Hearing Technology Funding & Support in the UK: NHS, Access to Work, Education and Self-Funding

If you need hearing technology or assistive listening equipment, one of the first questions you may have is:

Who pays for it?

The answer isn't always straightforward.

Depending on your circumstances, support may be available through the NHS, your employer, Access to Work, your school or education provider, Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), or other sources.

You can also purchase assistive listening technology privately if you prefer to arrange a solution yourself.

This guide explains some of the main routes available in the UK and where you can start if you need additional help hearing at home, at work, in education or in everyday situations.

Can I Get Hearing Aids Through the NHS?

Yes.

Hearing aids are available through the NHS for people who meet the relevant clinical criteria.

If you are experiencing hearing difficulties, your GP may refer you to an NHS hearing aid provider, although the exact referral pathway can vary depending on where you live.

NHS hearing aids are provided as a long-term loan rather than becoming your property.

The NHS also provides batteries, repairs and follow-up support for NHS hearing aids. There can, however, be a charge if an NHS hearing aid is lost or damaged and needs replacing.

The range available through the NHS may differ from hearing aids available privately.

What Hearing Aids Are Available on the NHS?

The exact hearing aids available depend on your local NHS audiology service and its current contracts.

Modern NHS hearing aids are predominantly behind-the-ear devices, although other styles may occasionally be available.

Many modern NHS hearing aids include useful connectivity features, but these vary considerably between devices.

If you already wear NHS hearing aids and are considering an additional listening device, it is therefore important to identify the exact make and model of your hearing aids before purchasing anything.

This allows compatibility to be checked properly.

Can I Buy Accessories for NHS Hearing Aids?

Potentially, yes.

Being an NHS hearing aid user does not necessarily mean that you can only use equipment supplied by the NHS.

There are many privately available accessories and assistive listening devices that may be compatible with NHS hearing aids.

These can include:

• TV listening devices
• Remote microphones
• Wireless microphones
• Telephone solutions
• Workplace listening equipment
• Classroom listening technology
• Telecoil-compatible systems
• Assistive listening receivers

Compatibility depends on the hearing aid.

Some devices connect directly to particular hearing aids, while others may require an additional receiver, streamer or neckloop.

Before buying an accessory, check the manufacturer and exact model of your hearing aids.

Can NHS Hearing Aids Work With Phonak Roger?

Some can.

Phonak Roger is a wireless remote microphone system designed to improve access to speech, particularly where distance and background noise make listening difficult.

Rather than simply making everything louder, a Roger microphone can be positioned close to the person speaking and transmit their voice towards the listener.

There are several ways Roger can work with hearing aids and cochlear implants, depending on the devices being used.

For example, the Roger NeckLoop can be used with compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants that have an activated telecoil.

Other Roger receiver options are also available.

Compatibility should always be checked before purchasing a Roger system.

Funding Hearing Technology for Work

Difficulty hearing at work can affect meetings, conversations with colleagues, telephone calls, training sessions, conferences and online meetings.

Importantly, hearing difficulties at work are not limited to people who wear hearing aids.

Some people have normal or near-normal hearing test results but still find speech extremely difficult to process in busy or acoustically challenging environments.

Additional listening technology may sometimes help.

Your Employer and Reasonable Adjustments

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees where appropriate.

A reasonable adjustment could include changes to working arrangements, the environment or the provision of equipment.

Depending on the individual's circumstances, practical aids and technology may form part of those adjustments.

This means it can be worth speaking to your employer before assuming that you need to purchase equipment yourself.

What Is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a UK Government scheme designed to help people with a disability or health condition get or stay in work.

Depending on individual circumstances, Access to Work may provide a grant towards practical support that goes beyond the reasonable adjustments an employer would normally be expected to provide.

Support can potentially include specialist equipment or adaptations.

Access to Work is available in England, Scotland and Wales. Different arrangements apply in Northern Ireland.

Do I Need a Formal Diagnosis to Apply for Access to Work?

Not necessarily.

Current government guidance states that you do not necessarily need to have a diagnosed condition to apply.

You do, however, need to have a disability, illness or health condition that means you need support to do your job.

Eligibility and any support awarded are assessed individually.

This may be particularly relevant for people experiencing significant listening or communication difficulties who are still undergoing assessment.

Can Access to Work Fund Hearing Technology?

Potentially.

Access to Work can contribute towards specialist equipment where this is considered necessary to help someone perform their job.

For somebody experiencing hearing or listening difficulties, potential solutions might include technology to help with:

• One-to-one conversations
• Meetings
• Group discussions
• Presentations
• Training
• Online meetings
• Hearing speech over distance
• Communicating in background noise

The appropriate technology depends on the individual, their workplace and the listening situations causing difficulty.

An award is not guaranteed simply because a particular product has been requested. Access to Work will determine what support it considers appropriate.

What Hearing Technology Could Be Used at Work?

There isn't one solution that suits everybody.

For somebody who already wears compatible hearing aids, a remote microphone such as Phonak Roger On may help transmit speech more directly to their hearing devices.

For meetings around a table, specialist table microphones may be appropriate.

Other people may benefit from personal listening devices, telecoil solutions or different assistive listening technology.

Increasingly, there are also situational hearing solutions for people who do not routinely wear hearing aids.

The starting point should therefore be:

What listening situation are you trying to improve?

Once this has been identified, suitable technology can be considered.

Hearing Support for Children at School

Children spend a significant amount of their school day listening.

Unfortunately, classrooms can also be challenging listening environments.

Distance from the teacher, other children talking, movement, hard surfaces and general classroom noise can all make speech more difficult to follow.

For a child with hearing or listening difficulties, these effects can be even greater.

What Support Can Schools Provide?

Schools have responsibilities towards pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Depending on the child's individual needs, support may be provided through the school's existing SEND arrangements.

Schools are also required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, which can include providing appropriate aids or equipment where required.

Children with more complex needs may have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Parents concerned about their child's ability to hear, listen or participate in class should usually start by speaking with the school SENCO and the relevant healthcare or educational professionals involved with their child.

What Hearing Technology Can Be Used in Schools?

There are several approaches.

Personal remote microphone systems

A teacher wears or uses a microphone and their voice is transmitted to equipment worn by the pupil.

The Phonak Roger education range is one example.

Classroom soundfield systems

A soundfield system distributes the teacher's voice throughout the classroom using specialist loudspeakers.

Rather than supporting one particular child, this can improve access to the teacher's voice across the classroom.

Pass-around microphones

These can help pupils hear contributions from classmates during discussions.

Personal receivers

Some children who do not wear conventional hearing aids may use a dedicated receiver with a remote microphone system where this has been professionally recommended.

Different approaches can also be combined.

What About Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism or Other Listening Difficulties?

A child does not necessarily need conventional hearing loss to experience significant listening difficulties.

For example, some children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) may hear sounds at normal levels but experience difficulty processing complex speech, particularly in noisy environments.

Some autistic children and children with attention-related difficulties can also find complex classroom listening environments challenging.

Technology is not appropriate for every child or every condition, and professional assessment is important.

However, remote microphone technology and other listening strategies may form part of the support considered for some children.

Hearing Technology at College and University

Moving into further or higher education introduces different listening challenges.

Students may need to hear in:

• Large lecture theatres
• Seminars
• Group discussions
• Practical sessions
• Placements
• Online lectures
• Busy social learning spaces

One possible source of support for eligible higher-education students is Disabled Students' Allowance.

What Is Disabled Students' Allowance?

Disabled Students' Allowance, usually referred to as DSA, helps with study-related costs incurred because of a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition or other eligible condition.

The support available is based on individual need rather than household income and does not normally have to be repaid.

DSA can potentially contribute towards specialist equipment, non-medical support, disability-related travel and other eligible study support.

Can DSA Pay for Hearing or Assistive Listening Technology?

Potentially, if the equipment is identified as necessary to support the student's study-related needs.

Students generally undergo a needs assessment as part of the process.

The assessment looks at the barriers the student experiences and recommends appropriate support.

Importantly, students should not simply purchase equipment first and expect DSA to reimburse them afterwards.

Government guidance advises students to wait until they have been assessed and their support has been agreed.

Can I Buy Hearing Technology Myself?

Yes.

You do not necessarily need to receive funding before purchasing assistive listening technology.

Many individuals, parents, employers, schools and organisations purchase equipment privately.

Self-funding can sometimes provide greater choice or allow equipment to be obtained more quickly.

However, specialist hearing technology can represent a significant investment.

Before purchasing, it is important to check:

• What problem you are trying to solve
• Whether the equipment is appropriate for the intended situation
• Hearing aid or cochlear implant compatibility
• Whether additional receivers are required
• Whether professional programming or installation is required
• Whether a simpler solution might achieve the same result

Getting these questions right can prevent expensive mistakes.

Choosing the Right Hearing Technology

Hearing technology works best when it is selected for a specific listening problem rather than simply choosing a product because it has good specifications.

Someone struggling with television dialogue may need a very different solution from somebody struggling in meetings.

Likewise, a child trying to hear a teacher across a classroom has very different requirements from an adult trying to follow several colleagues around a conference table.

At Zova Sound Solutions, we specialise in assistive listening and hearing technology for a wide range of environments, including:

• Home
• Work
• Meetings
• Education
• Universities
• Social situations
• Television
• Public venues

Our range includes remote microphones, personal receivers, classroom systems, soundfield systems, TV listening equipment and other assistive listening technology.

If you're unsure about compatibility or which type of equipment may be suitable, contact us before ordering and we can help you understand the available options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get free hearing aids from the NHS?

Yes. NHS hearing aids are provided free of charge as a long-term loan to eligible patients. NHS batteries, repairs and aftercare are also generally provided without charge, although lost or damaged hearing aids may sometimes incur a replacement charge.

Can I use privately purchased accessories with NHS hearing aids?

Potentially. Compatibility depends on the make and model of hearing aid and the accessory being considered.

Can NHS hearing aids work with Roger microphones?

Some NHS hearing aids can be used with Roger technology. The connection method depends on the hearing aid. Telecoil-equipped devices may, for example, be able to use a Roger NeckLoop.

Can my employer pay for hearing equipment?

Yes. Employers may purchase equipment directly and may also have responsibilities to provide reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

Can Access to Work help pay for hearing technology?

Potentially. Access to Work can provide grants towards practical workplace support for eligible individuals, including specialist equipment where appropriate. Funding is assessed individually and is not guaranteed.

Do I need hearing loss to apply for Access to Work?

Not necessarily. Eligibility is broader than diagnosed hearing loss. Government guidance states that applicants do not necessarily need a formal diagnosis, but they must have a disability, illness or health condition that means they need support to do their job.

Can schools fund classroom hearing equipment?

Schools and local authorities have responsibilities for supporting children with SEND and for making reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. How equipment is assessed and funded will depend on the child's individual circumstances and local arrangements.

Can university students get help paying for assistive listening technology?

Eligible students may receive support through Disabled Students' Allowance. The equipment provided depends on an assessment of individual study-related needs.

Should I buy equipment before applying for DSA?

Generally, no. Students should go through the DSA assessment and approval process before purchasing equipment they expect DSA to fund.

Need Help Choosing a Solution?

Finding the right hearing technology can be confusing, particularly when compatibility, funding and different listening environments all need to be considered.

Zova Sound Solutions provides specialist assistive listening technology for individuals, families, schools, universities, employers and organisations throughout the UK.

Explore our hearing technology and assistive listening solutions online or contact us if you would like help identifying the most appropriate options for your situation.

Please note: Zova Sound Solutions is an independent retailer of hearing and assistive listening technology. We are not part of the NHS, Student Finance England or the Access to Work scheme, and we cannot guarantee eligibility or funding approval. Funding schemes, eligibility criteria and processes may change, so applicants should always check current guidance with the relevant organisation.