Your First Visit

You will be referred to our program by the Central Intake Registry, various professionals, agencies or you may make a self referral. On your first visit, you will be introduced to the Clinic’s program by one of the Clinic's professionals. This visit will give you an opportunity to ask questions and to discuss the particular needs of you and your child.

Initial Sessions

Upon joining our program at the Central Speech and Hearing Clinic, the initial sessions will involve intensive audiological management. This is important because in order for your child to benefit from Auditory-Verbal therapy, we need to ensure that he/she can hear. In order to do so, your child has to be provided with amplification. This involves assessment to obtain consistent audiological results both with and without the hearing aids. In the early stages, much audiological assessment occurs alongside the therapy. Once we are able to obtain the hearing aids for your child that provide the most optimal hearing, audiological management occurs less frequently and according to guidelines established by Auditory-Verbal International.

In the initial stages and throughout therapy, we need you. We will guide and teach you what you need to know about hearing aids, listening, spoken language development, developmental milestones, educational issues, behaviour management and other important areas that relate to your child. In turn, you will learn to teach your child at home naturally through your everyday interactions, integrating activities demonstrated in therapy, at home. You will become your child's primary teacher.

Loaner Hearing Aids

In order to ensure that your child is provided with the most optimal hearing device(s), we have a loaner hearing aid program at the Clinic. These hearing aids have been obtained through donations (parents, organizations, etc.) and through the Clinic's own purchases. Within this program, your child is initially fit with hearing aids that are owned by our Clinic. This allows us to evaluate the hearing aid before you, the parents purchase hearing aids. This process allows us to assess different hearing aids and determine the best fit for your child.

Government Assistance

The Manitoba government will pay 80% minus $75.00 for the cost of two hearing aids. In addition, if ear molds are ordered at the same time, 80% of the cost of the ear molds will also be covered. This is applicable for a four year term, which means that the Department of Health will subsidize the purchase of hearing aids and one set of ear molds every four years. Every hearing aid is given a trial period of 30 days. This allows for a thorough evaluation of the aids in order to decide if they are suitable.

Hearing Aid Accessories

Several accessories are necessary to aid in the proper maintenance and care for the hearing aids. These include: a battery tester, batteries, an otoclip and a dri-aid kit. These accessories are included when you purchase your hearing aids. Please see the HEARING AID ACCESSORIES handout for a more detailed explanation of these items.