Frequently Asked Questions

Speech-Language, Hearing and Vision Programs

Below you’ll find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions. If you have questions that aren’t answered call us at 416-925-5141 to learn more.

As a multi-service agency with a broad network of clinicians and professionals, Surrey Place has extensive experience in delivering specialized clinical child development services that are responsive to individual and family needs. As one of Toronto Public Health’s long-standing subcontracted partners for the delivery of the Preschool Speech & Language Program (PSL) and Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention Program (BLVEIP), Surrey Place has existing administrative efficiencies and continuity of service that will support our capacity to seamlessly integrate these services.

Surrey Place provides a variety of Early Intervention and special needs services including children’s rehabilitation services such as Occupational Therapy, PSL and Autism Services. Streamlined service navigation pathways between clinical service providers will support earlier identification and intervention for children experiencing vision loss, hearing impairments and delays in their speech and language development.  

As the new lead agency in Toronto, Surrey Place will provide these programs in accordance with ministry requirements, provincially mandated protocols, guidelines and best practices.

In most cases there will be no disruption to service and clients will continue to receive services from their current provider. As of April 1, 2022, Surrey Place will help families identify service providers for Preschool Speech & Language Programs (PSL) and Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention programs (BLVEIP) and Infant Hearing Program (IHP). For these programs, service providers are selected for clients based on their eligibility for the service, as well as their geographic area, which could be Surrey Place or another provider. The IHP newborn hearing screen will continue to be offered to newborns while in the hospital. Babies who are discharged from the hospital before receiving a hearing screen or have received screening results that indicate a need for follow-up will be seen in a Community Clinic. After April 1, 2022, IHP newborn screening appointments can be booked through the Surrey Place host booking system.

Toronto Public Health has communicated directly with all families currently receiving Preschool Speech & Language Programs (PSL), Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention Programs (BLVEIP) and Infant Hearing Programs (IHP) services to notify them of this change and to ensure a seamless transition. Surrey Place will continue to work with Toronto Public Health to prevent disruptions in service as a result of this transition. 

Startle in response to loud noises?	YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from?	YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)?	YES NO
Watch your face as you talk?	YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs?	YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh	YES NO

Respond to their name?	YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door?	YES NO
Understand being told no?	YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)?	YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)?	YES NO
Enjoy being around people?	YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh?	YES NO

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)?	YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it?	YES NO
Consistently use three to five words?	YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)?	YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes?	YES NO
Bring you toys to show you?	YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise?	YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)?	YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books?	YES NO

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on?	YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked?	YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently?	YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)?	YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)?	YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)?	YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you?	YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger?	YES NO

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)?	YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words?	YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)?	YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)?	YES NO
Enjoy being around other children?	YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words?	YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time?	YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort?	YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages?	YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys?	YES NO
Scribble with crayons?	YES NO

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech-Language, Hearing and Vision Programs

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Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)?	YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)?	YES NO
Use over 350 words?	YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall?	YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys?	YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad?	YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)?	YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words?	YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)?	YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)?	YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories?	YES NO

Understand who, what, where and why questions?	YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words?	YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)?	YES NO
Tell simple stories?	YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates?	YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)?	YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time?	YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)?	YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words?	YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys?	YES NO
Scribble with crayons?	YES NO

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)?	YES NO
Use adult type grammar?	YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end?	YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children?	YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play?	YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time?	YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)?	YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)?	YES NO

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech-Language, Hearing and Vision Programs

Why was Surrey Place chosen as the lead agency and what was the decision process?

Now that Surrey Place is the leading agency in the Toronto region of these programs, do I go to Surrey Place for services?

How will families learn about the transition and what does this mean for children receiving services?

What are the scenarios where clients will have to change providers?

Will existing clients have to do anything? Will Surrey Place contact them? Will there be any disruption to service?

How will my Personal Health Information (PHI) be shared, and my privacy be maintained?

When families have questions and approach Surrey Place intake, how will these be managed? Is there a direct line they can contact for more information?

By 2 months

By 6 months

By 9 months

By 12 months

By 18 months

By 2 years

By 30 months

By 3 years

By 4 years