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Communication enables us to connect with others and learn about our world. When communication breaks down, it can affect our entire lives, resulting in anxiety and frustration and interfering with social relationships.

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Resource Centre

Here are some ideas about how to help yourself, or someone else, with a communication difficulty.

Know the early signs of a speech, language, hearing or swallowing problem

Get professional help

If someone you know has a speech, language, hearing or swallowing problem, don’t wait. Get professional help as soon as possible.

If you think your child has a speech, language, or hearing difficulty, ask for an assessment. While we continue to learn on an on-going basis, the first 3 years of life are the most important in building our development.

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists recommend assessing and monitoring progress with you, rather than take a “wait and see” approach.

Protect your hearing: avoid noise-induced hearing loss

Follow through on any treatment suggestions made by the speech-language pathologist or audiologist

Share your story

Spread the word

Funding

Speech-language pathologists who work in the private sector provide services on a fee for service basis. Families or individuals will be asked to pay for these services or to authorize the speech-language pathologists to bill a funding source.

Please note: BC’s basic Medical Services Plan does not cover the cost of private speech, language, or swallowing services.

Possible funding sources for Speech-Language Pathologist Services include

Your extended health plan: check with your insurance provider to see if they cover speech-language pathology services (speech-language evaluation and/or therapy).

WorkSafeBC provides coverage for individuals with injuries that occur as a result of a workplace accident.

ICBC Autoplan may provide accident beneﬁts and reimbursement for “reasonable and necessary” expenses related to rehabilitation services for individuals with injuries, including speech-language therapy.

Government funding sources for children’s services

The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) provides individual funding for speech-language pathology services to eligible clients through the following programs:

Post adoption – Talk to your social worker about the Post Adoption Assistance Program (PAA).
The At Home Program (AHP) Program Guide
School-Aged Extended Therapies Benefits of the At Home Program (Info Sheet)
Autism Funding Program

Charities

Funding for Audiology Services

Many hearing services are offered through schools, health centres, hospitals, and treatment centres. These services are publicly funded or have a minimal charge.

In BC, there are also a number of specialized programs, such as specialized early intervention programs for children diagnosed with a hearing loss.

For more information about services for children, contact your local health unit or children’s hospital. For adults, contact a local private hearing clinic for more information.

Where to get hearing services in BC

Babies	BC has a universal hearing screening program for babies born in BC. The program provides free screening, follow-up diagnostic assessments, first set of hearing aids, and communication and family supports.	If your baby’s hearing was not screened in the hospital after birth, contact your public health authority for information on local public health audiology clinics.
Children	Preschool and school-aged children receive services at public health audiology clinics. Some services may not be available at a public health clinic (e.g., auditory processing assessment & treatment), but may be available at a private clinic.	Anyone can refer a child with a parent or guardian’s permission (e.g., parent, SLP, nurse, doctor).Contact your public health authority for information on local public health audiology clinics.
Adults (19+)	Adult services are generally provided at local private audiology clinics. The Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover hearing tests. Some adults may be eligible to receive services at the public health audiology clinic. Services provided at public health audiology clinics are free.	You can always refer yourself. Private audiology services are listed on Speech and Hearing BC’s list of private audiologists, on the internet and in the yellow pages. Adults may be eligible for free services if they are dependant and require 24-hour care, or reside in a care facility. Contact your public health authority for information on local public health audiology clinics.

Teacher, Student and Parent Resources

Resources provided here are for information and are not endorsed by Speech and Hearing BC. Please tell us about any broken links.

Teachers Students Parents

Teachers

The following resources can be used by teachers to gain further understanding about supporting children with communication disorders, improving early literacy, or providing support to parents in helping their children’s development.

Advice from students with learning disabilities

Talking Point: how to support the needs of all children

Resources from The Communications Trust for teachers and learning support staff

Early literacy tools and articles

6 strategies to improve your child’s reading comprehension

Do You Know Key Phonological Awareness Concepts? Test Yourself.

Students

If you are a graduate student in audiology or speech-language pathology, then you are eligible to join Speech and Hearing BC through our joint membership with SAC. As a student-member, you will have the opportunity to connect with members in your area and drive change and innovation in the professions. There are also a number of financial and networking benefits such as reduced travel insurance and lower conference fees.

How do Speech and Hearing BC, SAC and CSHBC link together?

Speech and Hearing BC is the professional association supporting and representing speech-language pathologists and audiologists in BC, whereas SAC is our national association. SAC also has certifications for both professions. In order to work in BC, SLPs and audiologists need to be registered with CSHBC.

Further information about becoming an audiologist is available in our Careers section.

SAC Student Links

SAC’s Student Hub provides extensive information for prospective speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including:

A list of academic programs for speech-language pathology and audiology
Benefits of a student membership
Scholarship information
Certification how-to
Exam preparation

Audiology Useful Links

Resources provided hare are for information and are not endorsed by Speech and Hearing BC. Please tell us about any broken links.

Resources for Parents/Caregivers/Guardians

Richmond Public Library Hearing Checklist This interactive checklist enables you to check on milestones relating to your child’s hearing, understanding and speaking.

HealthLink BC provides additional information about hearing tests and other issues for children with hearing loss.

Cochlear implants may be an option as a hearing aid device for your child. Check this site for more information.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s Identify The Signs provides in-depth information about the importance of early detection.

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) also provides a range of useful resources.

Converstory App: Free speech recognition technology to capture your speech and displays images that relate to your words. It also displays real-time captions of your words that can also be translated to over 50 different languages.

Resources for Adults

HealthLink BC provides information about more than 5000 topics in English and 5 other languages.

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides information and support about hearing problems and deaf culture.

People who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard-of-Hearing or Speech Impaired (DHHSI) and live in specific communities of B.C. can communicate with 9-1-1 operators using a special text service called Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1).

Speech-Language Useful Links

Any resources provided are not endorsed by Speech and Hearing BC. Please tell us about any broken links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech and language Audiology

Speech and language

Speech and language FAQ can be found here.

Audiology

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We believe in helping people who have speech and hearing disorders to better express themselves, understand what others say, be heard, and hear more clearly.

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