2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 10:05 AM - 10:35 AM | Success with Spoken Language: what can we predict or control? | 303
Success with Spoken Language: what can we predict or control?
We have an ever-growing research base to suggest what factors contribute to a deaf or hard of hearing child’s progress with spoken language when they use hearing aids or cochlear implants. Characteristics such as age at amplification, anatomy, etiology (cause) of hearing status, additional disabilities, and family environment are among those most frequently cited as affecting spoken language outcomes. However, two considerations have been missing from our conversation about predictors of success. The first is to identify which factors are known or unknown at the time that families are making decisions about their child’s communication. The second is to examine whether these factors are within or beyond the influence of families and providers. This workshop will reframe predictors of success using this lens. Participants will discuss ways that families and teams can account for what we cannot know and/or cannot control in the earliest days of a young deaf or hard of hearing child’s life.
- State 2 factors affecting outcomes with spoken language that are evident in the first 6-12 months of life, and 2 that are not evident at that time.
- State 2 factors affecting outcomes with spoken language that families cannot influence, and 2 factors that families can influence.
- Explain 2 strategies that families can implement to mitigate those factors that are not immediately evident and/or not within their ability to influence.
Presentation:
3545975_18162LouiseRollins.pdf
Handouts:
3545975_18162LouiseRollins.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Louise Rollins
(Primary Presenter), Montgomery County Infants & Toddlers Program, louise.g.rollins@gmail.com;
Louise Rollins has worked with deaf children and their families for over 20 years, primarily in Birth-5 programs. She has broad experience as a teacher in schools for the deaf and public school programs, collaborating with professionals across the state of Maryland. Louise’s expertise includes coaching families to support their children in acquiring American Sign Language, cued American English, and/or spoken language. She is currently an Early Intervention Teacher of the Deaf for the Montgomery County Infants & Toddlers Program. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from Towson University and an MA in Deaf Education, with a concentration in Family-Centered Early Education, from Gallaudet University. In her volunteer life she serves as president of Deaf Camps, Inc. and is a founding board member of the Maryland/DC chapter of Hands & Voices. Louise is honored to serve her community through her professional and volunteer work.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(founding board member & volunteer)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.