Hearing Rehabilitation Services
Hearing Therapists
Audiologists
Ministry of Health
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)
Veterans Affairs
Hearing Aid Bank
INDIVIDUAL HEARING THERAPIST SERVICES
Hearing therapists and audiologists can advise you about funding options available for hearing aids and other assistive devices.
Hearing Therapists
There is no charge for visits to hearing therapists and while they do not fit hearing aids themselves, they can:
- advise on types of aids available
- advise on funding options
- refer you to either a public or private audiologist.
Phone 0800 008 011 to contact your nearest Life Unlimited Hearing Therapist.
Audiologists
Some private audiologists offer a free initial visit, at which funding options would be discussed.
If you are entitled to a subsidy, your audiologist will help arrange it for you.
NB. You only receive funding assistance if you have your hearing aids fitted by a qualified audiologist - a Member of the NZ Audiological Society (MNZAS).
Visit the MNZAS website to find an audiologist in your area.
HEARING AID FUNDING
If you have hearing loss, financial support is available from Government agencies to help you buy the hearing aids and other devices and services you need for your hearing. The help available will depend on your personal financial situation and whether you hearing loss was caused by:
- health factors, such as disease, a genetic condition or the ageing process
- an injury, either a sudden accident or long term noise exposure at work
- a combination of injury and health related causes
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Hearing aids for children under the age of 18 (or under 21 years of age while in full-time education) are fitted at no cost through a provision in the health system known as the "Special Aid Fund".
Funding is available for both new and replacement hearing aids. There is also funding available for hearing aid repairs and batteries.
For more information, contact one of the following:
MNZAS audiologist
NZ Federation for Deaf Children
Ministry of Education - Special Education Services
ACC (ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CORPORATION)
Download the ACC Guide to Hearing Loss for more information.
Accessable has been selected as the new national provider for the management of hearing aid services. Details of the new funding schemes and Accessable's contact details can be downloaded here
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Services for veterans with hearing loss are determined by a special panel at Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand, and are judged on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility
A person who has service in one of the following areas can make a claim:
- Members of the NZ armed forces who served in a war or recognised emergency
- Members of the NZ armed forces who served before 1 April 1974 (prior to the introduction of ACC)* * Injuries sustained after the introduction of ACC often do not fall under their service if the claimant did not serve in a war or an emergency. All work place injuries fall under ACC regardless of whom you work for. NZ Defence is still a work place as far as accidents go regardless of whether the claimant is a civilian or serving.
- Civilians who were a resident of NZ and in the employ of the NZ Government who have service in a war or recognised emergency and the declaration covers civilians
- Members of other Commonwealth forces who were residents of NZ and served in those forces in connection with any NZ accepted war or emergency
- Members of the NZ Mercantile Marine (Merchant Navy) during WW2
- Members who were residents of NZ and served as members of any Commonwealth Mercantile Marine during WW2
- Members of the Emergency Reserve Corps
- Members of The Territorials on a case-by-case basis
General
- To qualify for support from VANZ, the claimant’s hearing loss must be attributed to or have been aggravated by their military service. This is determined by the ENT specialist
- There is no time limit within which a veteran must lodge a claim
- Each case is assigned to a case manager who will help a claimant arrange an appointment with an audiologist in their area. The audiologist must be registered with VANZ.
- VANZ may also send the claimant to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for assessment.
- If the claimant already has hearing aids, VANZ will establish on a case-by-case basis, whether the claimant still qualifies for support from Veterans’ Affairs
- If the claimant has already made a claim to ACC or the Ministry of Health, VANZ will assess the claimant’s eligibility for support from Veterans’ Affairs on a case-by-case basis
Services
All services provided by VANZ must first be recommended by an audiologist registered with VANZ and approved by the claimant’s case manager. Services include:
- The full cost of hearing aids. Funding is usually provided only once every five years but may be provided more frequently under exceptional circumstances
- The full cost of audiologist fees. This is under a special fee structure
- The cost of assistive devices (eg vibrating alarm clocks or FM systems). Assistive devices are provided on a case-by-case basis
- Batteries are the responsibility of the claimant who will be paid an allowance totalling $105.30 a year. This is paid fortnightly with their War Disablement Pension.
- The cost of other consumables such as hearing aid tubing is invoiced directly to VANZ from the claimant’s registered audiologist.
- VANZ pays for up to three ear wax removals (aural toilette) a year
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand - Contact Details
Phone: 0800 483 8372 or +64 7 859 7676 (from overseas)
Fax: 07 495 2080
Email: veterans@xtra.co.nz
Post: Veterans' Affairs New Zealand, PO Box 9448, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240
HEARING AID BANK
The NZ Audiological Society administers a Hearing Aid Bank for people who are financially unable to afford hearing aids and are also ineligible for other assistance.
Your audiologist (MNZAS) will help you apply if appropriate.
See NZ Audiological Society for contact details.
