2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
| From Fragile Beginnings to Resilient Futures: Considerations for Infants/Toddlers Born Prematurely
From Fragile Beginnings to Resilient Futures: Considerations for Infants/Toddlers Born Prematurely
Prematurity and deafness are two distinct health issues that can profoundly impact an individual's life and communication development (Jones, et al., 2020) Understanding the link between hearing loss and prematurity is essential for early interventionists. While they may seem unrelated at first glance, there is a complex connection between these two conditions. This investigation highlights the challenges faced by premature babies, the potential factors contributing to hearing loss in this population, the support families need, and areas of caution for educators who provide them with services.
According to ASHA (n.d.) 1 in 3 per 1000 preterm infants have hearing loss. In 2020, World Health Organization stated that 34 million children have hearing loss worldwide. While, practitioners serving deaf/hard of hearing children may be aware of the challenges in communication and language development, they may be less familiar with interventions designed to support preterm infants. The use of adjusted/corrected ages when tracking development is one important factor in intervention for preterm DHH infants and toddlers. With a greater understanding of the impact of prematurity on the development of DHH learners, practitioners will feel empowered to support families, by sharing effective resources and findings.
This poster will highlight strategies and considerations, derived from existing research, parent surveys, and anecdotal reports, that Early Interventionists can use when providing family-centered early intervention to families who have infants/toddlers that are born pre-term and are deaf or hard of hearing. By gaining knowledge about the developmental domains that are impacted, practitioners can provide targeted support to address the specific needs of this population.
- The participants will…Identify the impact of prematurity on various domains of development
- The participants will…Explain the benefits and challenges of using adjusted/corrected age for tracking growth
- The participants will…List strategies to use when working with families whose DHH children were born pre-term
Presentation:
3478265_16514RebeccaTurner, B.A., CED.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Rebecca Turner, B.A., CED
(Primary Presenter), rturne04668@fontbonne.edu;
Certified Teacher of the Deaf, Graduate student at Fontbonne University in Early Intervention for Deaf Education, and Mother of Two.
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.