SDCL § 62-9-11: Effect of hearing aid use on compensation--Provision of hearing aid by employer.

No reduction in an award of compensation for occupational hearing loss may be made because the ability of the employee to understand speech is improved by the use of a hearing aid. During the period of exposure to excessive noise without regard to the period of time in a noninjurious environment required before a claim may be filed, the Department of Labor and Regulation may require the employer to provide the employee with necessary hearing aids if the hearing aid will materially improve the employee's ability to understand speech.