NDIA Accountability Project

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Guide – Hearing supports appendix C – Capital supports

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DOCUMENT 6

The contents of this document are OFFICIAL.

Guide – Hearing supports appendix C – Capital 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 capital hearing supports
  • understand when we will fund a new hearing device
  • determine who should fund communication devices
  • determine who should fund implantable device upgrades.

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 C – Considerations for Wireless Communication Device/Remote microphone systems to Guide – Hearing supports appendix C – Capital 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.

Capital hearing supports

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We’ll fund capital supports that aren’t funded by the Hearing Services Program (HSP) and meet the NDIS funding criteria. This may include:

  • bone conducting hearing devices
  • cochlear implants speech processors
  • hearing aids
  • other devices that are outside the levels of hearing devices we may fund below.

We need a quote if the participant asks for a hearing device outside the levels of hearing devices we may fund.

Levels of hearing devices we may fund

Standard level hearing device

An electronic instrument that provides amplification to individuals with a hearing loss (OSPL90 >= 128 dBSPL) IEC RTF 1600 Hz. Includes 10+ channels, feedback management, adaptive noise control, option to add telecoil, directional microphone, and minimum bandwidth of 8kHz.

Intermediate level hearing device

An electronic instrument that provides amplification to individuals with a hearing loss and provides increased functions over and above what can be met with standard level devices. May include speech enhancement, sound management, ear to ear technology, and volume controls.

Advanced level hearing device

An electronic instrument that provides amplification to individuals with a hearing loss and provides increased functions over and above what can be met with intermediate level devices. May include one or more of the following features; 24+ channels, tinnitus reduction, smartphone connectivity, automatic programming, wireless, compatibility with accessories, remote programming.

Non-standard hearing device

A device that offers specific technology to meet a particular functional requirement, which cannot be met by a Standard, Intermediate or Advanced hearing device.

External speech processor and accessories for implanted hearing devices

The external part of an implantable device which picks up speech and processes sound.

Speech processor repair

Repairs to the external part of an implantable device.

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When we will fund a new hearing device

We will fund a new hearing device if the participant isn’t eligible for the Community Services Obligation (CSO) program or HSP voucher program and either:

  • the current device is more than 5 years old
  • there is clinical evidence from a suitably qualified professional (Audiologist or Audiometrist) to demonstrate that the current hearing device is no longer meeting the participant’s needs. For example: it can no longer be adjusted, the participant can no longer use the device due to significant deterioration in health, dexterity or cognitive ability or there is evidence the device has a repeat repair history and is ow unreliable.

If you need help to determine if a hearing device meets the NDIS funding criteria, include funding for a provider to complete an assessment. This may include an audiologist or audiometrist to complete the hearing devices and hearing technology assessment template (external) when the:

  • NDIS is funding the hearing device for the first time
  • current hearing device is no longer meeting their hearing needs
  • hearing device is coming to the end of its expected life
  • participant isn’t eligible for the HSP and is asking for a hearing device above their assessed level in the hearing device recommendation
  • participant is eligible for the HSP or is an existing HSP client asking for a hearing device that is above the level of device fully subsidised by the HSP. You must create a technical advice case as this is a mandatory TAB referral.

If the participant isn’t having any difficulties with their current hearing device, you don’t need to include funding in their plan for a new hearing device. For information about repairs and maintenance for NDIS funded hearing devices, refer to Our Guideline – Assistive technology (external) and article Add funding for assistive technology (AT) repairs, maintenance, rental and trial.

Determine the hearing device recommendation

If you have enough information to decide if the hearing device meets the NDIS funding criteria, you won’t need the hearing devices and hearing technology assessment template (external) to be completed. You can use the below hearing device recommendation to help work out if the hearing device meets the NDIS funding criteria.

Note: It’s best practice to encourage participants to trial a wireless communication device.

Active or demanding listening environments

Does the participant spend most of their time in demanding listening environments? For example:

  • the workplace
  • traveling frequently
  • attending large social or work functions
  • dining out often
  • going to concerts or live shows
  • giving presentations at meetings
  • frequently driving. A participant who meets this criteria is likely to benefit from a standard hearing device paired with a wireless communication device (WCD). Note: Only think about an intermediate or advanced level hearing device if there’s sufficient evidence in the hearing devices and hearing technology assessment template (external). This evidence should demonstrate that the standard hearing device and intermediate paired with a wireless communication device has been trialled and the participant has little or no functional gain from the lower cost alternatives. If this is being requested you may need to seek more information before you make a decision.

Casual or moderate listening environments

Does the participant spend most of their time in moderate listening environments? For example:

  • shopping
  • attending religious or social gatherings
  • golfing, walking or biking with a friend
  • attending meetings
  • having lunch with a small group of friends in a quiet locale
  • driving infrequently
  • watching TV occasionally. A participant who meets this criteria is likely to benefit from a standard hearing device paired with a WCD.

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Note: Only think about an intermediate or advanced level hearing device if there’s sufficient evidence in the hearing devices and hearing technology assessment template (external). This evidence should demonstrate that the standard hearing device and intermediate paired with a WCD has been trialled and the participant has little or no functional gain from the lower cost alternatives. If this is being requested you may need to seek more information before you make a decision.

Quiet or listening environments

Does the participant spend most of their time in quiet listening environments? For example:

  • doing activities at home
  • watching TV
  • playing cards with friends
  • reading a book or a newspaper
  • having casual conversations
  • visiting friends in their homes.

A participant who meets this criteria is likely to benefit from a standard hearing device or a standard hearing device paired with a WCD.

Determine who should fund communication devices

Use the below recommendations to help work out who should fund wireless communication devices (WCD) or remote microphone systems compatible with hearing aids or cochlear implant (CI) speech processors.

Hearing aids – all participants

Hearing aids improve hearing in the near field, however in noisy situations (further than 1.5 m away) the benefits of hearing aids are limited, especially in the presence of background noise. Research indicates remote microphones significantly help people wearing hearing aids understand more speech in noise and over distance.

Participant older than 7 and younger than 26

Participants eligible to receive hearing supports and services funded under the CSO component of the HSP will be eligible to receive a WCD or remote microphone system. This includes one transmitter and one receiver. This is considered ‘the minimum necessary or standard level of support required’. Approving NDIS funding for additional WCD or remote microphone systems, including a second receiver may not meet the NDIS funding criteria.

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Participant older than 26 and eligible for the HSP voucher

Participants eligible to receive hearing supports and services under the Voucher component of the HSP are not eligible to receive a WCD or remote microphone system under the HSP. Recommendations for WCD or remote microphone systems may be reasonable and necessary if there is sufficient clinical evidence that it meets the NDIS funding criteria.

Participant older than 26 and eligible for the CSO program

Participants eligible to receive hearing supports and services funded under the CSO component of the HSP will be eligible to receive a WCD or remote microphone system. This includes one transmitter and one receiver. This is considered ‘the minimum necessary or standard level of support required’. Approving NDIS funding for additional WCD or remote microphone systems, including a second receiver may not meet the NDIS funding criteria.

NDIS funded hearing supports for participants older than 26

There are a variety of WCD or remote microphone systems compatible with Standard, Intermediate and Advanced level hearing devices available under the NDIS. If a participant is fitted with a Standard Hearing device and compatible WCD or remote microphone system, this is likely to represent value for money. This is because it will improve communication outcomes for the participant at a substantially lower cost than the cost of Intermediate or Advanced level hearing devices.

Assistive technology for use only in the workplace

Requests for assistive technology for use only at work would generally not meet the NDIS funding criteria. For example, requests for specialised phones, amplified stethoscopes, or multimedia hub for interactive whiteboard at work. This is because these items are more appropriately funded by Job Access (external) through the Employment Assistance Fund (external). However, the Employment Assistance Fund (external) does not cover the cost of hearing aids or CIs.

Determine who should fund implantable device upgrades

Use the below recommendations to help work out who should fund cochlear implant (CI) and bone conduction implantable devices speech or sound processor upgrades.

Participant older than 7 and younger than 26

Participants older than 7 and younger than 26 are eligible to receive CI speech processor upgrades funded through the CSO. This is if they meet Hearing Australia’s eligibility criteria speech processor upgrade criteria (external).

Children and young adults asking for NDIS funding for speech processor upgrades

Children and young adults asking for NDIS funding for speech processor upgrades should be referred to Hearing Australia. Approving NDIS funding for speech processor upgrades for participants older than 7 and younger than 26 generally won’t meet the NDIS funding criteria. Under the HSP maintenance agreement all spare parts and repairs or replacements of speech processors are covered.

Participant older than 26

We may fund speech processor upgrades for participants older than 26 if there is sufficient evidence the speech processor needs replacement. The plan developer will need to consider factors including the age and model of the current speech processor, if it is damaged beyond repair or has been lost. If funding for a CI speech processor upgrade meets the NDIS funding criteria, include support in their plan. Refer to Add or update low-cost assistive technology (AT) in a plan approval case.

Next steps

  1. Add NDIS funded hearing supports to the participant plan, refer to 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:

Version control

  • 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 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
1.2 BTM847 Peer review DRAFT 2023-09-28
1.3 MGC723 Action peer review and add links DRAFT 2023-09-28
2.0 JSO082 Class 1 Approval APPROVED 2023-09-28

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