2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 1:55 PM - 2:55 PM | Scrolling for Support: How Parents of DHH Children Seek Answers Online | St. Johns
Scrolling for Support: How Parents of DHH Children Seek Answers Online
This presentation reviews a qualitative study that examined the types of information parents of Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children seek and receive in online communities. Using textual analysis of posts and comments in a popular Facebook support group, we identified the key topics parents inquire about, the resources and advice they receive, and the ways social media facilitates support. Findings highlight the central role of online networks in meeting parents’ informational and emotional needs, as well as implications for professionals seeking to engage and support families in digital spaces.
- 1. Identify the most common types of information parents of DHH children seek and receive in online support groups
- 2. Explain the role of social media in meeting informational and emotional needs
- 3. Apply findings to develop strategies for professionals to effectively engage and support families in digital spaces
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Presenters/Authors
Kimberly Ofori-Sanzo
(Primary Presenter), Language First, kimberly@language1st.org;
Kim is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has experience working at a school for the deaf, as well as presenting and publishing on topics related to language acquisition, bilingualism, and language deprivation. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Vermont in 2010, her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University in 2012, and her Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) in 2022. She is a board-certified specialist in child language (BCS-CL) through the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders and is co-founder of the American Board of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialists (ABDHHS).
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Ownership interest for Ownership from Language First.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(member)
relationship for Volunteer teaching and speaking.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Language First.
Nature: ASHA, ABCLLD, ABDHHS.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.