2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/19/2018 | 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM | Communication: Can Parents Give their Children all the Options? | Capitol 1
Communication: Can Parents Give their Children all the Options?
When a child is diagnosed with a hearing loss, parents start a journey that involves a steep learning curve about hearing, hearing loss, language development and communication. Throughout the years parents pursuing this journey have encountered some controversy around hearing technologies and communication modes for their children. They’ve had to navigate the climate around them to make the best choice for their child based on what they learned. Today is no different. Parents have more access than ever to information and they are pressed for time to make choices on behalf of their children., and they encounter statements and positions such as: “allowing the child to decide about Cochlear Implants” & “all deaf children have a right to ASL”. We would like to discuss these statements further from a parental and audiological point of view, provide participants with research findings, as well as start an open dialog about how these statements may impact a parent’s choice.
Andrea is a parent of a child with hearing loss born in 2001. Her daughter passed her newborn hearing screening and now at 16 is profoundly deaf. The journey has been long and hard thought out. Along this journey they have experienced this controversy at different levels and received negative opinions about the choices they’ve made. Alejandra, a pediatric audiologist works with families of children with hearing loss. Our health system has come a long way in recognizing it as such and providing the resources needed for the early detection, and identification. However, the journey does not end at the early diagnosis; on the other hand, this is when the crucial part starts. Andrea and Alejandra believe we should all reflect on these statements, what they mean, how parents interpret them, and the impact they can have on a family.
- Participants will gain an understanding of the choices parents face
- Participants will be provided with medical based theory relating to language acquisition timing
- Participants who can see that there is a different way to look at when choices for individuals who are d/hoh should be made
Presentation:
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Transcripts:
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Presenters/Authors
Alejandra Ullauri
(), Illinois Hands & Voices, alejandra@chicagohearingcare.com;
Alejandra is an audiologist with extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders in the pediatric and adult population. She holds a Doctorate degree in audiology from University of Florida, a Master’s degree in audiology from Flinders University of South Australia, and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She is certified by the American Board of Audiology in Cochlear Implants. She held audiology positions in Australia, England, Ecuador and the United States. Her latest position was as Manager of Audiology at the University of Chicago Medicine. Currently, she is the director of Audiology at Chicago Hearing Care, and she participates in the team of experts reviewing the WHO Ear and Hearing Survey Protocol, a collaboration between the World Health Organization and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She serves on the Board of Directors for both Illinois Hands and Voices, an organization which offers supports to parents and families of children with a hearing loss, and Child’s Voice, a listening and spoken language program for children with hearing loss. Alejandra is bilingual (English/Spanish), and deeply committed to the field of Audiology and Hearing Sciences.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Andrea Marwah
(), IL Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side, executivedirector@ilhandsandvoices.com;
Andrea Marwah received her BA degree in Psychology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Since her daughter was diagnosed with hearing loss in 2002, she has taken a special interest in educating parents and professionals on matters concerning ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) - special education rights, and advocacy for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Andrea presents both locally and nationally on matters pertaining to advocacy and IDEA; deafness/hearing loss when combined with other disabilities; the impact of deafness/hearing loss; socialization and many other topics surrounding parenting and working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. She works for the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois School for the Deaf as an outreach trainer and consultant for families and professionals who work with children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind. She is also a parent advocate supporting families in Illinois at their child’s IEP meeting or behind the scenes preparing them to attend the meeting and advocate themselves. Andrea is the Executive Director at Illinois Hands & Voices and has been a leader with them since 2010, began as the IDEA liaison for the Guide By Your Side Program in 2009 where she provides unbiased information and one-on-one advocacy and IDEA support to families who have children who are deaf/hard of hearing and is a national trainer for the Hands & Voices ASTra Training Program and a member of the Hands & Voices speakers bureau. She works closely with Designated Service Coordinators providing group training and individual consulting. These are trained individuals who work directly with infants and toddlers in Illinois birth to three who have a diagnosis involving vision, hearing or a combination of both in her state early intervention program. Andrea works as a liaison with the Early Intervention Training Program on issues surrounding deafness and hearing loss. She sits on numerous committees both locally and nationally. Andrea also served for six years on the Advisory Commission on Disabilities in her home town of Naperville, where she lives with her husband Ajay and 3 children Samantha, Julia and Andrew.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.