Media Statement
29 October 2026
Reform of the audiology market must go beyond securing cheaper hearing devices and seek to improve equitable access to professional care and deliver better hearing health outcomes for New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Audiological Society (NZAS).
NZAS Executive Director Ken Trass says the ACC-commissioned Audiology Market Review provides a useful foundation for reform, but changes to device purchasing alone will not address the wider barriers people face in getting the ear and hearing care they need.
"Better purchasing and sustainable funding for hearing devices are important but proper reform must also address how professional ear and hearing care is funded and delivered."
"If we are going to restructure funding arrangements, we should use the opportunity to improve patient access, address inequities in the system and make better use of the audiology workforce."
The scale of hearing issues in our communities underlines the importance of getting reform right. In 2016, an estimated 880,350 New Zealanders, nearly one in five, were living with hearing loss. The economic and wellbeing costs of this were estimated at $4.9 billion that year, reflecting the effects on people's lives as well as the wider economy.
Greater investment in prevention supports a reduction in the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss, delivering better outcomes for individuals while reducing long-term costs to ACC and the wider New Zealand economy.
"Hearing difficulties can impact nearly every aspect of a person's life including their education, employment, and ability to remain independent and connected with others as they age," says Trass.
"Any reform to the system should seek to improve these outcomes. Lower device costs and sustainable funding are important, but people also need timely access to skilled hearing professionals, the freedom to choose where they receive care, and the ability to obtain assessment, advice and treatment in one place."
Audiologists and audiometrists provide assessment, hearing aid fitting, rehabilitation and ongoing support within their respective scopes of practice. Appropriately trained audiologists can also provide specialist services, including paediatric assessment, tinnitus management and vestibular and balance care.
"The ACC review rightly identifies inequities in access, including barriers affecting Maori, Pacific peoples, lower-income communities and people in rural areas," says Trass. "It also identifies paying for professional time separately from hearing devices as an option for further exploration."
"ACC already makes separate payments for devices and some services, and we would support exploring an even clearer separation of device and professional service funding, provided professional services are appropriately funded to cover the care patients need."
"Patients deserve to understand what the various costs cover and what care is included in those costs, as this helps inform them of their options. Clinicians and device providers also need arrangements that recognise the full work involved in assessment, device fitting, rehabilitation and follow-up."
NZAS says changes should be developed in consultation with the audiology profession, consumers and providers.
"Any new arrangements must preserve independent clinical judgement and support evidence-based care tailored to a patient's needs," Trass says.
"If we get this right, the benefit can be significant through improved ear and hearing health across our communities, more people in productive education and employment, and greater independence as they age," says Trass. "Along with the obvious social and economic benefits, this can help alleviate pressure elsewhere in the health system."
"NZAS wants to build on its work with ACC and contribute alongside government, consumers and providers to create a system that contributes to these goals."
