Who qualifies

To qualify, you must:

  • be an Ontario resident
  • have a valid Ontario health card
  • have a disability requiring a hearing device for 6 months or longer

We do not consider your income.

Who does not qualify

You do not qualify, if you:

Types of hearing devices covered

If you qualify, you can apply to the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) to get help paying for:

We do not cover the costs of:

  • closed caption television systems

Replacements

You can apply for a replacement if:

  • your medical condition has changed and the equipment no longer meets your needs, or
  • the equipment is worn out, no longer covered by warranty and cannot be repaired at a reasonable cost

We do not cover costs to replace a lost hearing device or to repair equipment damaged through misuse or neglect.

Hearing aids and frequency modulation (FM) systems

Through the ADP, we help cover the cost of hearing aids that go:

  • behind the ear
  • in the ear
  • partially in the ear canal
  • completely in the ear canal

We also help cover the cost of FM systems.

A personal FM system consists of:

  • a receiver (worn by you)
  • a transmitter (worn by the person speaking)

The receiver transmits sound to your hearing aids through direct audio input or through a looped cord worn around your neck.

Using an FM system allows you to hear the speaker’s voice at an appropriate and constant intensity level.

How much is covered

If you qualify, and your application is approved, we cover 75% of the cost of:

  • hearing aids up to a maximum amount of $500 per side for each type of aid
  • FM systems up to a maximum of $1,350

You pay the rest of the cost.

Find a business and apply

You follow different steps to apply for a child (18 years old and younger) or an adult (19 years of age or older).

Applying for a child

Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Get assessed by an audiologist registered with ADP. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of an ADP-registered audiologist in your area.
    • If it is your child's first application to the ADP, or if their hearing loss is not stable, the audiologist may also make a referral to an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing).
    • In Ontario, hearing aids can only be given to you if you have a prescription. Only two types of health-care professionals – audiologists and doctors (physicians) – are legally allowed to write this prescription.
  2. Fill out the appropriate sections of the application form with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist. The audiologist will help you decide on the right device for your child’s needs.
  3. Find a vendor registered with the ADP that can sell you the hearing aid(s) or FM system. Use the table below.
  4. The ADP-registered vendor will help you review and complete the application form. They will also electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow the steps above before purchasing your child's hearing aid(s) or FM system. If you order or buy your child's hearing aid(s) or FM system before these steps have been completed, ADP will not cover any portion of the cost.

Applying for an adult

Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Get a hearing test from an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist registered with the ADP. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of an ADP-registered audiologist or hearing instrument specialist in your area.
    • In Ontario, hearing aids can only be given to you if you have a prescription. Only two types of health-care professionals – audiologists and doctors (physicians) – are legally allowed to write this prescription. Hearing instrument specialists are not legally allowed to prescribe hearing aids in Ontario but can help you obtain a prescription from an audiologist or doctor.
  2. Fill out the appropriate sections of the application form with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist or hearing instrument specialist. They will help you decide on the right device for your needs.
  3. Find a vendor registered with ADP that can sell you the hearing aid(s) or FM system. Use the table below.
  4. The ADP-registered vendor will help you review and complete the application form; they will also electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow the steps above before purchasing your hearing aid(s) or FM system. If you order or buy your hearing aid(s) or FM system before these steps have been completed, ADP will not cover any portion of the cost.

 

Cochlear implant replacement speech processor

Through the ADP, we cover 75% of the cost, up to a maximum amount of $5,444, for a cochlear implant replacement speech processor.

You pay the rest of the cost. We do not cover the cost of an initial sound processor or initial implant. To qualify for a replacement speech processor, your current processor must be broken and incapable of repair due to cost or lack of servicing from the manufacturer. Also, you must wait a minimum of 3 years from the date of your cochlear implant surgery before applying.

Find a business and apply

Follow these steps to apply for a cochlear implant replacement speech processor:

  1. Get assessed by an ADP-registered audiologist working at a cochlear implant centre. They will also help you to fill out the appropriate sections of the application form. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of a centre in your area.
    • The audiologist may also recommend getting an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing) involved.
  2. Find a vendor registered with the ADP that can sell you the cochlear implant replacement speech processor. You can find an ADP-registered vendor using the table below. The audiologistcan also help you find a registered vendor.
  3. The ADP-registered vendor will help you review and complete the application form; they will also electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow the steps above before purchasing your cochlear implant replacement speech processor. If you order or buy your cochlear implant replacement speech processor before these steps have been completed, the ADP will not cover any portion of the cost.

Bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) replacement sound processors

Through the ADP, we help cover the cost of these 3 different types of BAHA replacement sound processors:

  • BAHA replacement sound processor with abutment (a surgically implanted connector)
  • BAHA replacement sound processor only
  • abutment only

We do not cover an initial sound processor or initial abutment. To qualify for a replacement sound processor and/or abutment, your current processor and/or abutment must be broken and incapable of repair due to cost or lack of servicing from the manufacturer. Also, you must wait a minimum of 5 years from the date of your surgery for the bone anchored hearing aid surgery to qualify for the ADP.

How much is covered

If you qualify, and your application is approved, we will cover 75% of the cost for the device you need.

You can get help paying for one of the following up to a maximum amount:

  • the replacement sound processor only, up to a maximum of $3,000
  • the replacement sound processor with abutment, up to a maximum of $3,900
  • the replacement abutment only, up to a maximum of $900

You pay the rest of the cost.

Find a business and apply

Follow these steps to apply for a BAHA replacement sound processor, a replacement abutment, or a BAHA replacement sound processor with a replacement abutment:

  1. Get assessed by an audiologist who is registered with ADP. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of an ADP-registered audiologist in your area.
    • If you need a BAHA replacement sound processor with a replacement abutment, or if you only need a replacement abutment, the audiologist may also recommend the involvement of an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing).
  2. Fill out the appropriate sections of the application form with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist. They will help you decide on the right device for your needs.
  3. Find a vendor registered with ADP that can sell you the device you need. You can find an ADP-registered vendor using the table below. The audiologist can also help you find a registered vendor.
  4. The ADP-registered vendor will help you review and complete the application form; they will also electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps above before purchasing your device. If you order or buy your device before these steps have been completed, ADP will not cover any portion of the cost.

 

Teletypewriters for the deaf or speech-impaired

Through the ADP, we help you cover the costs of the following types of teletypewriter (TTY) devices:

  • printing TTYs
  • non-printing TTYs
  • flashing signalling devices (to work with TTY for use by deaf persons only)

How much is covered

If you qualify, and your application is approved, we will cover 75% of the cost for one of the following teletypewriters:

  • 75% of the cost for a printing TTY up to $393.75
  • 75% of the cost for a non-printing TTY up to $243.75

If you are approved, we will also cover 75% of the cost of a flashing signalling device, up to $49.50. You pay the rest of the cost for the teletypewriter and flash signalling device.

Find a business and apply

Follow these steps to apply for a TTY and/or message-signalling device:

  1. Get assessed by one of the following:
    • An audiologist registered with ADP – if you have a hearing impairment
    • A speech-language pathologist registered with ADP if you can hear but have impaired speech
  2. Fill out the appropriate sections of the application form with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist or speech-language pathologist described above.
  3. Find a vendor registered with ADP that can sell you the TTY and/or flashing signalling device that you need. You can find an ADP-registered vendor using the table below. The audiologist or speech-language pathologist described above can also help you find a registered vendor.
  4. The ADP-registered vendor will help you review and complete the application form; they will also electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow the steps above before purchasing your device. If you order or buy your device before these steps have been completed, ADP will not cover any portion of the cost.

 

Getting 100% coverage

You can get up to 100% coverage from the ADP if you receive financial support through these programs, subject to certain maximums listed in ADP’s Hearing Devices Policy and Administration Manual: