BC Adult Cochlear Implant Program - Patient Supports

For hotels near St. Paul's Hospital, click here.

Note: You require a medical letter from a social worker to stay at the YWCA hotel.

For hotels near Mount Saint Joseph's Hospital, click here.

This provincial program that waives the cost of BC Ferries. It also discounts participating transportation partners for non-emergent specialist appointments.

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Hope Air is a charitable organization that provides free flights to non-emergent medical appointments. You much meet financial eligibility criteria.

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Health Connections is a health authority based regional travel assistance program. It offers subsidized transportation options to help reduce costs for rural residents who must travel to obtain non-emergency, physician-referred medical care outside their home communities.

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Operated by Translink, HandyDART is a door-to-door, wheelchair-accessible service for passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transit without assistance. The driver will come to your home, help you into the vehicle, and get you to the door of your destination safely.

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Non-emergency stretcher, wheelchair and ambulatory patient transfer service, fee-for-service. Door to door transportation services to or from hospital for patients who require safe, accessible, reliable transport but who do not need medical monitoring. The driver will come to your home, help you into the vehicle will bring you directly to your appointment.

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Discounted fares are available for residents of British Columbia who have a permanent disability. To receive the discounted fare you must apply for a BC Ferries’ Disabled Status Identification Card and present your card to the Ticket Agent when you arrive at the terminal.

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A taxable monthly payment that is available to people who have contributed to the CPP and who are not able to work regularly because of a disability.

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We recommend getting the help of an advocate to help you fill out your CPP-D application.

• In Vancouver
• Elsewhere in BC

Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Provides B.C. residents in financial need with a system of financial supports. Applicants much meet financial eligibility criteria based on income and assets.

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Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Benefits

If you have PWD benefits through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, your medical benefits will cover the equipment costs necessary to maintain your cochlear implant sound processor. The benefits also cover your medical transportation costs to attend appointments. For more information, speak to your social worker.

EI provides sickness benefits to those who are unable to work because of sickness or injury.

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If you are covered by extended health benefits, your plan might cover cover cochlear implant equipment.

This program provides equipment and devices to help individuals thrive in the workplace.

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If you have PWD benefits through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, your medical benefits will cover the equipment costs necessary to maintain your cochlear implant sound processor. The benefits also cover your medical transportation costs to attend appointments. For more information, speak to your social worker.

If you have Indigenous status, FNHA will assist with the costs associated with cochlear implant equipment, maintenance and medical travel. For more information about coverage and how to apply, speak to your Band health services or visit the FNHA website.

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You may be eligible for benefits if your hearing loss is a result of your service.

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If your hearing loss is work-related.

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If your hearing loss is related to a car accident you were involved in.

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If you are a student at a post-secondary school, you may be eligible for grants, loans, bursaries, and subsidies. Contact your school’s Disability Coordinator to ask about the Permanent Disabilities Program Application.

• Student Aid BC
• ACE-BC

Provide refurbished hearing aids for a nominal fee. Their program is for people who cannot afford to purchase new hearing aids. Financial eligibility will be determined by the program.

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Provide refurbished hearing aids for a nominal fee. Their program is for people who cannot afford to purchase new hearing aids. Financial eligibility will be determined by the program.

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You can claim this non-refundable tax credit for a wide range of medical and related expenses. Eligible expenses include health care services, travel expenses (transportation, meals and accommodation), home renovations to install medical equipment, drugs, dental services and health insurances.

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A non-refundable tax credit that taxpayers with disabilities can use to reduce the amount of income tax they have to pay. It includes a supplement for children under 18. The credit can be back-dated to when you first qualified for a hearing disability.

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This federal program helps low-income people and people on income assistance save money over the long-term. It does this through a combination of personal contributions (self, family), and federal contributions (grants, bonds).

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Individuals with certain disabilities may apply for a refund of the provincial motor fuel tax they pay on gasoline, diesel or propane used in their vehicle.

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If you've been approved for a fuel tax refund under the B.C. government Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disabilities, you may also qualify for a 25 per cent discount on your Basic Autoplan—even if you don't drive the vehicle you're insuring. Eligible drivers must bring appropriate documentation to their Autoplan broker's office to have the discount applied to their policy.

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The homeowner’s grant reduces the amount of property taxes you pay each year on your principal residence. If you are a person living with a disability, you may be eligible to apply for an additional grant on top of the basic grant.

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Telus Mobility for Good offers subsidized mobile phone plans for people with disabilities, low-income families and low-income seniors. It also offers free refurbished smartphones and plans for youth leaving foster care and Indigenous women at risk or surviving violence.

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The Access 2 card is for people of all ages and types of permanent disabilities who require the assistance of a support person at hundreds of participating entertainment, cultural and recreational venues across Canada.

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Interest-free loans to help low-to-moderate income renters who are struggling to pay rent and/or essential utilities (gas/hydro).

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This program helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible BC residents who are age 60 or over.

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Quest Food Exchange is a not-for-profit grocery store chain that provided affordable grocery shopping at one of five Lower Mainland locations.

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The GVFB provides assistance to approximately 15,000 individuals monthly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore.

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B.C. provides a broad spectrum of resources for people with disabilities.

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Wavefront is a non-profit agency that strives to offer high quality services to Deaf, Deafened, and Hard of Hearing individuals through innovative products, services, and programs that help to promote accessibility equal to that of the hearing public.

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Neil Squire Society empowers Canadians with disabilities in the workplace and society through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and various employment programs, including the Technology @ Work program which can provide people with disabilities assistive technology to remove work or volunteer barriers.

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IDDHC is a non-profit agency on Vancouver Island that provides counseling and support services to people dealing with a hearing loss, including Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing individuals, and their families.

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A government funded mental health service for those with any kind of hearing loss: those with sudden or progressive hearing loss, or who are late or early deafened. All services are confidential and free of charge.

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Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre is a non-profit agency on Vancouver Island that provides counselling and support services to people dealing with a hearing loss, including, Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing individuals, and their families.

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Some counsellors specialize in deaf and hard of hearing issues. You can search these websites by area of practice to find someone who fits your needs.

• BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
• Counselling BC
• Vancouver Coastal Health resource list

If you feel overwhelmed by sadness and grief, and find that you cannot function because of these feelings, you should talk to your family doctor. Your doctor can discuss your options for managing these feelings.

If you do not have a family doctor and need primary care, visit HealthLinkBC to find out how you can access care. Medimap offers a list of walk-in clinics in Vancouver.

For more information to help manage anxiety and depression, or for crisis support:

Websites

• Anxiety  - Anxiety Canada
• Depression - Bounce Back
• Crisis Support - If you are in immediate danger, or need urgent medical support, call 911.
  • In Canada - Mental health support resources
  • In BC - Crisis Centre BC

Apps

• Mindshift Cognitive Behavioural Therapy App
• Headspace Mindfulness Meditation  App
• Health Minds Mindfulness Meditation App (free) - iPhone or Android

Lower Mainland support group

This is a privately organized support group run by cochlear implant recipient, Rick Waters. Meetings are held monthly on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can contact Bowen via email at cochlearimplantgroupbc@gmail.com.

Vancouver Island support group

This group is moderated by a volunteer CI user. You can contact idhhc@idhhc.ca for more information and to register.

CHHA is a non-profit, self-help, bilingual consumer organization run by and for persons who are hard of hearing. The philosophy of CHHA is to produce knowledgeable hard of hearing consumers who understand how to have their needs met. Its mission is to raise public awareness concerning issues that are important for persons who are hard of hearing, to promote their integration in Canadian society, to remove any barriers to their participation and to generally make every community in Canada a better place for persons who are hard of hearing.

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Advocates help people to apply for and appeal the denial of provincial and federal (Canada Pension Plan [CPP-D]) disability benefits. Assistance is available in person (by appointment), by phone or email.

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A website that links you to an advocate in communities across BC.

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If you become unable to express your wishes and make decisions about your health care, your medical team will look to those closest to you for direction and consent. It is important that those closest to you understand what your values and wishes would be should you be unable to speak for yourself. Advance care planning starts with talking with your close family, friends and health care provider(s) so that they know the health care treatment you would agree to, or refuse, if you become incapable of expressing your own decisions.

The Province of British Columbia and the BC Centre for Palliative Care Association have resources to support you.

The BC Seniors' Guide has consolidated information and resources specific to aging including information on benefits, health, lifestyle, housing, transportation, finances, safety and security, and other services.

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The Scotiabank Youth Transition Program (SYTP) was created to support young people, and their families and caregivers, during their healthcare transition from pediatric to adult care.

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Provincial program that provides support to Deaf or Hard of Hearing youth or young adult up to age 24 with planning for transition to adulthood including support with access to resources.

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The Young Adults Network (YAN) is a non-profit network of young adults aged 18-35 with varying degrees of hearing loss that strives to educate communities about hearing loss, to provide resources and support to young adults with hearing loss so they can become productive members of society, and to foster connections and active leadership amongst our membership.

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Growing Up with Hearing Loss is an interactive platform to help children and young adults with hearing loss and their families successfully manage key transitions and use them as opportunities to learn, grow, and discover new things about themselves and the world.

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Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in communities across BC.

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Directions Youth Services (a division of Family Services of Greater Vancouver) offers low-barrier programs and services to support youth under the age of 25 who are in crisis or experiencing homelessness as a result of abuse, neglect, substance use, or mental health challenges. We welcome and serve all youth.

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The Vancouver Parents Transition Group is an education and support group for parents of youth with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood. The group meets once per month and features guest speakers who provide information and support to families.

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Parent peer support provides help for children and young people by helping their family and other caring adults.

They provide emotional support, information, resources, and help in navigating services for parents & caregivers of a child, youth or young adult with a mental health and/or substance use challenge.

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Offers transitioning to adulthood planning for youth with disabilities; for some youth, transition planning includes applying for support through Community Living BC.

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Patients that transfer to the BC Adult Cochlear Implant Program from BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) can feel nervous about the change. Our team will work with you to make this transition as smooth as possible. When you are ready to transfer, your audiologist at BCCH will send your file to us after your last appointment. Once we receive your file, you will receive a welcome letter, asking you to contact our clinic to book your first follow-up appointment with your new audiologist and social worker at St. Paul's Hospital.

When you come for your first visit, we will give you a tour of our program. We will also introduce you to our team and help guide you through the differences you may encounter as a new patient of the BC Adult Cochlear Implant program.

Making the transition from childhood to adulthood can be challenging. Please look at our Mental Wellness and Youth-specific sections to learn more about what support is available for young adults.

Cochlear implant clinic contact information: 604-806-9616 or ci@providencehealth.bc.ca

If you have recently moved to BC, you will need to enroll in BC’s provincial health plan, Medical Services Plan (MSP), immediately. New (and returning) residents are required to complete a three-month wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia starts, plus two months before benefits can begin. New residents from other parts of Canada will maintain coverage with their former provincial medical plan during the wait period.

For more information on MSP and to enroll in MSP:

Medical Services Plan (MSP) for British Columbia (B.C.) Residents

If you are planning a move to BC and already have a cochlear implant, you will need to contact your audiologist to have them transfer your cochlear implant chart and mapping file (.cdx, .mpd, .xml) to us. When you arrive in BC, please contact our office at 604-806-9616 or email us at ci@providencehealth.bc.ca to make an appointment with an audiologist for the long-term care and management of your cochlear implant.

For more information, visit the website and/or contact their representative.

• Website
• Cochlear Implant Specialist, Kimberly Dreifelds

For more information, visit the website and/or contact their representative.

• Website
• Cochlear Implant Engagement Manager, Caroline Schwabe

For more information, visit the website and/or contact their representative.

• Website
• Cochlear Implant Consumer Engagement Manager, Kim Twitchell

There are many ways in which you can improve communication on your own. You can do this using various listening practice and communication strategies.

• The Listening Room
  • Information on rehabilitation and resources
  • Conversation practice
  • Music appreciation
  • Telephone practice
• Communication Corner
  • Telephone with confidence
  • Build your own program
  • Music resources
  • Live and recorded online courses
• Bridge to Better Communication
• Soundscape
  • Interactive listening activities, telephone tips, music tips for adults, brochures and written materials.
• Transcription Options for Phone, Video and Face to Face
• Vancouver Community College Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults
  • Offers a variety of full time and part time courses and programs for people with hearing loss.

Wired For Sound: A Journey Into Hearing, 2nd Edition, Beverly Biderman

Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, Gael Hannan and Shari Eberts

Gael Hannan's blog

A website about hearing loss management

PDF from the Canadian Academy of Audiology