Almost 20,000 people have written to ACC Minister Nick Smith to oppose planned regulations that could leave people with hearing injuries unable to afford hearing aids.
Under proposed changes announced in May this year, the Accident Compensation Corporation will only pay the rehabilitation costs for the percentage of hearing lost it deems was caused by noise injury.
National Foundation for the Deaf chief executive Louise Carroll says scientists cannot determine how much hearing loss is caused by noise injury and how much is caused by old age.
The changes could affect between 50,000 and 70,000 people who have paid ACC levies their whole lives, she says.
