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 Assistive Devices Program, 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 5 steps to apply:

  1. If it is your child's first application to the ADP, or if their hearing loss is not stable, get them examined by an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing). If your child has applied to the ADP before, and has stable hearing, they can be examined by a family physician or an audiologist.
  2. Fill out the application form with the help of the doctor or audiologist. Your child will also be referred to an ADP-registered audiologist for hearing tests.
  3. Choose a device for your child with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist.
  4. Find an ADP-registered business that can sell you the hearing aid(s) or FM system. Use the table below.
  5. The registered business will help you complete the application form and will electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps 1 to 5 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, you will be responsible for paying the full cost.

 

Applying for an adult

Follow these 4 steps to apply:

  1. Get a hearing test from a health professional in Ontario:
    1. An ADP-registered business that sells hearing aids or FM systems with an audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner can help with the hearing tests.
    2. Get examined by an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing), or a family doctor, or an audiologist.
  2. The ADP-registered business may also refer you to an ADP-registered audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner for a hearing test, or to a doctor for a hearing aid prescription if you do not see an audiologist. Only regulated healthcare professionals can prescribe hearing aids in Ontario — hearing instrument practitioners are not regulated. For a list of registered audiologists or hearing instrument practitioners in your area, email us at adp@ontario.ca
  3. Choose a device with the help of the ADP-registered audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner.
  4. The registered business will help you complete the application form and will electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps 1 to 4 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, you will be responsible for paying the full cost.

 

Cochlear implant replacement speech processor

Through the Assistive Devices Program, 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. 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 4 steps to apply for a cochlear implant replacement speech processor:

  1. Get examined by an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing). The otolaryngologist will help you to fill out the application form, and will refer you to an ADP-registered audiologist at a cochlear implant centre.
  2. Get examined by an ADP-registered audiologist at a cochlear implant centre. They will also help you to fill out the application form. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of a centre in your area.
  3. Find an ADP-registered business that can sell you the cochlear implant replacement speech processor. The audiologist can help you.
  4. The registered business will help you complete the application form and will electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps 1 to 4 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, you will be responsible for paying the full cost.

Bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processors

Through the Assistive Devices Program, we help cover the cost of these 3 different types of bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processors:

  • bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processor with abutment
  • bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processor only
  • abutment only

We do not cover an initial sound processor or initial abutment. Also, you must wait a minimum of 5 years from the date of your surgery for the bone conduction hearing system 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 4 steps to apply for a bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processor, a replacement abutment, or a bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processor with a replacement abutment:

  1. If you need a bone conduction hearing system replacement sound processor with a replacement abutment, or if you only need a replacement abutment, get assessed by an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing). If you need a bond conduction hearing system replacement sound processor but do not need a replacement abutment, you do not need to be assessed by an otolaryngologist; skip to step 2.
  2. Get examined by an audiologist registered with the ADP as a bone conduction hearing system sound processor authorizer. Email us at adp@ontario.ca for the name of an authorizer in your area. During the examination, the audiologist will help you fill out the application form, and will help you decide on the right device for your needs.
  3. Find an ADP-registered business that can sell you the device you need. You can find a registered business using the table below. The audiologist can also help you.
  4. The registered business will help you complete the application form and will electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps 1 to 4 above before purchasing your device. If you order or buy your device before these steps have been completed, you will be responsible for paying the full cost.

 

Teletypewriters for the deaf or speech-impaired

Through the Assistive Devices Program, 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 4 steps to apply for a TTY and/or message-signalling device:

  1. Get examined by one of the following ADP-registered authorizers:
    • An otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing), or your family physician, or an audiologist - if you have a hearing impairment
    • A speech-language pathologist - if you can hear but have impaired speech
  2. Fill in the application form with the help of the person who examined you.
  3. Find an ADP-registered business that can sell you the TTY and/or flashing signalling device that you need. You can find a registered business using the table below. The person who examined you can also help you find a registered business.
  4. The registered business will help you complete the application form and will electronically submit the completed form to the ADP.

It is important to follow steps 1 to 4 above before purchasing your device. If you order or buy your device before these steps have been completed, you will be responsible for paying the full cost.

 

Getting 100% coverage

You can get up to 100% coverage from the ADP if you receive financial support through these programs: