Advice Support Tool
Theme: Hearing
Sub-Theme(s): Hearing aids (including Bone Conduction Hearing Aids)
NOTE: BAHA vs BCHA
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) and Bone Conduction Hearing Aids (BCHA) use the same type of sound processors. BAHA is an implanted device, while BCHA is worn on a soft band or sound arc. Many clinicians use BAHA for both systems, which is technically incorrect.
When considering s34.1 there is a difference between BAHA and BHCA sound processors, particularly relating to s34.1 (f). It is important to ensure you have determined if the sound processor is for a BAHA (implant) or BCHA before proceeding. For BAHA requests, use the advice support tool for sound processors.
References:
- NDIS Act 2013 Section 34 1. (a) - (f) and 2.
- NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013
- NDIS and Hearing Supports
- Hearing Supports Fact Sheet
- PG Hearing Supports
Note: All criteria need to be met for the supports to be funded through the NDIS.
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports | Is criteria met? | Considerations (including evidence used) |
|---|---|---|
| 34.1(a) Enabling the participant’s goals and objectives (supports will assist the participant to pursue the goals and objectives in their plan) | - Yes → | Has evidence been provided to demonstrate: |
- the participant’s needs cannot be achieved with a lower level of technology, or
- the participant’s needs cannot be their current hearing aids (if within their expected service life of five years) used in combination with a remote microphone to assist in overcoming background noise? EVIDENCE should include:
- including objective speech evidence of multiple technology levels starting at the standard level and working UP through the more advance levels of technology
- and any evidence of user experience using measurement | | | - No → | |
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary Is criteria Considerations (including evidence | supports met? used) | | tools such as the Speech, Spatial | and Qualities of Hearing Scale | (SSQ) | | NOTE: the Hearing Devices and | Hearing Technology Assessment | Template provides information on the | required evidence. t=tis=snpssimssmnes | | Has evidence been provided to | demonstrate the recommended | hearing aids will further assist the | participant’s social and economic | participation 7=(@)=eertain operations otagencies | | EVIDENCE refer to 34.1 (a) | | 34.1(b) Assist the participant’s social and | — Yes | economic participation | | ___» | Has evidence been provided to | | 34.1(c) Value for money O Yes demonstrate: | (supports represents value for money, ie the e The participant’s current hearing | costs of support are reasonable, both in ONo —-> aids are outside their 5-year | terms of the benefits achieved and the cost expected service life, or | of alternative support) e Require early replacement (with | Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules same level of technology) or refit | 2013 Part 3.1 (a) — (f); (different level of technology)? | | e Replacement reasons may | include: | | o Devices have reached the | end of expected service | life | | o Devices are damaged | beyond repair (DBR letter | from manufacturer — not | clinician - required as | | Are there comparable support options evidence) | | which would achieve the same outcome at F | a . | a substantially lower cost? What alternative (Stat Dec required) | | i | | e Refit reasons may include: |
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary Is criteria Considerations (including evidence | supports met? used) | — | — | — | | Is there evidence that the support will substantially improve the life stage outcomes and be of long-term benefit to the participant? Is there evidence that funding support is likely to increase independence and reduce funded support costs in the long-term? Is there evidence the support will increase the participant’s independence and reduce the participant’s need for other kinds of supports? S47E(d)-certain operations of agency — | — | — | | Is there evidence the quoted support cost is comparable to expected cost of same kind of Supports? S47E(d) - certain operations of agencies — | — | — |
Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports | Is criteria met? | Considerations (including evidence used) |
|---|---|---|
| 34.1(d) Support is effective or beneficial for the participant | ||
| (supports will be, or are likely to be, effective for desired effect and beneficial for the participant, having regard to current good practice) | ||
| Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 3.2 and 3.3 | ||
| What are the expected benefits of the support provision? | ||
| How will effectiveness of achieved outcome be measured? When will effectiveness of achieved outcome be achieved? Are there other supports required to achieve or maximise the reported support outcomes for participant? | ☐ Yes → | Has evidence been provided to demonstrate: |
- the recommended hearing aids will be more effective or beneficial over the participant’s current hearing aids (if within their expected service life of five years), or
- the recommended hearing aids will be more effective or beneficial over a lower level of technology? EVIDENCE as outlined above for 34.1(a) | | 34.1(e) Support coordinates with but does not replace informal support (funding or provision of supports takes account of what it is reasonable to expect families, carers, informal networks and the community to provide) Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 3.4 | ☐ Yes → | s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies redacted: s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies | | 34.1(f) Support is most appropriately funded by the NDIS (supports are not more appropriately funded or provided through other general service systems or universal service obligations) Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Schedule 1. | ☐ Yes → | Has evidence been provided to demonstrate:
- the participant is NOT independently eligible for the Hearing Service Program (HSP) |
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports | Is criteria met? | Considerations (including evidence used) |
|---|---|---|
| s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies | Audiology hours for HSP participants are the responsibility of the HSP, not the NDIS | NOTE #2: The following participants are automatically eligible for the HSP: |
- anyone aged under 26 years
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and either: o aged 50 years or over, or o take part in the Community Development Program (formerly known as the Remote Jobs and Communities Program and the Community Development Employment Projects Program), or o took part in the Community Development Employment Projects Program from 30 June 2013 and received hearing services from Hearing Australia before you stopped participating | | s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies | NOTE #3: In-kind vouchers were provided to participants up to July 2020. If the participant has a current in-kind voucher, then the client will need to cancel this voucher before the NDIS will take responsibility for funding hearing aids for the participant. All in-kind vouchers that had an initial expiry date past 01/07/2021 were extended a further two years. s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies |
| Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports | Is criteria met? | Considerations (including evidence used) |
|---|---|---|
| Support will not cause harm | ||
| (Supports will not be funded if it is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others, or the support would be contrary to a law of a jurisdiction) | ||
| Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 and 5.3 | ☐ Yes → | Most likely NO (the support will not cause harm), but look out for |
| • information that mentions a | ||
| s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies | ||
| Support is directly related to the participant’s disability | ||
| (supports will not be funded under the NDIS if they do not relate to the participant’s disability or are day-to-day expenses or income replacement) | ||
| Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 and 5.2 | ☐ Yes → | Does the have hearing loss listed as a disability? |
| Support does not duplicate other supports | ||
| (supports do not duplicate other supports delivered under alternative funding through the NDIS such as Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) funding.) | ||
| Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 | ☐ Yes → | While hearing supports are not typically duplicated (YES), it is possible |
| NO (Supports are duplicated) if: | ||
| • if the participant was fitted with hearing aids within the last five years through a previously available ‘in-kind’ voucher | ||
| s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies |
Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports
Is criteria met? Considerations (including evidence used) s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies
Version Control
| Version # | Status | Date | Modified by | Brief Description of Modification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V1.0 | Cleared | 01/09/2023 | LHN531 | Production of initial V1.0 |
| V1.0 | Cleared | 05/09/2023 | JIF775 | Transferred to Key Advisor Advice Resources repository |
Note: Document uncontrolled in hard copy Version 1.0 Page 146 of 442 Page 7 of 7