Infant Hearing Program

Where and when a newborn’s hearing should be screened:

All babies born in Ontario should have their hearing screened shortly after birth, with results that are kept in a provincial database. Superior Hearing Centre does not provide Ontario Infant Hearing Program screenings. Screening services are provided by Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. The Ontario Infant Hearing screening should be completed in the first 8 weeks after birth. A screener will reach out to your family to arrange an appointment that will happen at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. If your baby is approaching 8 weeks of age and your family has not been contacted, call Children’s Centre at 807-343-6364

Superior Hearing Centre only sees babies who refer on their screening or who are referred for a diagnostic assessment due to a risk factor for hearing loss. The screener at Children’s Centre will notify Superior Hearing Centre of these cases. Only in these circumstances will your child see an Infant Hearing Program Audiologist.

For older children:

If your child had their hearing screened at birth and passed, typically there is no need for any further hearing monitoring. There may be exceptions such as a child that has experienced a major head injury, major medical event, or have significantly delayed speech or language development, which would warrant testing later in childhood. Our clinic prioritizes children’s hearing tests based on need.

Doctor examining ear with otoscope for little smiling girl

Infant Hearing Program

Where and when a newborn’s hearing should be screened:

For older children:

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