Is conductive hearing loss a disability? The answer to this question may depend on who you ask. Different government agencies, hearing people, and people with hearing loss have different answers to this question.

Some descriptions of hearing impairments as disabilities distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss is often, but not always, medically treatable. Therefore, sensorineural hearing loss is more likely to be considered a disability.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was written to protect the rights of people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not distinguish between conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. The use of hearing aids or other treatment is irrelevant to the guidelines by the ADA. For the hearing loss to be considered a disability under the ADA, the hearing loss must limit a major life activity presently or in the past.

The hearing loss is also considered a disability if the employer has treated it as such. For example, if an employer refuses to hire someone with a hearing impairment because of the hearing impairment, that employer is discriminating against the person’s disability even if the hearing impairment is mild.

Is conductive hearing loss a disability according to the Social Security Administration? The severity of the hearing loss is the general guideline of the Social Security Administration in determining if a hearing loss qualifies as a disability. According to their guidelines, a hearing loss is a disability if the average hearing threshold for the better ear is ninety decibels or more.

Speech discrimination must be forty percent or less for the hearing impairment to be considered a disability. If the hearing loss is corrected with the use of hearing aids, the person’s hearing loss is not considered a disability.

People with normal hearing are likely to see conductive hearing loss as a disability. Hearing is a sense that is largely taken for granted by those with normal hearing. Hearing people may imagine being unable to hear as a horrible burden.

Many people with hearing impairments are reluctant to call hearing loss a disability. The word “disability” has a negative connotation. However, many will recognize that there are both positives and negatives to hearing loss or deafness such as not being so bothered by noise or a problem with hearing the voices of young children.