2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/07/2023 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Parental experiences following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia | DECC 230/231
Parental experiences following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia
This presentation is based on a research study designed to identify and describe the experiences of parents following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia (aural atresia). Although the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program involves a process that unfolds over time, parents of children born with microtia/atresia experience something quite different. Their journey often starts abruptly, mere moments after their child’s birth. Due to the visible nature of microtia (small or absent pinna)/atresia (absent or closed ear canal), it is not unusual for a parent or family member, sometimes in the delivery room, to “diagnose by google”, surrounded by professionals lacking the background, knowledge and expertise to reassure parents’ fears, provide basic information and refer them to resources and professionals who can help. Participants were recruited via social media and professional networks and included parents of children with microtia/atresia, ages of 6 months 6 years at the time of the study. Participants were interviewed about their experiences following their child’s birth, information and recommendation for follow up, initial and later concerns, and decisions about amplification and early intervention. Responses were transcribed and coded for thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. Results of this study, including demographic information, 1:3:6 adherence, amplification decisions and the results of the thematic analysis of responses to the interview, focusing on experiences, challenges, and needs identified and described by parents following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia will be shared and discussed. Attendees will consider how the information shared should inform their practice.
- Participants will be able to summarize JCIH guidelines and current research on parent perspectives and experiences following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia.
- Participants will be able to describe themes across parent experiences following the birth of a child with microtia/atresia
- Participants will be able to identify strategies for supporting families of children with microtia atresia that align with the goals of JCIH and EHDI.
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Presenters/Authors
Meredith Berger
(), Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, mberger@clarkeschools.org;
Meredith Berger, MS became the director of Clarke Schools for Hearing & Speech/New York, an Early Intervention and Preschool listening spoken language program, in 2008. Prior to that, she was the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Educational Specialist at New York Eye and Ear’s Ear Institute/Cochlear Implant Center. She received a B.S. in Education from SUNY at Buffalo State College and master’s degrees in Deaf Education and in Educational Leadership from Canisius College. In addition to presenting on the educational needs of children with hearing loss, she has also co-authored pieces on the Clinic-School relationship. Meredith is on the Executive Board of Option Schools as a Director at Large and is member of the Children's Hearing Institute Medical and Educational Advisory Board. In 2017, Meredith began her doctoral studies at Teachers College, Columbia University to find answers to her own questions on the needs/outcomes of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, particularly those with microtia/atresia, and their families.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (advisory committee member)
relationship for Volunteer membership on advisory committee or review panels.
• Has a Professional (board member)
relationship for Board membership.
• Has a Personal (parent of a child with microtia/atresia)
relationship for Other volunteer activities.
DaeShawn Hall
(), NYC Department of Education, djh2154@columbia.edu;
DaeShawn Hall, MS CED is a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and school administrator, who has worked for the New York City Department of Education for 8 years. He was previously the
coordinator for a self-contained elementary school program for deaf/hard of hearing children and is now an assistant principal at a NYC High School. As a doctoral student in Deaf Education at Teachers College, Columbia University his research interests include listening and spoken language development, signed and manual languages, teacher development and leadership, and meta-cognition.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Maria Hartman
(), Teachers College, Columbia University, mch33@columbia.edu;
Maria Hartman, Ph.D., is a NYS certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with many years of classroom teaching experience. She is currently a lecturer and the director of the the Program of Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Teachers College, Columbia University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Elaine Smolen
(), Teachers College, Columbia University, elaine.smolen@gmail.com;
Elaine Smolen, PhD, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd, is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research work centers around language and literacy development for young deaf and hard of hearing children who use listening and spoken language. Smolen received her PhD in deaf and hard of hearing education from Columbia as a National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities scholar. An experienced teacher of the deaf and certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Smolen has served young children with hearing loss and their families as a head classroom teacher and in an itinerant role. She holds teaching certification in the areas of deaf education, elementary education, and English.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Personal (hard of hearing, wears hearing aids)
relationship for Other volunteer activities.