Infant Hearing Program

Why is Hearing Screening Important?

The first few months and years of a baby’s life are very important for language development. Undetected hearing loss is one of the causes of delayed language development. Delayed language development can lead to behaviour and emotional problems and later, to problems in school.

Every year in Ontario, approximately four in 1,000 babies are born deaf or hard of hearing. Through the Ontario Infant Hearing Program these babies can be identified very early and given the help they need to develop language. Most deaf or hard of hearing children whose hearing loss is identified early, and who receive the support they need, will have the same chance to develop language skills as hearing children.

About the Screening Program

All newborn babies in Ontario have their hearing screened either in the hospital when they are born or in a community setting through Public Health.  If a baby born in Grey Bruce wasn’t screened before leaving the hospital, Public Health will receive a referral and will contact the parents to arrange for their baby’s hearing to be screened. 

There is no charge for the screening. It is a simple, reliable process that is quick, completely safe and comfortable for babies. The technology used to screen a baby’s hearing involves placing a small earphone in the baby’s ear. Soft sounds are played through the earphone and the ear’s response is measured and recorded. Most babies will sleep comfortably through the procedure, and the results will be known right away.