2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/19/2024 | 11:30 AM - 11:55 AM | The Missing Link: Early Intervention Services for Babies Born with Congenital CMV | Mineral Hall B/C
The Missing Link: Early Intervention Services for Babies Born with Congenital CMV
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital viral infection in the United States, impacting 1 in 200 births per year. Outcomes following congenital CMV infection are highly variable and include mild to more significant neurodevelopmental, audiological, and ophthalmological conditions. Infants with cCMV and neurodevelopmental sequelae are at additional risk for brain-based hearing and vision impairments. Babies diagnosed with cCMV and hearing loss frequently receive early intervention services before six months of age in order to facilitate age-appropriate development of language and social skills. This is not always the case for babies impacted by cCMV with vision loss. Rather, brain-based vision impairment unfortunately may not be detected until much later, and services may be delayed. While CMV screening is an objective across many states, early intervention providers often are not aware of the impact of cCMV on neurodevelopment, vision, and hearing. Early intervention (birth to age 3) and early childhood (age 3-5) personnel should be trained in assessment and intervention to support infants impacted by cCMV and their families, particularly infants with significant neurodevelopmental challenges and at risk for brain-based visual and auditory impairments. Identification and referral for follow-up and appropriate service delivery requires strong partnerships between clinical and early intervention/early childhood care providers. This session presents an overview of the Early Childhood CMV Training Module, developed in collaboration with members of the Massachusetts CMV Coalition (MCC; https://cmvmass.org), an organization of family members, physicians, audiologists, public health officials, educators and other stakeholders dedicated to the advancement of local and national efforts to understand, prevent, identify, and treat cCMV infection.
- Participants will recognize the importance of clinical and educational collaboration to improve referral and service delivery
- Participants will identify strategies for utilizing the Early Childhood CMV Training Module in their own state systems (early intervention, early childhood)
- Participants will describe the importance of aligning appropriate services to children identified with CMV
Presentation:
3478265_16368BrendaAllair.pdf
3478265_16368RebeccaSandvos.pdf
3478265_16368Tracy EvansLuiselli.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
3478265_16368BrendaAllair.docx
Presenters/Authors
Meredith Robison
(Co-Presenter), MED-EL Corporation, meredith.robison@outlook.com;
Meredith D. Robison, AuD, CCC-A, is an audiologist dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages, particularly those with medical and developmental complexities. She is passionate about improving access to and the quality of integrated hearing healthcare services. Currently, Meredith serves as a Surgical Account Manager with MED-EL Corporation, where she leverages her clinical expertise and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary education and collaboration to advance innovative hearing solutions and patient-centered care.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from MED-EL Corporation.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with MED-EL Corporation..
Nature: Receives salary for employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Brenda Allair
(Co-Presenter), New England Consortium on Deafblindness, brenda.allair@perkins.org;
Brenda Allair, Assistant Director at NEC, received her Masters in Special Education, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) from University of Massachusetts Boston and has a strong focus on early childhood and family support. In her nearly 20 years in the field of Early Education, Brenda has worked to provide families and educational teams with the skills and knowledge they need to not only allow children to access the world but to also become active, involved members of their chosen communities. Brenda is the Assistant Director at the New England Consortium on Deafblindness (NEC) where she provides training and support to families and professionals around the unique learning needs of deafblind learners. Her areas of interest include communication for deafblind learners and strategies for working with students with Extensive Support Needs. Brenda has been an advisor on several state and national projects to engage families of children with complex health care needs, especially those with additional disabilities, to become active in the systems that provide services and supports to their children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment from New England Consortium on Deafblindness.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with New England Consortium on Deafblindness, located at Perkins School for the Blind.
Nature: OSEP Funding, employed by Perkins School for the Blind.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Tracy Evans Luiselli
(Primary Presenter), New England Consortium on Deafblindness, tracy.luiselli@perkins.org;
Tracy Evans Luiselli, Ed.D., NEC Director, received her Masters in Severe Special Needs/Deafblind Education from Boston College and Doctorate in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, with certifications in Vision, Moderate Special Needs, and Severe Special Needs. She has successfully coordinated and implemented a multistate OSEP grant since 1999. Dr. Evans Luiselli has extensive consulting and training experience with schools and agencies serving children who are deafblind, and her academic activity has included adjunct faculty appointments at Boston College, Simmons College, and Granite State College. With over thirty-five years of experience in the field of deafblindness, Tracy presents frequently at local, state, and national levels. Her areas of interest include assessment and instruction for children who are deafblind, increasing awareness about the impact of congenital cytomegalovirus, brain-based visual impairment, and organizational leadership and management. As well, she emphasizes the importance of supporting family engagement in all aspects of educational programming, including helping parents develop home-based routines that support their children’s communication and independence.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from New England Consortium on Deafblindness.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with New England Consortium on Deafblindness (OSEP-funded Grant)
Perkins School for the Blind
Member of MA cCMV Coalition .
Nature: employed as Project Director.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Rebecca Sandvos
(Co-Presenter), Massachusetts CCMV Coalition , becki.sandvos@gmail.com;
Rebecca is a second year medical student at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. She is interested in pursuing pediatrics and has a passion for CMV advocacy.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -