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Newborn Hearing Screening
More than 2,000 children are born with a hearing loss in Canada every year, making it one of our country’s most common birth defects for which screening is available.
Approximately six in every thousand babies born in Canada have some degree of hearing loss, including profound deafness.
Historically, without screening, the average age of identification of hearing loss has been between 2 ½ to 3 years of age, making it difficult for many children to catch up with communication and social skills. Early diagnosis and intervention can profoundly and positively impact a child's success, both in the classroom and in life.
Newborn hearing screening is a gentle, non-invasive test that can identify a potential hearing problem at birth or shortly after. Babies identified with a hearing loss will then experience early intervention, so that the crucial communication development in their early years is not compromised. THFC supports the screening for all children as early as possible.
Research shows that when babies are diagnosed and treated for hearing loss by six months of age, their language levels are higher with no evidence of developmental delays as seen in children who are diagnosed after six months.
THFC’s 9-minute captioned video, One Simple Test Could Change a Child’s Future, has been distributed across Canada to educate parents-to-be, the public, and health care professionals on the vital importance of early detection and intervention. In 2003, Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care distributed a copy to all physicians and specialists in the province. Parents wishing brochures or a CD copy of the video on newborn hearing screening are invited to contact the Hearing Foundation at 1-866-HEAR YOU.
To download a copy of our bilingual brochure, please click here
THFC encourages new parents to check their baby's hearing throughout these important first years. Encourage language development: sing, talk and read to your baby. If you have any concerns about your baby's hearing, consult your doctor.<> In Ontario, parents may obtain additional information on having their baby's hearing screened by contacting the Infant Hearing Programs which provide services at no cost through a number of regional offices found at http://www.children.gov.on.ca/CS/en/programs/BestStart/InfantHearing/
Publications/infant_hearing_locations.htm
<Other provincial links >
Signs of hearing loss in children
- Your child's “baby talk” is not progressing or their speech/language development is delayed or difficult
- They complain that their ear(s) hurt, or they have frequent ear infections
- They have difficulty locating sounds
- They often speak too softly or too loudly
- They turn up the TV volume to an excessively high level
- They have behavioural or academic problems; often classified as being inattentive or disruptive, especially during listening activities
- They often ask, "What?"
- Their speech sounds different or they don’t speak clearly
- Their language is characterized by a reduced vocabulary where words are often missing endings.
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