2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM | The Vermont Parent Infant Program Experience with Language Assessments for Children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind | City Terrace 12
The Vermont Parent Infant Program Experience with Language Assessments for Children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind
The Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (VTEHDI) Program under the Vermont Department of Health partners closely with the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), our largest birthing facility, for staffing of audiologists. Additionally, Vermont’s single point of entry for early intervention (EI) for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind (DHHDB) children birth to 3 years of age falls under UVMMC. There is extensive history of collaboration between VTEHDI and the EI program. The Parent Infant Program (PIP) employs licensed providers trained in working with children who are DHHDB and their families, including Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Speech/ Language Pathologists and Educational Audiologists. The Director of VTEHDI also serves as the Director of the PIP allowing for an aligned and efficient approach to EI services.
The Vermont PIP Program has partnered with the University of Colorado Early Language Outcomes (ELO), formerly ODDACE, Project, for the past five years. PIP providers are trained to administer a battery of assessments and receive individual reports and aggregate data from The University of Colorado. This year, a PIP Program Coordinator was appointed to leverage ELO data, guiding interpretation of results and providing tailored professional development to improve services and outcomes.
VTEHDI and PIP with our key stakeholders inclusive of families are committed to assessing all enrolled DHHDB children at 8, 14, 20, 26 and 32 months of age for language acquisition and other developmental milestones. Results of assessments guide IFSP goals, individual treatment protocols and family support, program-level training and decisions, and transition plans for school age services.
This presentation includes collaboration with the University of Colorado ELO Project, updated experience with language assessments, demographics of Vermont’s DHHDB children, results for language acquisition and developmental milestones, and how this information has guided changes to improve individual and program-level results.
- Participants will identify 3 developmentally appropriate language measures for infants and toddlers who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind.
- Participants will describe how assessing young children who are DHH/ DHHDB at regular intervals can be utilized in parent/ caregiver counseling.
- Participants will list 3 ways language assessment data can be used to improve program-level outcomes.
Presentation:
View Presentation File
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Nell Rosenberg
(Primary Presenter), University of Vermont Medical Center, nellrosenbergslp@gmail.com;
Nell Rosenberg, MEd, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, is the Coordinator of the Parent Infant Program at UVMMC, serving the DHH EI population statewide in Vermont. She joined the UVMMC team after 10 years at Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in various roles including National Director of Teleservices and assistant program director of the NY campus. She has worked in public and private school settings, with special interests in early intervention, teleservice, aural (re)habilitation, and caregiver coaching. Nell received her bachelor’s degree from Boston College, her Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Florida, and her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Vermont Medical Center.
Nature: full-time employee.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Allison Harvie
(Co-Presenter), University of Vermont Medical Center, allison.harvie@uvmhealth.org ;
Allison Harvie is a speech-language pathologist proudly serving infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing in Southern Vermont as a Parent Advisor via the Vermont Parent-Infant Program (PIP). She is a graduate of James Madison University with a bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has over 15 years of experience in early intervention, outpatient pediatric hospitals, private practice, and public schools.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Vermont Health system.
Nature: Employed as an SLP and Parent Advisor in the Vermont PIP Program.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Linda Hazard
(Co-Presenter), Vermont Department of Health, linda.hazard@partner.vermont.gov;
Linda Hazard, is the Program Director for the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI) and an audiologist. She earned her audiology degree from Boston University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Social Policy from the University of Vermont. Dr. Hazard is one of the Co-Past Presidents of the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA). She currently represents DSHPSHWA on three committees, Audiology Quality Consortium (AQC), Health Care Economics Committee (HCEC) and the Parent Choice Alliance. Additionally Dr. Hazard has been appointed by the Vermont Governor to serve on the Vermont Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Advisory Council and the Vermont Interagency Coordinating Council. Dr. Hazard is also one of the Vermont State Champions for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She has several scientific publications to her credit, including peer reviewed articles and has presented both nationally and internationally. In February of 2017 Dr. Hazard received the prestigious Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence and published a chapter for the EHDI I book on qualitative research. In April of 2023 Dr Hazard received the University of Vermont Medical Center Leadership award.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Employment from HRSA.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with HRSA.
Nature: EHDI Funding.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.