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.
| DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION | |
| Contact details | Early Childhood Inclusion Service Phone: 03 6231 1625 Website: Click here. |
| NEXTSENSE | |
| Contact details | NextSense Connected Services Phone: 1300 581 391 Website: Click here. |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services offered | Services offered by video-conferencing Individualised program Assist parents to develop skills to support child Parent education |
| Communication options | Auditory-verbal Auditory-oral Auslan |
| THE SHEPHERD CENTRE (TSC) | |
| Contact details | Level 5 18 Elizabeth Street HOBART 7000 Phone: 02 9370 4400 Website: Click here. |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services offered | 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 | Listening and spoken language |
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Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is not intended as a substitute for independent professional advice.
