This topic area spans across professions encompassing issues applicable to audiologists, speech language pathologists, and research scientists who work with children with hearing loss, their families, and professionals who serve them. Proposals appropriate for submission to this topic area include assessment and management of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, ages birth to 21. Submissions should address communication assessments for auditory development, language—including spoken, signed, and written language, and speech. Additionally, proposals related to intervention services including technology (e.g., hearing assistive technology, educational audiologic management, speech and language therapy, literacy) align with this topic area. Interprofessional education, practice, and/or research that addresses collaborative care and outcomes specific to listening, language and speech in children who are deaf and hard of hearing should be included in this topic area.

Research

• Translational, applied, or implementation research related to intervention/(re)habilitation for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing from birth to school transition
• Evidence-based practice for children who are deaf and hard of hearing
• Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches are of interest

Professional Education

• Early intervention services for infants/toddlers who are deaf and hard of hearing, including interprofessional models
• Intervention/(re)habilitation for children who are deaf and hard of hearing
• Communication options for children with hearing loss
• Issues regarding service delivery models for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, including those delivered through telepractice
• Impact of hearing loss on academic/educational performance
• Impact of hearing loss on growth and development (e.g., psychosocial, speech and language, literacy, motor)
• Education and training of parents/professionals working with children who are deaf/hard of hearing

Related Topics

Proposals involving this population but with a primary focus on:

• Auditory processing should be submitted to the Neuroaudiology and Central Auditory Processing topic area.
• Use of telepractice in service delivery to this population that include technology-based approaches and outcomes at the system level should be submitted to the Telepractice topic area.
• Behavioral and electrophysiologic diagnostic assessment for hearing loss should be submitted to the Hearing, Balance, Tinnitus – Assessment and Intervention: Pediatric topic area.
• Proposals that focus on counseling should be submitted to the Counseling and Care Work topic area.