Funding if you are deaf or have hearing loss

Find out how to access government funding to help you communicate and live safely if you’re deaf or have hearing loss.

Whether you’re hearing impaired or deaf, there are thousands of New Zealanders who understand and are supported by people and organisations.

This means there are a good number of support organisations and some financial supports available to enable you to live a good life. Who supports you, how they do that and what kinds of supports you’re eligible for will differ by your situation. You may choose to fund yourself to enable other unable to afford it to access supports, or you may work with a Government organisation for support.

The main support service for those who need financial support to fund assistive hearing technologies in New Zealand is Disability Support Services.

Hearing subsidies

Disability Support Services (DSS) provides hearing support for children and adults who need Government financial support to afford hearing technology.

You may be eligible for some of these services:

Hearing therapy - for people 16 years and over - to help manage hearing loss in everyday life
hearing aids – either free or subsidised
assistive hearing and alerting equipment to help with communication and safety
cochlear implants for children and adults with severe hearing loss.

Learn more about funded hearing services for children on the DSS website

Learn more about funded hearing services for adults on the DSS website

To receive funding, you’ll need an assessment from an approved hearing aid or hearing equipment assessor. You can find one through the New Zealand Audiological Society website. If you're eligible, the assessor will apply for funding on your behalf.

Find your nearest audiologist or audiometrist

Hearing therapy

If you’re over 16 years old and have trouble hearing, you may be able to get access to hearing therapy for free. A hearing therapist assists people to manage their hearing loss in their everyday lives including home, work and social situations. Your Way | Kia Roha currently provides this service on behalf of DSS.

Find your nearest hearing therapist on the Your Way Kia | Roha website

Cochlear implants

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is hard of hearing or deaf.

Visit the DSS website to find out who can get government funded cochlear implants and how they are provided.

Assistive Technology (AT)

AT is specialised equipment and technology that students with additional needs use in class to increase or improve their ability to participate and learn.

Visit the Ministry of Education website more information about accessing AT

Alerting or assistive hearing equipment

To get funding for this type of equipment you will need to have an assessment with an audiologist, hearing therapist or Deaf Aotearoa Service Coordinator. They must be an approved assessor for DSS for hearing equipment (hearing assistive technology).

The assessor may make an application for funding through the DSS Equipment and Modification Services.

Find out more about financial support available for disability equipment

If your hearing loss is from an injury or accident

If you've lost your hearing due to an accident or injury, ACC might be able to cover your treatment and any equipment you need.

Talk to your doctor or audiologist to find out what support you could get through ACC.

If your hearing loss is partly from an injury and partly from other causes, you may be able to get funding from both ACC and Disability Support Services (DSS).

Find an audiologist on the New Zealand Audiological Society website

Contact ACC for more information about hearing services

If you're a New Zealand veteran and your hearing loss is related to your service, Veterans' Affairs may help cover the cost of hearing aids or other hearing devices.

Information about hearing aids and appliances on Veterans' Affairs website