The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) policy on hearing devices was raised again in the House last Thursday by Sarnia-Lambton MPP (PC), Robert Bailey.
Referring to patients’ difficulties accessing the hearing aid that works best for them, he noted
…Just one single audiologist from my riding of Sarnia–Lambton alone has sent over 30 appeals to the WSIB in the last few months. It takes an average of three to six months to receive an answer. In my riding, I have met with more than a dozen affected constituents and received over 200 handwritten petitions on this issue. I can only imagine how many other patients and constituents are being impacted right across this province…”
In response, Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn noted the government is still in conversation with the WSIB on concerns about compensation barriers.
Related reading:
- Shantz, Troy. 2017 Jul. 31. “Workers with Hearing Loss Stymied by Hearing Aid Cuts.” Sarnia Journal