2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/05/2019 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | How We Talk With Families of Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Reframing the Discussion | Heathrow A/B
How We Talk With Families of Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Reframing the Discussion
Despite the emergence of a small but growing group of deaf professionals, it is predominantly hearing professionals who end up working directly with families who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The way we talk about and with individuals who are deaf and their families can have a tremendous impact on decision making, particularly if there is a lack of a deaf professional immediately available to participate in the process. This presentation will explore how goals may potentially be viewed differently by medical, deaf, and family communities. A broader concept will be proposed for broaching conversations in a framework that exists beyond a singular medical "pathology" model of being deaf (i.e. solely a problem in need of fixing). The critical impact of how terminology is used with families will be discussed, as well as implications for how we frame opportunities for both spoken and visual language learning with families. This framework will be explored using real-world examples of individuals who are helping to gradually shift current models regarding the definition and perception of (dis)ability.
- Identify important differences between some core concepts between communities that may impact interactions with each other
- Explore a concept of being deaf or hard of hearing beyond the singular perspective of the medical pathology model
- Acknowledge the critical importance of the medical professional’s role in valuing the family perspective in cultural context, and support informed decision making for children identified as deaf or hard of hearing
Presentation:
18878_10105RachelSt John.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
18878_10105RachelStJohn.docx
Presenters/Authors
Rachel St John
(), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Rachel.StJohn@UTSouthwestern.edu;
Rachel St. John is a board-certified pediatrician, and a NIC-Advanced certified sign language interpreter through RID. She received her BS degree in psychology at George Mason University, completed her MD degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and then jointly attended Georgetown University Hospital for her residency in pediatrics and Gallaudet University for her MA degree in counseling. Dr. St. John is the director of the Family-Focused Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children at Children’s Medical Center Dallas/UT Southwestern Medical Center. The FFC provides support for families to make informed decisions regarding their child who is deaf/hard of hearing, as well as provides education and collaborative support to providers caring for these patients in keeping with national standards. She also currently serves as an American Academy of Pediatrics representative to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -