Free hearing aid schemes: ADIP and Vayoshri
Two central government schemes give free or subsidised hearing aids. ADIP covers people with at least 40% disability and income up to ₹30,000 a month: aids up to ₹15,000 are free, ₹15,000–30,000 get 50%. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana covers eligible seniors aged 60 and over.
- ADIP monthly income limit
- ₹30,000
- ADIP disability, certified
- 40%+
- Vayoshri age, for seniors
- 60+
- Where scheme aids are given
- Camps
Three kinds of help, at a glance
Two schemes for hearing aids, and ADIP support for children's cochlear implants.
- ADIP: free or 50% offAids up to ₹15,000 fully covered. Aids from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 get 50%. For 40%+ disability and income up to ₹30,000 a month.
- Vayoshri: seniors 60+Hearing aids and other devices for seniors in the BPL category, through assessment and distribution camps run with ALIMCO.
- Implants: up to ₹7 lakhUp to about ₹7 lakh for ages 1 to 5 with loss from birth; about ₹6 lakh for ages 5 to 18.
This is a plain-language summary, with figures as of 2026. Rules, limits and amounts change. Scheme aids come through government agencies and camps; Poorvam Hearing does not distribute them.
ADIP in detail: support table, sources, who runs it
ADIP stands for Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances. It is run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the central Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It gives people with disabilities, including hearing disability, aids such as hearing aids free or at a reduced cost.
ADIP is delivered through implementing agencies approved by the government, such as national institutes, ALIMCO and registered organisations. They hold assessment and distribution camps, and some fit aids at their own centres.
| Who | Condition | Support |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing aid, lower cost | Aid costs up to ₹15,000 | Full cost covered |
| Hearing aid, higher cost | Aid costs ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 | 50% of the cost |
| Cochlear implant, young children | Age 1 to 5, hearing loss from birth or before speech | Up to about ₹7 lakh |
| Cochlear implant, older children | Age 5 to 18, hearing loss acquired later | Up to about ₹6 lakh |
Cochlear implants for children under ADIP
For children with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears who do not benefit enough from hearing aids, ADIP supports cochlear implant surgery. As of 2026, support is up to about ₹7 lakh for children aged 1 to 5 with hearing loss from birth, and up to about ₹6 lakh for children aged 5 to 18 whose hearing loss came later.
The Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD) is the nodal agency. Children are assessed and operated at empanelled hospitals. Surgery is only the start: a child needs months to years of auditory verbal therapy afterwards to learn to listen and speak.
We support families after the implant with mapping support and therapy. See cochlear implant therapy, and our child hearing tests if you are still finding out what your child hears.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana in detail
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is a central scheme that gives aids and assistive devices to senior citizens. Hearing aids are among them, along with walking sticks, spectacles and wheelchairs.
It is meant for people aged 60 and over in the below poverty line (BPL) category. Some versions of the scheme have used a monthly income limit instead, so check the current rule. Beneficiaries are identified at assessment camps, usually held district by district, and the aids are handed out later at distribution camps run with ALIMCO. As of 2026. Check the official Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana page.
Who is eligible for ADIP?
Four conditions, as of 2026.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | An Indian citizen. |
| Disability | At least 40%, certified by a government medical authority from a hearing test. |
| Income | Up to ₹30,000 a month, the limit revised from 1 April 2022. |
| No recent aid | Generally none from a government scheme for the same purpose recently. Check the waiting period. |
Eligibility as of 2026. Full support is for aids up to ₹15,000, and 50% for aids from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000. Check the official ADIP portal.
How to apply for a free hearing aid
Five steps. The exact paperwork is set by the scheme and the camp.
- Get your hearing testedA recent audiogram helps the medical authority assess hearing disability.
- Get a disability certificateA certificate or UDID card from your district's government medical authority.
- Collect documentsIncome certificate, Aadhaar or other ID, address proof, photographs. Seniors add age proof and BPL status.
- Find a camp or agencyCheck the ADIP portal, your district disability welfare office, or local camp notices.
- Attend assessment and fittingThe agency assesses you and fits or hands over the aid. Keep the receipt; ask about follow-up.
What we can and can't do
We are a private audiology clinic. We help you get ready; the scheme decides.
- Test and report, ₹800A full hearing test in a sound-treated booth at Phase 1 or Phase 2, with a printed audiogram.
- Explain your reportSo you know what to expect at the medical board or camp.
- Child tests, OAE and BERAFor babies and children, before a cochlear implant decision.
- Service and repairCleaning, servicing and repair for most brands, on a paid basis.
- We can't give scheme aidsWe cannot hand out ADIP or Vayoshri aids, issue disability certificates, or approve an application.
- The board decidesWhether a medical board accepts a private audiogram, or repeats the test, is up to the board.
Check with the official site or your district office first.
Is a free scheme aid the right choice?
For many families, yes. A hearing test tells you which way to go.
- Often a real helpFor an older parent or a child with stable loss. Far better than no aid, or a ₹500 amplifier.
- Chosen to a cost limitBasic digital or body-worn aids. Usually no phone streaming, and limited fine-tuning after the camp.
- When a fitted aid suits betterComplex loss, noisy days or clear calls. We fit aids with a 7-day trial.
Our Electronic City centres are open Monday to Saturday. Call +91 88848 64343 if you are unsure.
Questions people ask us
Who is eligible for a free hearing aid under ADIP?
As of 2026, ADIP covers Indian citizens with at least 40% disability, certified by a government medical authority, and a monthly income of up to ₹30,000. Aids costing up to ₹15,000 are fully covered, and aids from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 get 50% support. Check the current rules on the official ADIP site.
Can senior citizens get a free hearing aid from the government?
Yes, if they qualify. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana gives hearing aids and other aids to senior citizens aged 60 and over in the below poverty line category, through assessment and distribution camps run with ALIMCO. The income rule has changed between versions of the scheme, so check the official scheme page.
Is cochlear implant surgery free for children under ADIP?
ADIP supports cochlear implants for eligible children with severe to profound hearing loss: up to about ₹7 lakh for children aged 1 to 5 born with hearing loss, and up to about ₹6 lakh for children aged 5 to 18 with acquired loss, as of 2026. AYJNISHD is the nodal agency. Selection is done by empanelled hospitals, and the implant must be followed by therapy.
Does Poorvam Hearing give free hearing aids under ADIP?
No. Scheme aids are given through government-approved agencies and camps, and we do not distribute them. We can do a full hearing test and give you an audiogram report to take to the medical board or camp. If you do not qualify, or want a different aid, we fit hearing aids with a 7-day trial.
What documents do I need to apply for a free hearing aid?
Usually a disability certificate or UDID card showing the percentage of hearing disability, an income certificate, proof of identity and address such as Aadhaar, and a photograph. For senior citizen schemes, proof of age and BPL status. A recent audiogram helps the medical authority assess hearing disability. The exact list is set by the scheme and the camp.
Are free government hearing aids good enough?
Scheme aids are basic digital or body-worn aids chosen to a cost limit. For many people with stable hearing loss they help a lot, and they are far better than no aid. People with complex loss, very noisy jobs or a need for phone streaming may want a fitted aid with more features. The test result helps you decide.
Get the hearing test report you need
A full hearing test at Electronic City Phase 1 or Phase 2, explained in plain words, with a printed audiogram.