2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| Measuring Audiologists' Experience, Knowledge and Self-Confidence in Audiological Assessment of DeafBlind Patients: Utility of Acute Training
Measuring Audiologists' Experience, Knowledge and Self-Confidence in Audiological Assessment of DeafBlind Patients: Utility of Acute Training
DeafBlindness is a complex disability that uniquely impacts a child’s ability to interact with the world. According to the National Center on Deafblindness, there are approximately 10,000 children diagnosed with deafBlindness in the United States (2025). Currently, there is a growing need for audiologists trained to diagnose and manage hearing loss in complex pediatric patients. Despite this, relatively few graduate programs in audiology offer training opportunities or robust coursework specific to deafBlindness or dual-sensory loss. Without a comprehensive understanding of deafBlindness and its impact, audiologists may not be capable of adapting the standard audiological test battery to effectively assess this population. Prior research has demonstrated the efficacy of short-duration training in improving healthcare professionals’ ability to work with individuals with vision loss (James et al., 2025). No studies to date have examined the benefit of such training for audiologists. The goals of the current study were to 1) survey audiologists’ knowledge, experience, and confidence working with deafBlind patients, and 2) measure the impact of acute training on audiologists’ knowledge and confidence working with deafBlind patients. To this end, a demographic survey was used to query the prior knowledge and experience of audiologists. Study participants then completed an asynchronous virtual training, which provided a general overview of deafBlindness and its impact on communication and access to the environment. Adaptations to different components of the audiologic test battery, including objective measures, visual reinforcement audiometry, and conditioned play audiometry, were also addressed through case-based learning. Novel questionnaires were developed and administered using a pretest-posttest experimental design to identify changes in knowledge and self-reported confidence. Results from the current study will be used to identify gaps in knowledge and skills in audiologists, and advocate for a more robust curriculum that prepares audiologists to effectively work with deafBlind individuals.
- Attendees will be able to discuss the need for deafBlind specific curricula within audiology programs.
- Attendees will be able to describe three potential benefits of acute training on provider knowledge and confidence.
- Attendees will gain the knowledge needed to integrate acute training into existing curriculum.
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
Talia Mango
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, talia.mango@childrens.harvard.edu;
Talia Mango, M.Ed., is a fourth-year audiology extern and LEND trainee at Boston Children's Hospital. She additionally holds a master's degree in severe and multiple disabilities with a specialization in Deafblindness from Boston College and has several years of experience with this population in a variety of settings.
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.
Emily Jones
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, emily.jones@childrens.harvard.edu;
Emily Jones is a fourth-year Doctoral Student of Audiology at the University of Louisville, currently completing her externship at Boston Children’s Hospital. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Kent State University. Her research interests include newborn middle ear diagnostics and newborn hearing screening protocols. Other audiology interests include pediatric hearing aids and cochlear implants. In addition to research, Emily was a teaching assistant for the first year students in Anatomy & Physiology, Electrophysiology and Amplification courses. Emily is also a clinical fellow in the LEND Boston program. Additionally, Emily served two terms as Hear Camp Coordinator, a summer camp UofL SAA hosts for kids with hearing loss.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Amanda Griffin
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, amanda.griffin@childrens.harvard.edu;
Amanda Griffin is the Director of Audiology Research at Boston Children's Hospital and an Instructor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with .
Nature: .