Attempts to make hearing aids more accessible for low income and severely deaf people are a positive step forward, but will only make a difference if the Government makes public audiological services more accessible to these adults.

The Government's desperation to save money from ACC is becoming farcical, with new plans to slash ACC cover for people with hearing loss described as ill-thought through and unjustified.

The arbitrary cut to ACC cover for people with less than six percent hearing loss will leave many people affected socially isolated and with a reduced ability to do their jobs.

The New Zealand Audiological Society is accusing the Government of turning its back on thousands of people whose hearing has been damaged at work with its planned ACC changes.

The New Zealand Audiological Society is warning of the long term damage mild hearing loss and noisy environments can have on a child's learning and development.