The early stage of the growth of plasma deposited amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) on glass substrate is investigated by in situ infrared phase modulated ellipsometry (IRPME) in the silicon-hydrogen stretching mode region. Analysis of the spectra provides a precise description of the film evolution. a-Si:H films grow beneath an hydrogen rich overlayer containing SiH2 groups. The hydrogen-passivated surface of a-Si:H is then weakly reactive. This hydrogen rich overlayer can be removed by the exposure of a freshly deposited a-Si:H films to Argon and hydrogen plasmas.