2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | From Test to Team: Reframing NBHS Results Through Collaborative, Culturally Responsive Partnerships. | City Terrace 7
From Test to Team: Reframing NBHS Results Through Collaborative, Culturally Responsive Partnerships.
The results of NBHS can surprise parents who have never met a deaf person and are unfamiliar with the Deaf community, Deaf culture, or American Sign Language (ASL; Benedict & Sass-Lehrer 2007). We also know that most parents are unaware of how a bimodal bilingual approach can help their deaf infant with later, more effective language development, whether that language is sign or spoken.
We propose a new team that includes a hearing parent with a deaf child, an audiologist who can schedule a follow-up screening appointment before the family leaves the hospital, a deaf adult, an early interventionist, and medical professionals from the hospital. The hearing parent can offer the new parents hope about the outcomes for their deaf newborn. The audiologist can speed up the identification process and provide information about hearing technologies for children, reducing the chance of follow-up loss and supporting the effective use of these technologies. The deaf adult can confirm that being deaf does not limit the long-term outcomes for their deaf infant, as well as provide aspirational capital (Braun et al., 2017) for the child's future. The early interventionist can share information about the importance of early access to a bimodal bilingual environment and how to visually engage with a deaf infant. Meanwhile, medical professionals can verify the test results. The script allows all team members to share their insights and support the parents.
- To provide a broader view of strategies for raising a deaf child
- To inform parents of a newborn deaf child with opportunities to see a broad range of choices
- To reframe the outcomes for this new family with a deaf child
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
M. Diane Clark
(Author), Lamar University, diane.clark@lamar.edu;
Dr. M. Diane Clark, is a full professor and chair of the Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University. Prior to coming to Lamar, she was a full professor and Program Director for their Ph.D. program in the Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners at Gallaudet University. She earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 1985 under her advisor, Marc Marschark. She was a founding member of the NSF funded Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning. Diane co-developed the Visual Communication and Sign Language (VCSL) Checklist as the only normed ASL assessment for children birth to 5 years of age. Recently, she worked with DSDE faculty and students to develop a parallel Spoken Language Development checklist. Deaf children from 0-5 can be monitored for language development in ASL and/or English.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Audra McCorkle-Geng
(Primary Presenter), Lamar University , audra.mccorkle@gmail.com;
Audra McCorkle-Geng is an American Sign Language (ASL) Instructor and Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder. With over 12 years of experience teaching ASL, Audra is deeply committed to early language access. She has a long-standing passion for Deaf mentorship and early intervention services for Deaf children and their families. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University, where her research focuses on language acquisition, Deaf-centric education, and the critical role of early ASL exposure. A dedicated educator and advocate, Audra works to advance inclusive, culturally responsive practices in both higher education and early childhood language development.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Brianne Weber
(Co-Presenter), Lamar University , bweber1@gmail.com;
Brianne Weber is a Deaf doctoral student in the Deaf Studies and Deaf Education program at Lamar University in Texas. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Gallaudet University. Brianne served as a school psychologist, working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, their families, and educators. In addition, she has provided consultation support for those unfamiliar with working with DHH students, helping them better understand language, communication, and cultural considerations. Her research interests include early intervention, language access, bilingual education, and the needs of DHH students with additional disabilities. She is committed to bridging the gap between research and practice to improve early intervention.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -