Audiology Services
In Nova Scotia, occupational noise-induced hearing loss is considered an occupational disease. WCB Nova Scotia covers the costs for hearing aids and associated hearing services for workers with accepted work-related hearing-loss claims.
We have a formal agreement with audiologists and hearing health providers to treat workers. The Hearing Health Services Guide provides details on the services covered by WCB and how to invoice for payments.
Initial audiometric assessment covered by WCB
Most hearing loss claims start with an initial hearing test. WCB Nova Scotia will cover the costs of this initial assessment regardless of whether the claim is approved. Your clinic can bill us directly for payment. You do not need a claim number to submit the invoice for this test for payment.
Once we receive this test, we will open a claim for the worker and provide them with information on next steps.
Supporting workers with their hearing loss application
Workers may ask you for help with their application. We require a number of documents to review a claim:
- Hearing test (initial audiometric assessment completed by a certified audiologist)
- Work history from Service Canada
- Application form from the worker
For more detailed information about the steps to apply, check out work-related hearing loss for workers.
What do audiologists need to know about making a WCB claim?
Workers may not be aware that a claim for noise induced hearing loss due to a work-related incident needs to be filed within 12 months of receiving information from their audiologist. As an audiologist or clinic, you can help ensure that workers are able to access benefits from WCB Nova Scotia for work-related hearing loss by encouraging them to contact WCB Nova Scotia within 12 months of your appointment if you suspect their hearing loss may be caused by their employment.
Audiologists
We provide workers with a listing of audiologist providers to help them find an audiologist in their area. To be added to the list, email HealthServicesInbox@wcb.ns.ca.
Hearing Health Services Guide
The process outlined in the Hearing Health Services Guide should be followed when providing services to a worker with an approved hearing-loss claim. If you have questions about the process, please call our office to connect with the Hearing Loss Team.
Relevant forms
Approved Hearing Aid Devices
WCB Nova Scotia has worked directly with hearing aid manufacturers to negotiate wholesale pricing for quality hearing aids. We now have a list of approved devices and a process for co-pay. Please contact the Health Services team at HealthServicesInbox@wcb.ns.ca to receive the most up to date list of approved devices.
About occupational-noise induced hearing loss in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, work‐related noise induced hearing loss is considered to be an occupational disease. This means that, according to the Workers’ Compensation Act, the worker must:
- Give notice of the injury to the employer as soon as practicable after the worker learns that he or she suffers from an occupational disease; and
- Make a claim for compensation within 12 months of the worker learning of the occupational disease for which compensation is claimed.
- The WCB may extend the time for filing a claim, but not beyond five years from the date of the accident or from when the worker learned of the occupational disease. Current practice within the WCB is to use the date that the noise induced hearing loss is confirmed by a medical specialist, such as an Audiologist Report, as the date that the injured worker learns that they have an occupational disease.