Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Status of early hearing detection and intervention programs in Canada: Results from a country-wide survey

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Journal

Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Volume

44

Issue

3

First Page

107

Last Page

124

Abstract

In Canada, early hearing detection and intervention programs go beyond population screening of newborn hearing and offer services to confirm the presence or absence of hearing loss and provide services should permanent hearing loss be detected. Early hearing loss identification and intervention is critical to promote language, literacy, and social skills in developing children. However, a report card issued in 2014 from the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force indicated that comprehensive early hearing detection and intervention programs were not uniformly available across Canada. The current work aimed to update the status of early hearing detection and intervention programs in Canada through a 24-item survey completed by 19 representatives in all 13 provinces and territories. Since 2014, there have been some improvements in early hearing detection and intervention programs in some areas of Canada. In others, comprehensive infant hearing services are not available province-or territory-wide or have not been provided with the necessary resources to sustain a suitable early hearing detection and intervention program. Results revealed that Canada is insufficient in offering comprehensive, accessible, and sustainable early hearing detection and intervention programs. Babies born in Canada deserve access to all components of an early hearing detection and intervention program, regardless of where they live. Continued action from Canada’s provincial and territorial governments in addition to federal policy leadership is needed to achieve sufficient and sustainable early hearing detection and intervention programs across the country.

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Copyright of the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is held by Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)

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