2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 11:25 AM - 11:55 AM | Qualitative Interview Analysis of d/Deaf Young Adults in Both Spoken English and American Sign Language | 302
Qualitative Interview Analysis of d/Deaf Young Adults in Both Spoken English and American Sign Language
Qualitative research is a valuable tool to better understand pertinent themes and lived experiences. Medical and ideological literature within qualitative research has historically not emphasized recruitment of d/Deaf young adults with a range of community modes and use of both ASL and spoken English. Adolescents represent an important research group, one that is beginning to develop and understand their identity and its connection to language. Our project is unique in our inclusion of diverse, young participants, in addition to exploring more sociological and political themes of devices, language, relationships, and identity.
This presentation shares findings from a current study conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with severe-to-profound d/Deaf young adults (13-25 years old) who communicate in monolingual spoken English, monolingual ASL, and bilingual ASL/English. Participants were recruited through audiologist referral and word of mouth. Participants were interviewed about devices, preferred language, relationships with family and friends, and identity formation. Interviews were transcribed and coded for thematic analysis to determine overarching themes. Results of this study, including participant demographics, hearing level, device use, and language use, will be shared and discussed during the first half of this presentation. Predominant themes include interest in learning or communicating in ASL, communication and connection as a benefit of cochlear implants, Deaf gain and pride, and friend and family support. The second half will include a mini-panel discussion with two participants who were interviewed in the study (one spoken language user and one ASL user). The moderator of the panel will ask the participants about the development of their d/Deaf identity, Deaf gain, challenges they have encountered, perspectives on spoken and signed language, and suggestions for family support. We anticipate this presentation to be helpful for families of d/Deaf children and early intervention programs supporting parents and families.
- Participants will better understand the importance of intentionally recruiting a diverse patient population for qualitative research
- Participants will better understand the development and formation of language, relationships, and identity in d/Deaf teenagers and adolescents
- Participants can identify strategies to better support d/Deaf teenagers and adolescents in their language use, identity formation, and relationship-building
Presentation:
3545975_18075SophiaYin.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Sophia Yin
(Primary Presenter,Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, sophia.yin@ucsf.edu;
Sophia Yin is a second-year UCSF medical student who earned her ScB in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Brown University. She has been learning ASL for several years and has a DHH family member. Her professional interests include health equity, combating barriers to care, and increasing language access in all forms.
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.
Elena Yeh
(Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, elena_yeh@brown.edu ;
Elena Yeh is an undergraduate student at Brown University majoring in Chemistry and Literary Arts
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Hudson Lin
(Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, hudson.lin@ucsf.edu;
Hudson Lin is a second-year UCSF medical student and earned his BA in Cognitive Neuroscience from Washington University in Saint 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.
Neema Rashidi
(Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, neema.rashidi@ucsf.edu;
Neema Rashidi is in his second year of the 5-year MS/MD track of the UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program. His professional interests include studying congenital hearing loss, combating barriers to care, and operating in the intersection of health, tech, and design.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Dylan Chan
(Author), University of California, San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, dylan.chan@ucsf.edu;
Dylan Chan, MD, PhD, FAAP, is Professor and Director of the Children’s Communication Center (CCC) in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He received his PhD in Auditory Neuroscience from the Rockefeller University and MD from Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Chan completed his ONHS residency from Stanford University, followed by a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is the AAP EHDI California Chapter 1 Champion and Regional Network Liaison for the AAP EHDI program in California.
In 2014, Dr. Chan established the UCSF Children’s Communication Center, which is devoted to delivering multidisciplinary care for families of deaf and hard of hearing children, performing community outreach and education, and conducting clinical and translational research projects. By addressing existing shortfalls in care delivery and developing novel interventions, he hopes to significantly impact hearing health in children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Monique Sims
(Co-Presenter), University of California, Los Angeles, moniquesims01@gmail.com;
Monique Sims is Deaf and uses ASL (American Sign Language), English, and Spanish in her daily life, with a preference for ASL. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Disability Studies. She is currently working on her pre-health certificate at UCLA Extension to pursue a career as a Physician Associate.
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.
Monrovia Prinz
(Co-Presenter), Skyline High School, s_monrovia.prinz@ousd.org;
Monrovia Prinz identifies as profoundly deaf and uses two cochlear implants. She uses English to speak, and she goes to Skyline High School in Oakland California. She is a dedicated athlete, student, class president, a youth deacon in her church, and close to her friends and family. Although she is not entirely set on a potential career, she is interested in being an audiologist. She has a wonderful one and would love to be that for other deaf children when she gets older.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with none.
Nature: none.
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with none.
Nature: none.