2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Promoting Earlier Hearing Related Diagnosis and Improved Intervention for Children with Developmental Disabilities through Interdisciplinary Collaboration | 315/316
Promoting Earlier Hearing Related Diagnosis and Improved Intervention for Children with Developmental Disabilities through Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Determining a child’s hearing status promptly is critical to ensure access to appropriate interventions for maximizing developmental outcomes (Cupples et al., 2018; Moeller, 2000). Despite an increased co-occurrence of reduced hearing among children with developmental disabilities (DD), evidence suggests that children with DD experience barriers in accessing or obtaining a comprehensive hearing evaluation across the lifespan (Nightengale et al., 2020; Trudeau et al., 2021; Mackey et al., 2024).The most common reason for a delayed diagnosis following newborn hearing screening was a developmental or medical concern (Fitzpatrick et al., 2017). Compared to children without developmental diagnoses, children with DD are 4 times less likely to access gold-standard hearing assessments in the first 3 months of care and more likely to have unknown hearing status (Bonino et al., 2024). For children with DD, delays in attaining the 1-3-6 EHDI benchmarks exacerbate inequities in accessing appropriate interventions.
Even after hearing differences have been identified, audiological intervention requires an understanding of 1) hearing and health profiles associated with the child’s DD and 2) the child’s developmental strengths and needs. DHH children with DD have lower rates of hearing technology use compared to children who are DHH without a DD contributing to poor language outcomes (Matthew et al., 2022), particularly when children do not have access to visual communication (e.g., ASL). Developmental and behaviorally informed strategies (e.g., use of visual supports, building routines, managing antecedents and consequences) can support improved assessment and intervention.
This interdisciplinary presentation will review research describing the co-occurrence of reduced hearing with particular DDs. We will present our retrospective clinical research highlighting disparities in audiological health care. The second portion of the presentation will propose developmentally-informed practical solutions at both systemic and individual levels to enhance the diagnostic process and audiological intervention for children with developmental disabilities.
- Recognize the prevalence and co-occurrence rates of reduced hearing and developmental disabilities in children
- Identify 3 barriers to audiological evaluation and management for children who are deaf and hard of hearing with co-occurring developmental disabilities, including systemic challenges, communication barriers, and access limitations
- Describe 2 practical strategies to improve care for children with co-occurring reduced hearing and developmental disabilities
Presentation:
3545975_18255DeborahMood.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Deborah Mood
(Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Colorado Children's Hospital, DEBORAH.MOOD@childrenscolorado.org;
Deborah Mood, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist with Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She has a Ph.D. in school psychology from University of Northern Colorado and a specialist degree in school psychology from Gallaudet University. Dr. Mood completed a LEND psychology postdoctoral fellowship at JFK Partners, University of Colorado School of Medicine, after completing an APA accredited psychology internship at the University of Minnesota. She specializes in working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing as well as children with a variety of developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from NIH/NIDCD.
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Colorado Anschutz.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(Advisory Board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with NIH/NIDCD
University of Colorado Anschutz.
Nature: grant funding
Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Angela Bonino
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Vanderbilt University, angela.bonino@vumc.org;
Angela Yarnell Bonino, Ph.D., CCC-A is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She completed her clinical training in audiology at Vanderbilt University, and her Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was previously on faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Bonino’s research expertise is in human auditory development with behavioral methods. Current research is focused on advancing hearing health care for children with developmental disabilities by identifying gaps in clinical care and improving behavioral hearing assessment procedures. This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from American Speech Language Hearing Foundation.
• Receives Consulting fee for Teaching and speaking,Consulting from Hearing First.
• Receives Grants for Other activities from NIH.
• Receives Salary for Employment from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
• Receives Consulting fee for Teaching and speaking from WA EDHI.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Employed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Nature: NIH and ASHF grant to support research. Have received honorariums for presentations (Phonak, WA EHDI) and taught a course through Hearing First. .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Susan Wiley
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, susan.wiley@cchmc.org;
Dr. Susan Wiley is a developmental pediatrician with extensive expertise in children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She has many years of experience serving children with multiple disabilities. Dr Wiley provides leadership and guidance to the National American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, the Ohio Center for Deaf-Blind Education, and the Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness in the Ohio Center for Low Incidence.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from NIH.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with .
Nature: Funding by NIH for grant.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Emily Nightengale
(Author,Co-Author), Children's Hospital Colorado , EmilyE.Nightengale@childrenscolorado.org;
Emily E. Nightengale,AuD, is an audiologist at Children's Hospital Colorado.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Meghan Breheney
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), University of Colorado Anschutz, Children's Hospital Colorado, Meghan.Breheney@childrenscolorado.org;
Meghan Breheney, MD, is a developmental behavioral pediatrician and assistant professor in the Developmental Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders of autism as well as other neurodevelopment disorders. She also has specific expertise in the diagnosis for neurodevelopment disorders in children who are deaf and hard and hearing. She provides medical care and treatment for co-occurring mental health diagnosis, sleep, feeding and toileting difficulties.
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.