Ministry of Health

Children's Hearing Aid Fund & Artificial Larynges

On behalf of the Ministry of Health this service provides administration and funding management of hearing aids for eligible service users, and also manages and administers the funding of artificial larynges, batteries and repairs for eligible service users.

The process is for the provision of Disability Support Services assistance for children requiring a hearing aid(s) as assessed by an Audiologist registered with NZAS and accredited with Enable New Zealand. The Audiologist then submits the application for funding approval to Deaf Education Centres; Kelston and Van Asch.

The educational Audiologists from the New Zealand Deaf Education Centres will approve all hearing aids, which are funded by the service. These applications are forwarded to Enable New Zealand by the Deaf Education Centres.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to access this service Children who require personal hearing aid systems and:

• Are NZ citizens or permanent residents and residing in New Zealand
• Are under the age of 21
• Are either pre- schoolers or in full time school or tertiary education*
• Have a confirmed permanent hearing loss that requires hearing aids for effective habilitation/rehabilitation and who's fitting has been carried out via the established processes of the service.

*full time education means attending a registered institution for no less than 20 hours per week over a 12 month period.

People who require an artificial larynx:

• Are NZ citizens or permanent residents and residing in New Zealand
• All people who require an artificial larynx for speaking as their primary mode of expressive language production and are referred to the service by a registered Speech Language Therapist.

Exlusions

• People who do not meet the criteria as defined above
• People entitled to services under the Accident Insurance Act 1998

Service Entry

Entry to the service shall be determined by:

Children's Hearing Aid Service

The eligible child having an approved and finalised application for hearing aids.

The application for the hearing aids must have been completed by an audiologist who is a registered member with the service and who has signed up to the terms and conditions of the service.

The subsequent fitting of the hearing aids must be done by an audiologist who is a registered member with the service and who has signed up to the terms and conditions of the service.

Artificial Larynx Service

The need of eligible service users for an artificial larynx for speaking as their primary mode of expressive language production and are referred by a registered speech language therapist.

Funding Parameters

Hearing Aids
The service will only cover the classes of aids and devices as defined in the Terms for Servicing. These aids and devices may be reviewed from time to time as part of the Services policy remit.

Funding will be limited to the manufacturer's wholesale cost of personal hearing aids, ear moulds and In-the-ear hearing aid reshells only.

Consulting/fitting fees or mark-ups will not be reimbursed.

Insurance for hearing aids is not funded.

Artificial Larynges
Funding will extend for the batteries and repairs of the artificial larynx in order to keep it working effectively.

Application Forms

Applications will only be accepted on the correct application forms. These forms may need to be updated from time to time. Enable New Zealand will provide a copy of the application form and notify of any alterations to the form via this site.

The form may be located through the below link:
Child Hearing Aid Fund Form (32KB PDF)

Contact Details

Child Hearing Aid Fund
Enable New Zealand
PO Box 4547
Palmerston North
Telephone 0800 17 1981
Facsimile 0800 17 1996
Email Chaf@Enable.co.nz