The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Study on Requirements for Pulmonary Function Testing in Social Security Disability Evaluations is inviting people with lung disease or other respiratory impairments* to
anonymously share their experiences, thoughts, and ideas about pulmonary function testing (PFTs). The study's expert committee is particularly interested in hearing firsthand accounts of PFTs as used in Social Security Administration (SSA) disability evaluations, with the goal of writing a final report that provides more actionable and useful conclusions as to the state of PFT use for patient care and disability evaluation. While experiences regarding spirometry and diffusing capacity (DLCO) testing are of most interest to the committee, those related to other PFTs are helpful as well.
For more information about this study, see
the project website.
NOTE: In order to share your submission with the study committee, the National Academies is required to include this material in a public access file. These responses will be made available to the public upon request and may be quoted in the final report.
Your name, email address, and other identifying information will not be made publicly available or retained by the National Academies unless you specifically choose to participate further in the project. Any related metadata and geolocation information (ex. IP addresses) will not be collected or stored by the National Academies upon submission. Additionally, the call for perspectives asks for a few brief statements. Please be aware that providing details about yourself could make you more identifiable, at least to people who know you.
Unless you are comfortable having your identity linked to your answers, please avoid providing details such as names, dates, and places. Unless otherwise noted, you are free to skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering.
Please submit any responses by
June 15, 2026.
*Diseases of particular interest to the committee include but are not limited to asthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, COPD, pneumoconiosis, and bronchiectasis.
In accordance with the
National Academies' privacy policy, your participation is voluntary. In accordance with the National Academies' obligations under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, Section 15, any comments you provide will become part of the public record of this consensus study.