The Wave | May 2026 Issue

Stay Connected with CASLPO on Social Media

Did you know that CASLPO has an active Facebook page? We regularly share updates, reminders, news, and resources to keep registrants and members of the public informed about the professions and College initiatives.

We are also excited to announce that CASLPO launched an official LinkedIn page in May. Follow us on LinkedIn for regulatory updates, announcements, educational opportunities, and professional news for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (AUDs) in Ontario.

Follow CASLPO on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected and up to date.

Speech and Hearing Month 2026: How Access to Care Changes Lives

Throughout May, Speech and Hearing Month reminds us that communication health matters at every stage of life. This year’s theme, Access Changes Everything, focuses on how getting care early can make a big difference. When people can access services sooner, they’re more likely to address a hearing or balance concern, build strong communication skills, improve their health, and fully participate in school, work, and daily life. When access is limited, delays can lead to ongoing challenges, added stress, and barriers to learning and connection for everyone involved. 

Each week in May, we are sharing information and resources in recognition of Speech and Hearing Month on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

CASLPO thanks Ontario’s AUDs and SLPs who support communication health every day. 

Don’t forget: helpful tools like self-evaluation checklists and guidance on when to see an SLP or AUD are available on our website. You can find them, and more information, here.  

Government Announces Changes to Speech-Language Pathology Scope of Practice

As we communicated on May 15, 2026, the Ministry of Health has announced that the Ontario government is directing regulatory colleges, including CASLPO, to begin developing the regulatory framework for future changes to scopes of practice. This follows the Ministry's recent public consultation, which CASLPO shared with registrants in the September 2025 issue of The Wave. 

Under this direction, proposed changes would permit SLPs to:

• order videofluoroscopic swallowing studies; and
• order and apply diagnostic ultrasound within SLP scope.

No scope of practice changes for SLPs are currently in effect, and current SLP requirements remain unchanged. In order for these changes to be implemented, provincial legislative amendments will be required. The Ministry of Health would have the lead role in this process, which would also require approval by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 

Further, no changes are currently proposed to the scope of practice for audiologists.

CASLPO will now begin the work required to support these changes that are within the College’s purview, including developing standards of practice and identifying competency requirements. 

Opportunities for registrant input will be shared as this work progresses. Please continue to check our website, newsletter, and social media for updates.  

Read more

Ontario Ministry of Health Consultation on OTC Hearing Aids – Feedback Due May 29

The Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently consulting on the potential introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The consultation is seeking input on the possible benefits and risks of allowing OTC hearing aids to be used without a prescription.

Importantly, no changes have been made to Ontario’s current regulatory framework. Hearing aids still require a prescription from a physician or audiologist under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA).

The consultation is exploring several key areas, including:

• safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids
• who may use them and how
• impacts on access, equity, and cost

Feedback gathered will help inform future government decisions about whether changes to the current system are needed.

The deadline to submit feedback to the Ministry of Health is May 29.

Registrants are encouraged to review the consultation and share their input.

Review the Consultation

Have Your Say: Help Update CASLPO’s Definition of Patient Care and Related Work

CASLPO is inviting feedback to help update its Definition of Patient Care and Related Work Policy (REG-07). This policy supports the minimum currency requirement of 750 hours of patient care or related work over a three-year period.

The review aims to ensure the definitions reflect current practice, including evolving service delivery models and changing professional roles.

Input collected through the short survey will inform discussions at the Registration Committee. Any proposed updates will then be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.

Before completing the survey, registrants are encouraged to review the current policy (REG-07).

The deadline to submit feedback is May 29, 2026.

Take a few minutes to share your input and help shape this important policy update.

Participate in the Survey

Spring Economic Update Proposes Expanded Role for SLPs in Disability Tax Credit Certification

The Government of Canada’s Spring Economic Update 2026 includes proposed changes to improve access to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and reduce barriers in the application process for Canadians with disabilities.

The DTC provides important tax relief and is also a gateway to other federal supports, including the Canada Disability Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Under the proposed changes, eligibility for a streamlined application process would apply to individuals with certain long-lasting medical conditions already identified as meeting disability criteria. The government is also proposing to reduce administrative burden by broadening the types of impairments that certain regulated health professionals can certify.

Both AUDs and SLPs already play a role in certifying disability for the DTC. The proposed changes would expand the scope of impairments that SLPs can certify to include:

• impairments affecting feeding or hearing
• cumulative effects of multiple restrictions pertaining to speaking, feeding and/or hearing

These updates are intended to improve access to the DTC while maintaining program integrity and supporting timely, accurate certification by health professionals.

Read About the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

Health Professions Discipline Tribunal Releases First Annual Report

The Health Professions Discipline Tribunal (HPDT) has released its first Annual Report.

CASLPO participated in a one-year Health Professions Discipline Tribunal (HPDT) pilot beginning May 1, 2023 led by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). 

The HPDT is an independent administrative tribunal that hears discipline matters, including allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence, as well as applications for reinstatement. Hearings follow a structured, court-like process, and decisions are published on college websites.

Following the pilot, CASLPO’s Board approved the HPDT as a permanent process to support fair and efficient regulation. The pilot showed benefits in collaboration among participating regulators and access to adjudicative expertise in discipline matters. The CASLPO Discipline Committee is now known as the Ontario Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists Discipline Tribunal.

Registrants are invited to review the HPDT’s 2025 Annual Report for more information about its work to date.

View the Report

Recent Discipline Decisions

In keeping with CASLPO’s statutory mandate regarding protecting the public, the College proactively investigates all complaints and reports as well as addresses capacity concerns regarding its registrants.  Disciplinary action is administered when necessary, in matters involving allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence.

You can view the latest discipline decisions in the Discipline section of CASLPO website here.