Audiologists are hearing health professionals registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Audiology assessment identifies the presence, nature and severity of hearing loss. If a hearing loss is identified, the audiologist explains what supports and services are available.
Supports and services may include:
- how the hearing loss may affect your child
- how technology may help your child hear
- what services and supports are available to help your child
Audiology services provided through the Infant Hearing Program are for children who:
- Received a ‘refer’ result on Stage 2 newborn hearing screening
- Have one or more identified risk indicators for hearing loss and received a ‘refer’ result on Stage 1 newborn hearing screening
- Bypassed newborn hearing screening because of a risk indicator for hearing loss
- Screened positive on the Newborn Screening Ontario risk factor screen for congenital Cytomegalovirus, meningitis or genetic markers
- Reside in the regions of Halton, Peel, Waterloo, Guelph-Wellington, or Dufferin and are between 0-6 years of age with an identified permanent hearing loss
IHP Audiologists have additional training in IHP protocols specifically created for infants and young children. There are IHP qualified audiologists throughout the Central West region. If your baby was not referred to IHP audiology following newborn hearing screening, a referral is required.
A referral is required to access this service: Intake Services
Children with a suspected hearing loss who received and passed newborn hearing screening should be referred to an audiologist in the community for an audiological assessment. If the audiologist suspects or confirms a permanent hearing loss, referral to the IHP should be initiated.
Click here for a list of community/hospital-based audiologists in our region