Information about hearing devices

Once the WSIB has confirmed someone’s hearing loss is work-related, their clinician will work with them to select a hearing device from one of our five contracted vendors and their associated companies (Audmet, Sonova, WS Audiology, GN Hearing Canada or Starkey) and submit a request to the WSIB for approval.

To request pre-approval from the WSIB for the initial purchase of items that can present auditory, visual or tactile information to people with work-related hearing loss, a Hearing assistive technologies (HAT) request form must be submitted. 

Audiologists or physicians will prescribe hearing aids for people with approved WSIB claims.   
 
These hearing aids offer a range of features and styles that meet the needs of most people with occupational hearing loss. These models (entry and mid-level) have an expedited billing process. 

With approval, exception-level aids will be available for people with exceptional hearing needs who have specific clinical requirements that cannot be met by an authorized model. The hearing health care clinic must request pre-approval from the WSIB before dispensing an exception-level hearing aid by submitting a Hearing aid replacement and/or clinical exception request form, the prescription and most recent Hearing assessment form. Please continue to submit audiograms until the new Hearing assessment form is available. Audiogram reports must be submitted within six months of the hearing test.
 
All hearing aids come with a three-year extended warranty.

See the Clinical exception guidelines for more details. 

The WSIB generally considers one request to replace a lost, stolen or damaged hearing aid every five years. All decisions are made after reviewing the unique facts and circumstances of each claim. 

To submit a request: 

• The person with a claim must complete and submit a Declaration of lost, stolen or damaged hearing device.
  • For damaged devices, complete this form if your device was damaged due to an accident and/or circumstances other than regular wear and tear.
• The hearing health care clinic must complete and submit a Hearing aid replacement and/or clinical exception request form that is reviewed and signed by the person with a claim. 
• Hearing aids will be replaced with the same hearing aid as the original, if still available
• For clinical exceptions, the Hearing assessment form must be submitted with the clinical exception request, along with the prescription.
• The forms and any supporting documents required can be submitted on our website.

Note: the prescription and hearing assessment form must be submitted as supporting documentation for clinical exceptions and for replacement devices that differ from the patient’s current model.