Step 1: Contact your my NDIS contact
Your my NDIS contact can help you work out the best way to get hearing supports. There are 2 ways to access funding for hearing supports:
Funding from the Hearing Services Program (HSP)
The Hearing Services Program (HSP) funds hearing services for Australian citizens and permanent residents. This includes children and young people under 26, who meet the eligibility criteria .
Funding from the NDIS
We fund hearing supports for participants aged 26 and over who are not eligible for the HSP. We also fund other reasonable and necessary hearing supports for participants of any age who are eligible for the HSP. You can access the NDIS and HSP at the same time. But you can’t get the same supports from both programs at the same time.
Tip: Looking for hearing supports for a child younger than 7?
We prioritise applications to help children newly diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. This is so they can receive supports earlier. Learn more about how to get help for your child.
Step 2: Check your eligibility
Talk to your my NDIS contact about the best approach
If you’re not eligible for the HSP
There is a range of NDIS hearing supports depending on your situation and what is reasonable and necessary. This may include hearing services and devices. It may also include other assistive technology, maintenance, repairs and assessments.
If you are eligible for the HSP
We can fund other disability-related services and NDIS supports if they are not available via the HSP. For example, an NDIS plan may include a co-payment for yearly maintenance and administration fees for replacement of devices that are either lost or damaged beyond repair.
This co-payment may also include assistive listening devices, such as flashing and vibrating smoke alarms, or Auslan interpreting supports. Your my NDIS contact can help you consider what NDIS supports might be best for you.
Step 3: Claim for NDIS funded hearing supports
Hearing supports are a type of assistive technology
Once hearing support funding is included in your plan you can buy your hearing supports. How you claim will depend if it is for low-cost assistive technology or mid to high-cost assistive technology.