Guide – Hearing supports appendix B – Capacity building supports
This article provides guidance for a planner delegate, internal review delegate, complex support needs (CSN) planner, national reassessment delegate and local area coordinator to:
- understand capacity building hearing supports
- determine capacity building for support with hearing devices.
Recent updates
October 2023
- This guidance comes from the Practice Guide – Hearing supports. We’ve made minor updates to change any NDIS Business System language to PACE language. We’ll make improvements to this guidance in the future.
- Article name changed from Guide – Hearing supports appendix B – Proposed capacity building for the life expectancy of a hearing aid to Guide – Hearing supports appendix B – Capacity building supports.
Before you start
You have read and understood:
- Our Guideline – Reasonable and necessary support (external)
- Our Guideline – Assistive technology (external)
- article Guide – Assisting communication
- article Guide – Hearing supports
- article Guide – Hearing supports appendix A – Funding responsibilities
Capacity building hearing supports
If the participant is older than 26 with cochlear implants, think about funding for capacity building to support access to their local cochlear implant clinic.
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We don’t fund audiology assessments for participants who are eligible for the HSP. Think about the participant’s individual situation before you confirm the level of hearing services they need. This includes if they need hearing services from an audiologist or an audiometrist.
- Hearing Services is recommended for the delivery of audiometry and audiological services that aren’t covered by the HSP.
- Specialised Hearing Services is recommended for the delivery of specialist audiological services. This is for participants who have profound hearing loss, an implantable device or additional communication needs which aren’t covered by the HSP.
The participant may need specialised hearing services if they:
- have a profound hearing loss. Three-frequency average of 80dB or worse in the better ear
- use an implantable device
- have hearing loss and they can’t communicate because of their disability. This includes if they can’t communicate effectively in their day-to-day life or they have a visual impairment. This may also include it they have a physical, intellectual or psychosocial disability.
Note: If you determine the participant needs:
- standard hearing services, they can purchase hearing services from audiologists or audiometrists. This is from the registration group Hearing Services.
- specialised hearing services, they can purchase hearing services from audiologists. This is from the registration group specialised hearing services.
Determine capacity building for support with hearing devices
The life expectancy of a hearing aid is generally 5 years. You can use the list below to help work out what type of capacity building support meets the NDIS funding criteria. If the participant has a profound hearing loss or implantable device, they may need more clinical time than participants eligible for standard hearing services. However, participants who
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need additional communication support may need more clinical time. This is to provide appropriate assessment and training in device management and communication strategies.
Hearing aid replacement
Assessment undertaken by suitably qualified professional, considering hearing aid options for example style of hearing aid, minimum features required. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 90 minutes Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss or implantable device: Up to 90 minutes Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: Up to 150 minutes.
Audiological case management
Subsequent to a first assessment, services performed only by a Qualified Practitioner (Audiologist). Consists of advice to a Qualified Practitioner (Audiometrist) to enable the completion of the Audiometrist’s assessment of a non-routine client, required to achieve the Hearing Rehabilitation Outcome. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 30 minutes
Hearing aid fitting
Fitting of hearing aids that are clinically suitable to the participant’s needs, including device trials and training in device maintenance. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 150 minutes Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss and/or implantable device: Up to 150 minutes Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: Up to 240 minutes.
Aural Rehabilitation or Habilitation
It is recommended that aural rehabilitation/habilitation be included in every 5 year plan. Changes in hearing levels, health, and personal circumstances can impact on successful communication outcomes. A change in device style and accessories, as well as technological avances may necessitate a change in communication strategies. This service is provided to assist participants to acquire and apply skills to maximise their communication abilities and better manage their hearing loss. The service can include, but is not limited to: Auditory
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training, speech reading training, counselling, training in communication strategies, and training of formal and informal supports. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 7 hours Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss and/or implantable device: Up to 7 hours Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: Up to 10 hours.
Clinical Maintenance
ADHOC clinical services including ear mould and any other attachments necessary for the operation of the device. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 4 x 45 minutes Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss and/or implantable device: Up to 4 x 45 minutes Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: Up to 4 x 60 minutes.
Review
Review of participant’s needs where the participant is experiencing less than optimal benefit or satisfaction with their device and it is more than 12 months from the date of fitting or last participant review. The aim of this service is to give the practitioner greater flexibility in providing appropriate services in a timely and efficient manner and to extend the life of the current fitting. This item is not intended to be used to rectify a poor fitting by the practitioner. Standard Hearing Services: Up to 4 x 1 hour Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss and/or implantable device: Up to 4 x 1 hour Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: Up to 4 x 1.5 hours.
Total recommended hours
Standard Hearing Services: 18.5 hours Specialised Hearing Services, Group A – Profound loss and/or implantable device: 18 hours Specialised Hearing Services Group B – Additional communication needs: 26.5 hours.
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Next steps
\1. Add NDIS funded hearing supports to the participant plan, refer to article [Add or update](hearing supports in a plan approval case).
Article topics and case names – internal use only
Topics
This article relates to the following topics:
- Add: t_assistivetechnology
- Add: t_communication
- Add: t_hearing
- Add: t_implementation
- Add: t_planchanges
- Add: t_providers
- Add: t_reasonableandnecessary
- Add: t_therapysupports
Case names
You can use this guidance for the:
- Add: dc_case_checkin
- Add: dc_case_earlysupports
- Add: dc_case_internalreview
- Add: dc_case_participantbudgetupdate
- Add: dc_case_planapproval
- Add: dc_case_planchange
- Add: dc_case_planimplementation
- Add: dc_case_requestforservice
- Add: dc_case_technicaladvice
Version control
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Version Control and Change History
| Version | Amended by | Brief Description of Change | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | CS0074 | Class 1 approval | APPROVED | 2022-11-18 |
| 1.1 | MGC723 | Updated to make sure content is transferred from PG — Hearing supports. | DRAFT | 2023-09-14 |
| Article name changed from Guide — Hearing supports appendix B — Proposed capacity building for the life expectancy of a hearing aid to Guide — Hearing supports appendix B — Capacity building | ||||
| 1.2 | BTM847 | Peer review | DRAFT | 2023-09-28 |
| 1.3 | MGC723 | Action peer review Add links | DRAFT | 2023-09-28 |
| 2.0 | JS0082 | Class 1 Approval | APPROVED | 2023-09-28 |
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