The Hearing House

Specialist Audiology and Rehabilitation Services for Cochlear Implants in New Zealand

The Hearing House is a key provider to the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme (NCIP), delivering expert audiology, habilitation, and rehabilitation services for people receiving cochlear implants in northern New Zealand.

What The Hearing House Does

Working in partnership with the Northern Cochlear Implant Trust (NCIT), The Hearing House supports eligible adults and children through every stage of their cochlear implant care — from assessment through to long-term therapy and device management. The organisation plays an essential role in ensuring consistent, high-quality care is available to patients across the North Island.

The Hearing House provides a full range of clinical services under the publicly funded cochlear implant programme in New Zealand. As part of the NCIP network, the organisation is responsible for:

Audiology assessments

Determining whether a patient is a candidate for a cochlear implant.

Candidacy evaluations

Supporting the multidisciplinary team in clinical decision-making

Pre and post-surgery support

Including programming (also known as “mapping”) of the cochlear implant device

Rehabilitation services for adults

Helping adults adjust to hearing with an implant and develop listening skills

Habilitation services for children

Supporting language development and communication from an early age

These services are delivered by a team of specialist audiologists, speech-language therapists, and habilitation professionals with deep experience in cochlear implant care.

Supporting Adults with Cochlear Implants

Adults who receive a cochlear implant often need support in adapting to new sounds, improving speech perception, and learning to use their device effectively in everyday environments.

The Hearing House provides tailored rehabilitation programmes to help adults regain confidence and communication skills. Services may include:

Device tuning and adjustments

Auditory training exercises

Support for family and communication partners

Ongoing reviews and clinical follow-up

This work is crucial to achieving strong long-term outcomes for cochlear implant users in New Zealand.

Habilitation Services for Children

For children born with hearing loss or who lose hearing early in life, habilitation is a specialised service focused on developing listening, language, and speech from the ground up.

The Hearing House provides early intervention and ongoing support for families, including:

Parent education and coaching

Play-based listening therapy

Speech-language development

School transition and educational planning

These services are essential in helping children with cochlear implants build the foundations for successful learning and social interaction.

A Key Provider to the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme

As one of the two main service delivery organisations contracted by the Northern Cochlear Implant Trust, The Hearing House is central to the operation of the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme. All services provided by The Hearing House under the programme are publicly funded for eligible patients.

Northern Cochlear Implant Programme

The organisation works closely with NCIT and other clinical partners — including Southern Cross Hospitals and Cochlear Limited — to ensure seamless care across the cochlear implant pathway. 

This integrated approach ensures that patients benefit from timely assessments, access to surgical services, and coordinated rehabilitation support, all under a single programme structure.

Located south of Taupō? Check out The Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP)

SCIP

Map of North Island showing region north of Taupo

Trusted by New Zealand Families

The Hearing House is based in Auckland and delivers outreach services across the northern region of Aotearoa. With decades of experience in hearing health, the team is known for its professional standards, clinical expertise, and family-focused approach. 

Patients and families supported by The Hearing House consistently report high levels of satisfaction and improved quality of life. The organisation continues to innovate in service delivery and remains committed to improving outcomes for people with hearing loss across New Zealand.

Visit Hearing House