2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 2:25 PM - 2:55 PM | Auditory Communication Modalities Survey: Audiologists Perspectives for Supporting Parents of Children Who are DHH | 303
Auditory Communication Modalities Survey: Audiologists Perspectives for Supporting Parents of Children Who are DHH
Audiologists play a crucial role in the early diagnosis of hearing loss and are often the first point of contact for families. Review of ASHA guidelines for audiologists, ASHA scope of practice for audiology, scope of practice for Educational Audiology Association, along with the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2019 position statement, revealed that all but one of these resources include information on communication modality counseling. The recommendations in most of the resources are vague in their wording, leaving it up for interpretation on what to include. For example, most of them use the terms “communication modes” or “communication options.” There continues to be a lack of consistent guidance on how and when to discuss communication modalities with families. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2019 position statement is the only one to indicate that communication modality counseling should occur following diagnosis. To address this gap, our study aims to gain insight into audiologists’ perspectives on communication modality discussions with families in terms of protocols, training, and comfort-levels. A 15-item questionnaire was developed with a speech-language pathologist (SLP), a SLP graduate student, a parent of a child with a hearing difference, and an audiologist. It was designed to gather insights from audiologists regarding their comfort level, experiences, and practices in discussing communication modalities. The questionnaire looks at various aspects of audiologists’ interactions with families, including their comfort level in discussing communication modalities, timing of these conversations, recommendations for meeting others who are Deaf or Hard-of-hearing, training received for facilitating these discussions, and their ability to present unbiased information. This interactive presentation will showcase the findings of our study, providing valuable insights from a family-support perspective, and aiding families in making informed decisions regarding communication modalities for their children with hearing loss.
- Describe two ways audiologists assist families in making informed decisions regarding communication modalities for their children with hearing loss.
- List two trends in audiology training and protocols related to communication modalities.
- Describe how to integrate results into action plans for provider training and professional developent.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Kat Ross
(Co-Presenter,Author), Idaho State University, kathleenross2@isu.edu;
Kat Ross is a parent of a child who has a hearing difference. She is a Family Support Ambassador for HATCH Family Support at Idaho State University. Her passion for empowering other parents with information and resources keeps her engaged in the EHDI system and striving for positive outcomes for all children who have a hearing difference in her home state of Idaho.
Before joining the HATCH Family Support team, Kat was the Executive Director of Idaho Hands and Voices when legislation for pediatric hearing aid insurance coverage was accomplished in Idaho. She also worked in the Boise School District in several roles at elementary schools. Prior to moving to Idaho and starting a family, Kat worked as a marketing associate and executive assistant at a private wealth management firm in San Francisco.
Kat holds degrees in Early Childhood Education (AA Cuesta College), General Studies, and Psychology (BA Columbia College).
In her free time, Kat loves to travel, camp, cook, and relax with her family and mini Goldendoodle.
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.
Kristina Blaiser
(Primary Presenter,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 Other activities from OSEP.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(Board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Office of Special Education Programs funding.
Nature: Coordinator of SIG 9, Special Projects Chair on CECDCD, Advisory Member of AAP-PEC, Advisory Member of FL3.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Gabriel Bargen
(Co-Presenter,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,Grants for Employment,Membership on advisory committee or review panels from Idaho State University.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(advisory board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Idaho State University.
Nature: grant funding for research
salary from Idaho State University
board member on Idaho Sound Beginnings Advisory Board.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Jessica Stich-Hennen
(Co-Presenter), St. Luke's Idaho Elks Hearing & Balance Center -Boise , stichhej@slhs.org;
Jessica Stich-Hennen, AuD, PASC, earned her doctorate in audiology from Idaho State University and her bachelor's degree in business administration from North Dakota State University. In 2011, Dr. Stich-Hennen earned Specialty Certification in Pediatric Audiology (PASC) from the American Board of Audiology. Dr. Stich-Hennen specializes in pediatric diagnostics and amplification, auditory osseointegrated implants (i.e. BAHA), Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluations, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) evaluations. Dr. Stich-Hennen works as the primary audiologist for the Idaho Cleft Palate and Craniofacial team. She has served on Idaho Hands & Voices (IDHV) Board, Idaho’s Early Hearing Detection Intervention (EHDI) Advisory Committee and several committees and executive board for the Idaho Speech Hearing Association (ISHA). Dr. Stich-Hennen has given numerous regional and national professional presentations on various topics in pediatric audiology and co-authored a chapter in the EHDI e-book titled “Risk Monitoring for Delayed-Onset Hearing Loss.”
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with St Lukes Idaho Elks Hearing & Balance.
Nature: Employment .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Courtney Martineau
(Co-Author), Idaho State University, courtneymartineau@isu.edu;
Graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at Idaho State University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -