Children's Hearing and Speech Centre of BC

A Clinical and Educational Centre for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children in British Columbia, Canada

Children's Hearing & Speech Centre of BC (formerly known as Vancouver Oral Centre for Deaf Children)  is certified by the Province of B.C. as an independent Group 1 School and licensed through Vancouver Coastal Health as a preschool, group child care and out of school care, providing a family centred approach to auditory - oral  education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from infancy to early primary years. Our itinerant teachers  provide services to children and youth in independent schools across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Provincially we provide consultation, direct service, and family support. Auditory-Verbal Therapy and itinerant teaching services are available via distance technology to many parts of the province.

We are here to:

• positively impact the lives of deaf children, their parents and families
• assist in early identification and intervention
• provide early intervention services and education for newborns, infants, toddlers, preschool,  pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten to Grade 3 students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing
• offer services to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 who attend independent schools
  
• teach children listening and speech skills
  
• provide a spoken language environment for deaf and hard-of-hearing children
• maintain a leadership role in deaf education through professional development
• work with families as partners in your child's growth
• offer parents a key role in the education of their child
  
• offer support locally, provincially and nationally
• support individual choices in communication needs and technology

We offer the following programmes and services:

• Certified Auditory-Verbal therapy for newborns, infants, and toddlers
• Small class instruction
• Preschool and pre-Kindergarten programmes (ages 3–5)
• Elementary school (Kindergarten–Grade 3)
• On-site paediatric Audiology including hearing aid and cochlear implant services
  
• Individual educational plans for each child
• Off-site teaching services — our teachers may be able to come to your child's independent school
• Out of School Care
• Translation and interpretation services
• Resources for parents and families
• Throughout BC services include Parent Advisory Services (consultation, direct service,  family support, Itinerant Teaching and AV Therapy via distance technology*)

Early identification, intervention and a family centered approach are the most important factors for maximizing auditory and speech potential for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

* may not be available in all communities.