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What is an Audiologist?

Assesses hearing, prescribes and dispenses equipment to improve hearing, and offers support to cope with hearing loss. Audiologists provide hearing services for children birth to age 19. They work closely with children, youth and their families to help them cope with hearing loss, and provide appropriate hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Who are we:

An audiologist is a Regulated Health Professional with a Master’s degree in Audiology, a clinician who identifies, treats and manages hearing problems, and a clinician who counsels families on how to cope with the impact of a hearing loss.

Who We Serve:

For children and youth up to 19 years of all abilities
For assessment of newborns, infants, or children and youth who have difficulty with the traditional hearing test

What we Provide:

  • Hearing testing
  • Auditory Processing testing: for children age 7 or older who have difficulty attending to, discriminating, recognizing, remembering, or understanding what they hear
  • Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices: prescription and dispensing of all makes and models of hearing aids and assistive listening devices
  • Educational Audiology Services: consultation with teachers and community groups
  • Participant in the Ontario Infant Hearing Program

Assessment

  • For assessment of newborns, infants, or others who have difficulty with the traditional hearing test
  • Identifies type and degree of hearing loss
  • Takes about one hour

Central Auditory Processing Testing:

  • For children age 7 and older with normal hearing who have difficulty attending to, discriminating, recognizing, remembering, or understanding what they hear
  • Takes about two hours
  • Specific recommendations are provided to families and teachers, at parents’ request

Intervention (where appropriate)

Prescription:

  • Prescriptions provided for all makes and models of Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices
  • Assistive Devices Program registered authorizers

Dispensing:

  • Dispensing of all makes & models of Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening

Devices:

  • Hearing Aid checks
  • Troubleshooting problems with Hearing Aids and devices
  • Minor repairs and modifications
  • Impressions for earmolds, swim plugs, noise plugs or musician’s plugs
  • Trial periods available for Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices
  • Loaner Hearing Aids
  • Battery sales
  • Hearing Aid and Assistive Listening Devices accessories

What to Expect:

A social story can be found in the resources section below.

Signs of Hearing Loss In Children:

  • Delayed speech and language
  • Ask for repetition
  • Watch speaker’s face intently
  • May not respond unless watching
  • May not attend to listening task
  • TV or radio too loud
  • Difficulty hearing in noise
  • Fatigue at end of day
  • Difficulty following instructions

How old does my child need to be to be tested?

No child is too young to test

What about if my child is asleep?

Children can be tested while asleep or awake

Is there a fee?

Services are free of charge and the Government of Ontario funds part of the cost of hearing aids and device

How can you help?

Almost all types of hearing loss can be helped with a hearing aid or other hearing device

How To Refer:

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PHONE PATHWAYS

519-542-3471
or 1-855-542-3471

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