll say:

(1) There is no objective basis of the speech disorder diagnosis,

(2) There is no objective basis for the restrictions and limitations assigned by your physician, or

(3) There is no causal relationship between your speech disorder diagnosis and/or your restrictions and limitations, and your inability to do your own or any occupation, or

(4) There is no reason you can’t work with accommodation.

Why You Need Nancy Cavey

Nancy Cavey, who has 35 years experience handling disability cases, has successfully represented many policyholders with speech disorders. She overcomes a claims denial by working closely with you and your physician.

Ms. Cavey obtains, as needed, a speech evaluation to objectively document your speech problems. She even hires a Vocational Evaluator to explain why your symptoms prevent you from doing your occupation or any occupation.

Nancy Cavey offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your disability claim.

How Do I Get The Disability Insurance Benefits I Deserve?

A speech disorder can interfere not only with your daily activities but with your ability to work. If you no longer can work or your doctor has told you to apply for disability benefits, you should take steps before you apply:

1. Obtain a copy of your disability policy. See how it defines “disability,” “occupation” and “self-reported conditions.” You’ll need to understand what you have to prove and if there are limitations in your coverage. Your policy might limit conditions that are based on subjective complaints without objective evidence of a diagnosis.

2. Obtain a copy of your medical records. Review them to see if there is an objective basis for your diagnosis, what your records say about your report of symptoms and your restrictions and limitations.

3. Obtain a copy of your personnel file to see if your speech disorder has affected your work performance.

4. Obtain a copy of your job description. Create your own description of your physical duties with an explanation of how your symptoms impact your ability to do your occupation.

5. Provide your doctor with the occupational description. Ask your doctor to prepare a report that explains the objective basis for your diagnosis, the objective basis of your restrictions and limitations, and the objective reasons you can’t perform some or all of the material and substantial duties of your occupation.

6. Prepare a diary that explains and gives examples of how your speech disorder symptoms interfere with your ability to do things on a daily basis and the side effects of your medication.

7. Hire Nancy Cavey to help you file your initial application. The application process is confusing and designed so you and your physician make mistakes that can result in a delay or even a denial of your benefits. Ms. Cavey knows how to prepare and file a winning shock and awe disability application that leaves the carrier little reason to question your claim.

8. Hire Nancy Cavey to help you appeal a wrongful denial or termination of your disability benefits. Disability carriers are in the business of collecting premiums and not paying disability benefits. They’ll use any reason to deny your claim. The odds of getting your benefits on appeal are greater when you are represented by an experienced ERISA/private ID policy disability attorney.

Contact Disability Attorney Nancy L. Cavey, Who Can Help You Regardless of Where You Live

Speech disorders and the underlying causes for the disorder can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today! Nancy Cavey can review your policy and your medical records, and explain to you what your policy says and how to get your disability benefits.  Call today for a free consultation at727-477-3263.