2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 9-11, 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA

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  |  Application for Auditory Skill and Language Development Using SOAR (Supporting Outcomes through Assessment & Resources)

Application for Auditory Skill and Language Development Using SOAR (Supporting Outcomes through Assessment & Resources)

In order to provide optimal services to children with special health care needs within a family-centered, culturally responsive framework, professionals, graduate students, and community members are trained to move beyond discipline boundaries (URLEND, 2023). Unfortunately, many providers working with young children who are DHH and their families are not familiar with auditory skill development and/or how to integrate hearing into early intervention settings when the impact is highest. The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire was developed by MED-EL to screen auditory development in children with normal hearing and children with hearing loss utilizing cochlear implants or hearing aids (Coninx et al., 2003, Tsiakpini et al., 2004). The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire can be used to highlight areas of concern with regard to auditory development in children ages 0-2 years and is most commonly used by hearing professionals, though it is available to all professionals and families. However, this questionnaire is not always accurately interpreted by providers and/or integrated into intervention planning. Using this questionnaire as a guide, the authors will provide attendees with supporting information and SOAR resources to explain the results of the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire in language that is understandable to parents and providers. Additionally, the effectiveness of auditory categories as a tool to better apply strategies for auditory skill development will be evaluated. These results will be discussed within the framework of nationally developed goals and objectives from Maternal & Child Health Leadership Competencies to achieve the goals of the URLEND philosophies.

  • explain the results of the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire in language that is understandable (plain language) to parents and providers.
  • discuss a model for clustering auditory skills to increase integration of strategies in a family-centered approach.
  • apply SOAR resources to specific results to increase application of auditory skill and language development.

Presentation:
3478265_16491EmilyBurnett.pdf

3478265_16491LaceyLong.pdf

Handouts:
3478265_16491LaceyLong.pdf

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference


Presenters/Authors

Kristina Blaiser (Author), Idaho State University, Kristina.Blaiser@isu.edu;
Kristina Blaiser, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a Professor of Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and directs the HATCH (Helping Adults Talk to Children) Lab at Idaho State University. Dr. Blaiser has extensive experience leading early childhood education programs and evaluating the outcomes of children who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Her research interests include program evaluation and graduate training related to assessment and early intervention practices of children who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing. Dr. Blaiser’s recent work has focused on using telehealth to support families in early intervention. Kristina is the Coordinator for ASHA SIG 9: Hearing Loss and Hearing Disorders in Childhood.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
• Receives Grants for Independent contractor from Idaho State University.

Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional relationship for Board membership.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
Financial relationship with Idaho Sound Beginnings.
Nature: This work is funded by Idaho Sound Beginnings.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Emily Burnett (Co-Presenter), Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND), emilyburnett2@isu.edu;
Emily Burnett is a student at Idaho State University. She is currently in her third year of the Audiology program. Her professional interests include pediatric diagnostics, cochlear implants, electrophysiology, and multi-sensory integration. Originally from Washington state, Emily has lived in Utah, Tennessee, and in Idaho and loves to travel. She enjoys game nights with friends and spending time with her husband and dog.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Samantha Christensen (Co-Presenter), Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND), samantha.christensen@hsc.utah.edu;
Samantha started working in healthcare as an EMT in 2018. When COVID started, she was recruited to work on the administrative side for the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, which drove her strong motivation for understanding and improving the overall patient experience. Working with vulnerable populations at the bedside also helped her grow her curiosity in understanding the patient as a whole and helped her gain a deep understanding of the complexities involved in coordinating individualized care. She is passionate about healthcare access and is curious about the policies and factors that impact an individual's ability to access care.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Nicole Jaeggli (Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND), nicolejaeggli@isu.edu;
Nicole Jaeggli is a doctor of audiology student at Idaho State University. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. Nicole is originally from Long Island, New York; she has enjoyed exploring the western states since her family moved to Oregon. She worked with children with disabilities while working at Access Point Family Services as a behavioral interventionist. In her free time she enjoys yoga, hiking, trying new coffee shops with friends, and spending time with her cat, Schmidt. The opportunities URLEND provides, as well as her interest in pediatrics and special populations, sparked Nicole’s interest in the program.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Lacey Long (Co-Presenter), Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND), lacey.long@minotstateu.edu;
Lacey Long is a Research Associate for the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University. She is currently the Project Director for the ND Dual Sensory Project. Lacey obtained a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Special Education from the University of North Dakota. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Practice. Lacey is a certified teacher of students with visual impairments, teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing, orientation and mobility specialist, and assistive technology instructional specialist. She lives in Bismarck, ND, where she was born and raised, with her husband, Jackson, and two sons, Reuben and Louis.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Madeline Ogden (Co-Presenter), Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND), madeline.vandam@utah.edu;
Madeline Ogden is a graduate student in the University of Utah audiology program with a bachelor's degree in speech and hearing science. Madeline grew up in Idaho, but had the opportunity to spend several years in Germany and Australia, where her experiences with different languages and cultures sparked her interest in communication. Her own experiences with childhood hearing loss have prompted her to seek out a career in pediatric audiology. She currently lives in American Fork, UT and is usually planning a new backpacking trip when she isn't busy being a full-time student, part-time employee at the university hearing clinic, and student clinician.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

Gabriel Bargen (Co-Author), Idaho State University, barggabr@isu.edu;
Gabriel Anne Bargen, Ph.D., is the Interim Dean, College of Health, and Executive Director for the Idaho State University Health Science Center and an Associate Professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her clinical and research training includes master's degrees in both speech-language pathology and audiology and a PhD in Audiology from the University of Kansas. She has taught several graduate courses including pediatric audiology and advance aural rehabilitation. Professional interests include pediatric audiology specifically diagnostic hearing assessment and treatment and assessing risks associated with hearing dysfunction in infants. Dr. Bargen’s current research focuses on evaluating risk indicators for delayed-onset hearing loss and finding ways to make resources accessible to all children who are hard of hearing or deaf in Idaho by connecting community entities across the state. Dr. Bargen is on the Idaho Sound Beginnings (EHDI) Advisory Board, she serves on ASHA's Committee of Ambassadors as Idaho's audiology representative, and is on the American Journal of Audiology Editorial Review Board and the SIG 9 Editorial Review Board.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Idaho State University.

Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (advise the board on best practice and evidence based practice for newborn hearing screening and intervention) relationship for Board membership.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
Financial relationship with Idaho State University St. Luke's Hearing and Balance Center Idaho SoundBeginning Advisory Board.
Nature: Financially, Bargen recieves salary from Idaho State University Financially, Stich-Hennen receives salary from St. Luke's Hearing and Balance Center Non-financially, Bargen and Stich-Hennen are members of the Idaho SoundBeginnngs Advisory Committee.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.