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:

Replacements

You can apply for a replacement if:

  • your medical condition has changed and the equipment no longer meets your needs
  • 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.

Amount 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 for each type of aid
  • FM systems up to a maximum of $1,350

You pay the rest of the cost.

Find a vendor 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. Get your child examined by an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing, if this is your child’s first application to the ADP.
  2. Fill out the application form with the help of the prescriber. The doctor will also refer your child to an audiologist, a healthcare professional who tests hearing, registered with the ADP.
  3. Choose the device for your child with the help of the audiologist.
  4. Find a business that can sell you the hearing aid or FM system and that is registered with the ADP. Use the table below.

  5. Mail the completed form to:

    Assistive Devices Program
    5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor  
    Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

 

Applying for an adult

Follow these 5 steps to apply:

  1. Get examined by an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing, a family physician or an audiologist.
  2. Fill out the application form with the help of the prescriber. They will also refer you for a hearing test by an audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner registered with the ADP.
  3. Email us for a name of a registered audiologists or hearing-instrument practitioners in your area.
  4. Choose a business that sells hearing devices and is registered with the ADP. Use the table below. The audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner can help you
  5. Mail the completed form to:
    Assistive Devices Program
    5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor  
    Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

 

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 must pay the remaining 25% 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 vendor and apply

Follow these 4 steps to apply for a cochlear-implant replacement speech processor:

  1. Get examined at a cochlear-implant centre by an audiologist registered with the ADP for this device.

    Email us for a name of the centre in your area.

  2. Visit the centre to see a registered hearing specialist. They will examine you and will fill out Section 2 of the application form.

  3. Go to an audiologist registered with the ADP to choose the speech processor. The audiologist will help you complete the form and tell you the date of your cochlear-implant surgery.

    Email us for the name of the centre closest to you.

  4. Mail your completed form to:

    Assistive Devices Program
    5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor  
    Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

Bone-anchored hearing aid replacement sound processors

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

  • Bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) replacement sound processor with abutment
  • BAHA 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-anchored hearing aid surgery to qualify for the ADP.

Amount 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 vendor and apply

Follow these 3 steps to apply for a BAHA replacement sound processor, abutment or sound processor with abutment:

  1. Get examined by an audiologist registered with the ADP as a BAHA sound processor authorizer.

    Email us for a name of an authorizer in your area.

    During the examination, the audiologist will help you fill out the application form and help you decide on the right device for your needs.

    If you require a replacement sound processor with abutment, you must see an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in hearing) as well as the registered audiologist.

  2. Choose a vendor, the person or business who will sell you the bone-anchored hearing device, with the help of the audiologist. The vendor must be registered with the ADP. Find a registered vendor using the table below.

  3. Mail your completed form to:

    Assistive Devices Program
    5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor  
    Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

 

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

Amount 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

Besides one of the teletypewriters, we will cover 75% for a message-signalling device – up to $49.50.

You pay the rest of the cost for the teletypewriter and message-signalling device.

Find a vendor and apply

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

If you need help finding someone registered with the ADP, please email us for a list of names.

  1. Get examined by one of the following people registered with the ADP:
    • your family doctor for hearing
    • an audiologist for hearing
    • an otolaryngologist for hearing
    • a speech-language pathologist for those who can hear but have impaired speech
  2. Fill in the application form with the help of the person who examined you.
  3. Choose a vendor, a business that will sell you the teletypewriter and/or message-signalling device. The person who examined you can help you find one registered with the ADP using the table below

  4. Mail your completed form to:

    Assistive Devices Program
    5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor  
    Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

 

Getting 100% coverage

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