Testifying About Your Symptoms at Your Tampa Disability Hearing

No one is better at articulating the symptoms of your medical condition than you. You know exactly what causes the onset of pain and how long that pain lasts or what causes you to become fatigued or breathless. Because of your own superior knowledge of your symptoms, it is up to you to tell the administrative law judge at your hearing what these symptoms are and how they prevent you from working. Even a good argument from your Tampa disability attorney will not be as compelling as your testimony.

Another reason why you should describe your symptoms well is that it is your symptoms, not the condition itself, that prevent you from working. Being diagnosed with a disease, disorder, or syndrome does not prevent you from holding a job, but its effects on you might. Simply stating the name of your impairment is not enough to demonstrate to a judge that you are disabled. Instead, articulate the severity and limiting effects of your condition.

Some guidelines for testifying about your symptoms include:

• Explain any differences in pain or other symptoms that you might experience. Many chronic conditions are affected by factors such as weather, time of day, diet, etc., so do not hesitate to explain these to the judge.
• Make sure that you are specific in describing your symptoms. Just saying that you are hurting is insufficient. Instead, describe what your symptom feels like. In the case of pain, give details as to its location, intensity, and nature, how long it lasts, how often you experience it, and whether it travels through your body.
• Be careful and honest in your testimony. Even one slight untruth can hurt a perfectly valid claim.
• Do not exaggerate your symptoms. Claiming that you are in worse shape than you actually are will clearly show itself to be a lie in light of your medical records. Aside from outright lying, also avoid using words like “extreme,” “excruciating,” “never,” “always,” or “constantly,” which may overstate your disability.
• Do not minimize your symptoms. If you are in pain, say so. Honesty is more important than bravery.

Although you will be the one testifying at your disability hearing, consulting with a Tampa disability lawyer beforehand can increase your odds of receiving a favorable decision. Fill out the form on this page for a free case evaluation from Garry Miracle.