Infant Hearing Program
Ontario Infant Hearing Program
The Ontario Infant Hearing Program provides:
- hearing screening for all newborns in the hospital or community setting,
- assessments to identify permanent hearing loss,
- monitoring of children who are at risk for developing hearing loss, and
- language development services (spoken or signed languages).
Two in 1000 babies have hearing loss at birth and another two more develop hearing loss by the age of 5 years old. Children with hearing loss are at risk for delayed development in areas such as listening, talking, learning, and social skills.
General information about newborn hearing screening and what to expect
Hearing screen |
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Hearing screening locations
KFL&A Public Health is the lead agency for the Southeast Infant Hearing Program. Hearing screening is offered at many different locations across the southeast region.
Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington |
Hospital (before discharge)Kingston-Health Sciences Centre- Kingston General Hospital site 76 Stuart Street, Kingston ON. K7L 2V7 613-548-3232 Community ClinicKFL&A Public Health 221 Portsmouth Ave., Kingston ON. K7M 1V5 613-549-1232 ext 1145 |
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark |
BrockvilleHospital (before discharge)Brockville General Hospital 75 Charles St., Brockville, ON. K6V 1S8 613-345-5649 Community clinicFamilies will be told the location at the time of booking. Commonwealth Public School Children's Services for United Counties of Leeds and Grenville EarlyON Program - 166 Pearl Street East, Brockville. K6V 1R4 - 613-341-9044, ext. 2374, or 1-866-433-8933, ext. 2374 Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit - 458 Laurier Blvd. Brockville, ON. K6V 7A3 (May be offered at a temporary location due to COVID-19) Smiths FallsHospital (before discharge)Perth Smiths Falls District Hosptial 60 Cornelia St. West., Smiths Falls, ON. K7A 2H9 613-283-2330 Community ClinicFamilies will be told the location at the time of booking. Children's Resources on Wheels (CROW) EarlyON Program - 4 Ross Street, Smiths Falls ON., K7A 4L5 AlmonteHospital (before discharge)Almonte General Hospital 75 Spring Street, Almonte, ON., K0A 1A0 613-256-2500 Community clinicLeeds, Grenville and Lanark District Hospital (May be offered at a temporary location due to COVID-19) 25 Johnston Street, Smiths Falls ON., K7A 0A4 |
Hastings, Prince Edward |
BellevilleHospital (before discharge)Quinte Health Care 403 Main Street, Picton, ON., K0K 2T0 613-476-1008 Community clinicHastings Prince Edward Public Health - Offered by Quinte Family Space 179 North Park Street, Belleville, ON., K8P 4P1 613-966-9427, ext. 225 |
Risk factor screen
Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) uses a blood spot from your baby’s heel to test for a variety of different diseases. This same blood spot is used to test for hearing loss risks, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and several genetic risk factors.
Audiology testing
If your baby receives a “refer” result on their follow-up screen (stage 2), the next step is to have your baby’s hearing tested by an Audiologist.
Team support
If your child is found to have a hearing loss, we are here to help. A team of professionals will work together with you and your Audiologist. Your team could also include a Family Support Worker, a Speech-Language Pathologist or an American Sign Language (ASL) Consultant and other community supports.
If you have questions about the Southeast Infant Hearing Program, call 613-549-1232, ext. 1145
Resources
English
- Help Your Child Develop Speech and Language Skills (French) - Ontario Infant Hearing Program
- Ontario Infant Hearing Program Locations (French ) - Ontario Infant Hearing Program
- Newborn Screening Ontario- Hearing Risk Factor Screening (French)
- Hear On Videos - University of Western Ontario- Learning videos for families of children identified with permanent hearing loss.