Australian Hearing Services (Declared Hearing Services) Determination 2025

1.

(a)

Services that are necessary to assess and measure the nature and extent of any hearing loss in the person.

(b)

Services that are necessary to determine the cause of any hearing loss in the person.

2.

Provision of any hearing device (other than a cochlear implant, or cochlear implant speech processor unit) that is:

(a)

clinically appropriate to the hearing loss, the person’s capacity to benefit from the device and his or her life circumstances; and is approved by the Authority.

(b)

clinically appropriate to the hearing loss, the person’s capacity to benefit from the device and his or her life circumstances.

3.

Provision of a replacement cochlear implant speech processor unit or bone conduction speech processor unit.

4.

Services necessary to fit, and monitor the suitability of, a selected hearing device and to achieve the maximum functionality of the device.

5.

(a)

Ongoing advice and assistance about rehabilitation to the extent necessary to enable the person to achieve a rehabilitation outcome commensurate with his or her needs.

(b)

Provision of advice and support to the person’s parents, teachers and educational establishment on the management and support of the person concerning the hearing impairment.

(c)

Provision of advice and support to the person’s family and community on the management and support of the person in regard to their impairment.

6.

(a)

Provision of necessary repairs, adjustment and maintenance of a hearing device, including the reasonable provision of replacement batteries.

(b)

Provision of necessary repairs, adjustment and maintenance of a hearing device, including the reasonable provision of replacement batteries for the first year.

7.

Other clinically necessary hearing services, if agreed between the Authority and Comcare as hearing services to be made available to referred Comcare clients in Class 3.

8.

Maintenance by the Authority of a hearing device issues to the person under paragraph 8(1)(aa) of the Act, but excluding:

(i) replacement of major electronic components within a hearing device;

(ii) provision of a battery for use in a hearing device;

(iii) replacement of a hearing device that is lost or damaged;

for the period of 5 years.

The period of 5 years begins on the day when:

(i) in the case of a person who turns 26, the person turns 26.

(ii) in the case of a person who ceases to be a member of Class 6—the day the person ceases to be a member of Class 6.

9.

Replacement of a hearing device (other than a cochlear implant, or cochlear implant speech processor unit):

(i) that has been:

a. destroyed; or

b. lost, and unlikely to be found; or

c. damaged, and cannot be reasonably repaired; and

(ii) if authorised by the Authority in accordance with regulation 4A of the Australian Hearing Services Regulations 1992.

10.

Provision of services, training and advice, in a culturally appropriate way, on matters of aural health and hygiene, including services, training and advice for the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions such as otitis media.

Provision of specialised amplification devices to meet the particular needs of certain persons in this class of persons.

Note: Reference to Class in this table is a reference to the respective Class in the table in Section 7.