Children who are deaf or hard of hearing can access specialist early intervention services provided by some state governments or NDIS provider organisations specialising in early intervention services for children with hearing loss and their families.
The Australian Government funds the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which offers support to children with hearing loss younger than 9 years old and their families.
At your first appointment with Hearing Australia, the audiologist will discuss the NDIS with you and inform you about the NDIS early childhood partner in your local area. Your NDIS early childhood partner will support you in applying for the NDIS on your child’s behalf. Your child with permanent hearing loss can access the supports they need earlier through the NDIS Pathway Hearing Stream.
The information provided in the table below lists the organisations who provide specialist early intervention services for children with hearing loss and their families.
| THE SHEPHERD CENTRE (TSC) | |
| Contact details | Nealie Place Rivett ACT 2611 Phone: 02 9370 4402 Website: Click here |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services provided | Home-based or centre-based Early intervention and school age services Cochlear implant medical service – supporting children and young people before, during and after surgery Integrated Preschools for children with hearing loss (alongside children with no hearing loss) available at Liverpool and Wollongong Individual weekly, fortnightly or monthly therapy sessions Speech, language and social skills development programs for young children, primary and secondary school students Weekly children’s playgroup Individual Family Plan or Individual Education Plan Parent support group; parent education sessions School readiness program Listening, speech and language assessments Individual family/sibling social support sessions |
| Communication options | Auditory-Verbal Therapy |
| Cost to family | No additional fees |
| NEXTSENSE | |
| Contact details | NextSense Deakin Equinox Business Park Equinox 4 Level 1 70 Kent Street Deakin ACT Phone: 1300 581 391 Website: Click here |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services provided | Hearing and vision assessment services on-site or via teleconference Early intervention services for both vision or hearing loss Therapy and diagnostic services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology Cochlear implantation assessment, rehabilitation and ongoing support services through our SCIC Cochlear Implant Program |
| Communication options | Auditory-verbal Auditory-oral Auslan |
| Cost to family | No |
For more information…
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is not intended as a substitute for independent professional advice.
