The Government of India’s Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme has undergone revisions as of April 1, 2022. These revisions primarily benefit children with hearing impairments and aim to cover the costs of cochlear implants, surgeries, therapies, and more. Below is a breakdown of the provisions and income criteria under the updated ADIP scheme.
1. Income Criteria for Cochlear Implants
Beneficiaries under the ADIP scheme are entitled to varying levels of financial support based on their family income:
- Up to ₹22,500 per month: Eligible for 100% cost coverage.
- ₹22,501 to ₹30,000 per month: Eligible for 50% cost coverage.
2. Provisions for Children with Hearing Loss
a. Children with Pre-lingual Hearing Loss (1 to 5 years)
Children diagnosed with pre-lingual hearing loss (hearing loss before speech development) are eligible for a maximum coverage of ₹7.0 lakhs per beneficiary. This includes:
- Cost of the cochlear implant.
- Surgery fees.
- Post-operative therapy.
- Mapping and travel expenses.
- Pre-implant assessments.
b. Children with Post-lingual Hearing Loss (5 to 18 years)
Children who experience hearing loss after speech development are eligible for a maximum of ₹6.0 lakhs to cover similar services, including surgery, implant costs, and post-operative support.
3. Cost of Surgery
The maximum cost for surgery at empaneled hospitals is ₹75,000, which includes a mentor fee of ₹25,000. Hospitals will receive payments upon successful completion of the surgery.
4. Post-operative Rehabilitation
a. Pre-lingual Hearing Loss (1 to 5 years)
Post-operative rehabilitation involves mapping and therapy over three years:
- Mapping: A total cost not exceeding ₹10,000 in the first year, followed by ₹5,000 in the second and third years.
- Therapy: Therapy costs up to ₹50,000 per year, with three therapy sessions per week (156 sessions per year) for three years.
b. Post-lingual Hearing Loss (5 to 18 years)
Rehabilitation for post-lingual hearing loss includes:
- Mapping: Similar to pre-lingual loss, mapping costs are ₹10,000 for the first year, and ₹5,000 for each subsequent year.
- Therapy: Therapy costs up to ₹32,000 per year, with two sessions per week (104 sessions per year) for two years.
5. Travel, Lodging, and Boarding Expenses
a. Pre-lingual Hearing Loss (1 to 5 years)
Families are reimbursed ₹200 per visit for travel, lodging, and boarding expenses for therapy sessions, provided on a quarterly basis. For 468 therapy sessions over three years, the total reimbursement amount is ₹93,600.
b. Post-lingual Hearing Loss (up to 12 years)
Similarly, for children up to 12 years of age, ₹200 per visit will be reimbursed for a total of 208 therapy sessions over two years, amounting to ₹41,600.
6. Cost of Pre-implant Evaluations
For all beneficiaries, ₹10,000 is reimbursed directly to parents to cover the cost of pre-implant evaluations after surgery.
Conclusion
The revisions under the ADIP scheme significantly increase support for children with both pre-lingual and post-lingual hearing loss. By covering surgery, implant costs, therapy, travel, and assessments, the scheme makes cochlear implantation more accessible for families with limited incomes. These revisions demonstrate the government’s commitment to empowering children with hearing impairments through enhanced financial assistance.
