If your child has been diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss, your audiologist will refer you to Hearing Australia. 

Under the NDIS Pathway Hearing Stream, Hearing Australia can help you quickly apply to the NDIS at your first appointment. You can also do this at another time that suits you by calling 1800 800 110 or visiting your local early childhood partner. The choice is yours. 

Applying during your first appointment with Hearing Australia will ensure you receive support to access the early intervention supports your child needs sooner.

To learn more about the access criteria for children with hearing loss refer to our guidelines – applying to the NDIS .

What happens next?

With your permission, Hearing Australia will forward evidence of your child's hearing loss to the NDIS. Within a few days you will then receive written confirmation of whether your child is eligible to become a NDIS participant. 

If they are eligible a specialist NDIS planner will contact you within two weeks to support you to develop your child's first NDIS plan. This plan will include a reasonable and necessary level of funding for supports your child is assessed as needing. Once approved, you can use this funding straight away with the providers you choose.

At your first appointment, Hearing Australia will also tell you about the NDIS early childhood partner in your local area. Your early childhood partner will be your ongoing point of contact once you have a NDIS plan. If you have questions about your NDIS plan or other queries, you can speak with them. 

If you live in an area that does not have an early childhood partner, contact us or call 1800 800 110.

More information

For more about supports for your child, visit our guides for understanding supports for children who are deaf or hard of hearing .

These guides are for families with a child younger than 7 who is deaf or hard of hearing. They detail early intervention supports (including NDIS funded supports) available from providers and the community.