• Markham Stouffville Hospital is the lead agency for the Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program. The Hospital works closely with its partner agencies to deliver services across the tri-region.
    905-762-1282 ext. 2810      or      Toll free: 1-888-703-5437         TTY: 905-762-1350
  
  
• Grandview Children's Centre provides services for children living in the Durham Region.
    905-728-1673 ext. 2341      or      Toll free: 1-800-304-6180 ext. 2341
  
  
• Five Counties Children's Centre provides services for children living in the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
    705-748-2337 ext. 270       or      Toll free: 1-888-779-9916 ext. 270
  

Audiology

The Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program contracts with local audiologists to provide hearing assessments for children referred from the program. These audiologists are registered with the Provincial Infant Hearing Program and are trained on state of the art equipment and follow the protocols of the program.

If hearing loss is identified, the infant is referred for medical assessment.

High Risk Monitoring

Who is eligible for High Risk Monitoring?

Infants who are identified with a risk factor for late onset or progressive hearing loss and have received a "PASS" result on an earlier screening will be eligible for the High Risk Monitoring Protocol.

What is the High Risk Monitoring Protocol?

This is an evidence based protocol using various steps between 4 and 30 months. The steps include:

• 4 months corrected age - Acoustic Brainstem Response (ABR) screen by an IHP trained audiologist
• 8-12 months corrected age - Visual Response Audiometry (VRA) by an IHP trained audiologist
• 18 months corrected age - a telephone auditory checklist which is standardized (LittlEars Auditory Checklist) by a screener with the program
• 30 months corrected age - repeat of LittlEars Auditory Checklist

What if my child gets a PASS RESULT?

Infants who "PASS" any of the steps are recommended for the next step. At 30 months of age, the child is no longer monitored by the program.

What if my child gets a REFER RESULT?

An infant having a "REFER" result on the 4 or 8-12 month surveillance will have a complete audiology diagnostic assessment.

If a child does not meet the expected score on the LittlEars Auditory Checklist, the screener will recommend a referral to an IHP trained audiologist for diagnostic assessment. With parental consent, screeners will also initiate a referral to the Preschool Speech and Language Program.