The Audiology Team at the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent is here to work with you for your hearing health.

Audiology services are provided at no cost for children and youth (0 years of age up until their 19^th birthday or up to their 21^st birthday if actively still in high school).

Adult Audiology services are available for people from their 19^th birthday and older for a fee.

Who We Are:

Audiologists are regulated healthcare professionals who complete diagnostic hearing tests and provide hearing related consultations and counselling for clients and families of all ages. The audiologists at the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) all possess a Masters Degree in the area of Audiology.  They are licensed in the province of Ontario and are registered through the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO).

Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDAs) have a post-secondary diploma and provide hearing screenings and other hearing tests under the supervision of an Audiologist.

What We Provide:

Audiologists and CDAs work together to help with:

• Diagnostic hearing testing
• Hearing aid prescription/ evaluation which includes discussing the use of hearing aids, providing information and prescribing a hearing aid
• Prescription of FM systems and other assistive listening devices
• Hearing aid dispensing/ selling hearing aids
• Hearing aid re-check and adjustments
• Hearing aid cleanings and repairs
• Hearing aid batteries
• Earmolds, swim plugs and custom hearing protection
• Central Auditory Processing (CAP) testing is available for children ages 7 years and up
• Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) testing
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing
• Ontario Ministry’s Infant Hearing Program (IHP) Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Provider

Learn More About:

Central Auditory Processing Testing (CAP Testing)

The purpose of a Central Auditory Processing (CAP) Test is to help determine the auditory processing difficulties that a child may be experiencing and to recommend appropriate remediation.

CAP Testing

• For children/youth who are having difficulty recognizing, remembering or understanding what they hear.
• Can be performed for any child/youth, aged 7 years and up, with normal hearing and no diagnosis of intellectual delay.
• A referral for testing from the child/youth’s school is required. We do not accept self-referrals.
• Caregivers are encouraged to contact their child’s school to obtain this referral when appropriate.

CAP Testing can also be performed for people 18 years and older, however, a fee will apply.

Please contact the CTC-CK to learn more, 519-354-0520.

Infant Hearing Program (IHP)

The Infant Hearing Program (IHP) is a province-wide program delivered through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. It is designed to facilitate early identification of infants and children with permanent hearing loss and to provide ongoing support and treatment from birth to age 6 years. This program at the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) includes universal newborn hearing screenings, high-risk monitoring and services for children identified with a permanent hearing loss in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex.

When a baby is born in Chatham-Kent, a referral is automatically generated to the Infant Hearing Program. The CTC-CK will reach out to schedule your hearing screening with one of our specially trained screeners who see all newborn babies for hearing screenings. IHP screenings are for babies up to 8 weeks after birth (40 weeks gestation).

If your child (0-6 years) has a permanent hearing loss identified after a hearing test, you will be asked if you would like to receive services through the Infant Hearing Program. You must be registered with IHP to receive services.

The Infant Hearing team can help with:

• Hearing screening for all newborns born in Chatham-Kent
• Assessments to identify permanent hearing loss
• Monitoring of children at risk of developing hearing loss
• Language development services
• Language intervention services for children identified with a permanent hearing loss
  • The goal of this service is that children will develop one language (spoken or signed) to the best of their ability by the time they enter school. Two language development options are available—Spoken Language Services and Signed Language Services.
• Supporting families in understanding and coping with the implications of hearing loss
• Help families make informed decisions about support services

For more information regarding the IHP including milestones, resources, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) please visit: JMC Centre Infant Hearing Program.