2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 2:25 PM - 2:55 PM | Level Up! Make Listening a Habit and Keep It Going | City Terrace 11
Level Up! Make Listening a Habit and Keep It Going
Consistent listening experiences in early childhood are critical for the development of auditory skills. The Katherine Hamm Center at the Atlanta Speech School created “Habit Cards” in 2017 as a way to help parents and professionals learn strategies to develop early listening and language skills with infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. There are ten fundamental strategies, or habits, that create a strong auditory foundation with beginning listeners: Aim High, Light Up the Brain, I Hear That, Tune In, Talk More, Sing, Wait, One Step Ahead, Read, and Make It Easier. According to experts, habits are formed when new behaviors become automatic and effortless. Embedding these habits during daily routines allows families to build upon activities they do every day to support their child’s learning within a meaningful context. These same listening habits, as detailed in the Habit Cards, are applicable for parents and professionals working with preschoolers as they grow in their listening skills. To facilitate continued progress beyond an introductory level, the habits can be extended to raise the bar and build listening and language skills to achieve conversational competence.
Participants in this session will learn how to build auditory skills for each habit in beginning listeners. The discussion will then shift to ways to modify the habits by expanding and leveling up to promote growth both at home and beyond. Presenters will demonstrate strategies to help both new and more experienced listeners gain additional practice and continue to develop their skills. Concrete examples and case studies will be discussed, giving participants an opportunity to observe and identify each habit in action.
- Define ten key habits for parents and professionals working with infants and young DHH children developing listening and language skills.
- Identify examples of each habit in action from case studies.
- List three ways parents and professionals can adjust strategies when moving from stage to stage as children develop auditory skills.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Jennifer Wallace
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Atlanta Speech School, jwallace@atlantaspeechschool.org;
Jennifer Wallace is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and LSLS Cert. AVT. She is a lead teacher/SLP in the Stepping Stones program at Atlanta Speech School working with children who have speech and language needs in a therapeutic classroom setting.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Atlanta Speech School.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Atlanta Speech School, Katherine Hamm Center.
Nature: Employed by Katherine Hamm Center at Atlanta Speech School.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Kathy Newbern
(Co-Presenter), Atlanta Speech School, knewbern@atlantaspeechschool.org;
Kathy Newbern is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and LSLS Cert. AVT. She is a lead preschool teacher and auditory-verbal therapist in the Katherine Hamm Center at the Atlanta Speech School. She also provides instruction and mentoring to professionals pursuing LSLS certification.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Atlanta Speech School.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Atlanta Speech School.
Nature: Atlanta Speech School employee.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.