2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
Closing Plenary: Supporting Early Deaf Identity Development, By Dr. Michael Hoffman
This presentation will highlight research on the early formation of deaf identity in young children. The presentation will also include practical, applicable strategies that can be used to facilitate dialogue on deaf identity formation when meeting with families.
- Review current research on deaf identity development in young children
- Discuss specific strategies that can be used to support families in navigating deaf identity
- Review a framework of multicultural identity and intersectionality that can be used to conceptualize families
Presenter: Michael Hoffman
Dr. Michael Hoffman is a Pediatric Psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia within the Center for Childhood Communication and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He provides integrated psychological services with an emphasis patient-centered, collaborative care for deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Dr. Hoffman serves on the cochlear implant team and provides outpatient consultation for cochlear impact candidates, and those who were recently implanted. He also helped to develop a tiered model of service to screen all DHH patients and provide brief interventions for challenges related to deafness (deaf identity, adjustment to hearing loss/limited device usage, family stress related to hearing loss, academic/peer difficulties, and traditional psychiatric diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD). Dr. Hoffman is deaf himself, and utilizes one cochlear implant and one hearing aid.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from CHOP.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.