On January 18, 2016, the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force (CIHTF) released a new progress report on the state of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs in Canada. The EHDI Progress Report is an interim status update on the EHDI Report Card, which the task force released in 2014. The CIHTF — a collaboration between SAC and the Canadian Academy of Audiology (CAA) — has also released its first official EHDI Position Statement.
| READ THE 2016 EHDI PROGRESS REPORT | READ THE EHDI POSITION STATEMENT | READ THE 2014 EHDI REPORT CARD |
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Overall, the progress report provides a disappointing picture of the state of provincial and territorial EHDI programs. While a handful of provinces have taken steps in the right direction, there are still far too many regions lacking adequate early hearing health programs. SAC is calling on federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together to ensure that every child in Canada has access to excellent EHDI programs and services. The status quo must change.
Reaching Out to Health Ministers
SAC and the CIHTF sent advance copies of the EHDI Progress Report to all provincial and territorial health ministers one week prior to the official release, along with targeted letters that urge leaders to address specific issues in each region. We also sent a similar package to federal Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott. Click on the links below to read each letter.
Visit the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force (CIHTF) website.
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Resources and More Information
About EHDI
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) refers to programs that include all aspects of screening infants for hearing loss, identifying hearing loss in infants referred from screening and intervention services for infants found to have hearing deficits. An EHDI program is more comprehensive than a universal newborn hearing screening program (see below).
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) refers to programs designed to screen infants for hearing loss. A UNHS program is the first step in an EHDI program and does not typically include the necessary next steps related to diagnosis and intervention.
2016 Media Coverage
Click the links below to see media coverage from 2016.
- CBC Saskatchewan
- CTV News
- Global News
- CBC Nunavut
- Radio-Canada (only available in French)
- TV Rogers (only available in French)
2014 Media and Advocacy
In 2014, SAC released a report card on the State of EHDI Programs in Canada at a national press conference on Parliament Hill.
The report card was developed by SAC and the Canadian Academy of Audiology (collectively operating as the CIHTF). It was endorsed by the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Elks and Royal Purple of Canada and VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children. The purpose of the press conference was not only to launch the report card, but also urge the federal government to take a leadership role and work with provinces and territories to implement comprehensive EHDI programs across the country. SAC believes this is a national issue: every child in Canada should have access to an excellent EHDI program, regardless of where they live.
Click the links below to see media coverage from 2014.
- CBC News.ca
- The Globe and Mail
- Metro News
- CBC Edmonton (interview with Holly Gusnowsky)
- Growing Your Baby
- CTV News
- Hearing Health Matters
2010 Media Coverage
Click the links below to see media coverage from 2010.
Resources and More Information
Wondering what hearing screening looks like? Here are some photos:
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