Aural services
Information
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provide aural services, including hearing tests and hearing aids, to eligible people.
In general, aural services are provided by the HSE's own professionals but in some cases, it may be provided by private practitioners.
Hearing tests
You will normally be referred by your family doctor (GP) to an audiologist or an ENT specialist at your nearest health centre or hearing aid clinic for a hearing test. It may also be possible to contact your hearing aid clinic or health centre directly and request a hearing test. There is no charge for a hearing test at a public health centre or Local Health Office or public hospital hearing aid clinic. Hearing tests involve an examination of your ear by the audiologist or ENT specialist with a magnifying instrument. You will then be asked to put on headphones and listen to sounds at different pitches so the audiologist can find the level at which you can no longer hear.
Hearing tests can also be conducted on infants and very young children who are unable to wear headphones or communicate that they cannot hear sounds. Tests on infants or young children are similar to those conducted on adults (i.e., they are non-invasive) and are carried out using specialist sonar equipment. The level of the child's hearing is then measured and any corrective action is prescribed.
Hearing aids
If you have a medical card or belong to the eligible groups mentioned below, you can obtain your hearing aid free of charge. If you do not have a medical card, your hearing aid clinic will put you in touch with suppliers of hearing aids and you will have to pay for your hearing aid yourself.
Treatment Benefit Scheme
Treatment Benefit is a scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection. Under this scheme, contributions made by people to the national social insurance fund are paid back to fund the cost of certain health benefits. These health benefits are Dental Benefit, Optical Benefit, Contact Lenses, and Hearing Aids.
Rules
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is obliged to provide aural services free of charge to:
- medical card holders and their dependants
- people with Hepatitis C who contracted the disease through the use of Human Immunoglobulin-Anti-D or from the receipt within Ireland of any blood product or a blood transfusion and who have a Health Amendment Act Card
- pre-school children and primary school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations.
Children who are discovered to have hearing problems at the child or school health examinations are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. If this treatment is carried out at the out-patient department of a public hospital, the service is free and no hospital charges have to be paid.
If you do not have a medical card, the Treatment Benefit Scheme may cover you and your dependent spouse for some of the cost of hearing aids. You may also be able to claim tax relief at your highest rate of tax for medical expenses incurred (including the cost of a hearing aid, costs of doctors and consultants visits, etc.) through the Taxation and Medical Expenses scheme.
Rates
There is no charge for a hearing test at a health centre or at a Local Health Office or public hospital hearing aid clinic whether or not you have a medical card. You may have to pay for a hearing aid unless you have a medical card, are among the eligible groups mentioned above or you have enough social insurance contributions and qualify under the Treatment Benefit Scheme.
How to apply
Contact your Local Health Office or hearing aid clinic for an appointment. Adults with hearing problems may be referred by their family doctor (GP) to an appropriate consultant or HSE hearing aid clinic. The hearing aid clinic may supply hearing aids directly or arrange for their supply by a private practitioner. Repairs to hearing aids may also be carried out at the hearing aid clinic.
More Information
Irish Hard of Hearing Society (IHHA)
35 North Frederick Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 8175700
Fax:+353 (0)1 8723816
Homepage: http://www.ihha.ie/
Email: ihha@deafhear.ie
Irish Deaf Society
30 Blessington St
null
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 8601878
Fax:+353 (0)1 8601960
Homepage: http://www.deaf.ie/
Email: ids@indigo.ie
Young Action on Hearing
35 North Frederick St
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 8723800
Fax:+353 (0)1 8723816
Homepage: http://www.ihha.ie/
Email: yah@ihha.ie
Further information
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is obliged to provide free aural health services appliances under Section 67 of the Health Act 1970 to:
- Medical card holders and their dependants
- Pre-school children and national school children referred from child and school health examinations.
Actually, Section 67 of that Act also obliges the HSE to make such services available to people with limited eligibility although this part was never brought into effect. This means that GP Visit Card holders and non-medical card holders are not entitled to free aural health services.
The Health Act 1970 does not specify the level of aural health services to be provided. In practice, certain groups of people have priority in the provision of services. Some groups who have an entitlement do not get any services.
The Health (Amendment) Act 1996 provides for the provision of free aural health services to certain persons who have contracted Hepatitis C directly or indirectly from the use of Human Immunoglobulin-Anti-D or from the receipt in Ireland of any blood product or a blood transfusion and who have a Health Amendment Act Card.
Language
Related Documents
- Optometric and ophthalmic services
Optometric and opthalmic health services provided through the public health service are free for certain people. Entitlements, charges and rules. - Out-patient public hospital services
Out-patient hospital services in Ireland are generally taken to include accident and emergency services as well as planned services provided on an out-patient basis. Find out more. - Child health services
The general entitlement of children to health services in Ireland and the specific services available.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.