2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM | Do’s and Don’t’s for Supporting Everyone’s Mental Health when Working with Families | City Terrace 7
Do’s and Don’t’s for Supporting Everyone’s Mental Health when Working with Families
Practitioners working with young children really work with the family unit. While much focus is on the deaf/hard of hearing child, the needs of the caregivers have a strong impact on the child’s development and outcomes, including communication skills and language development. DHH children are at increased risk of developing mental health problems, with some studies showing that they are as much as four times more likely to experience mental health problems than children with typical hearing. The impact of these issues can, and often does, span the course of a person’s life.
This presentation will recognize factors impacting the mental health of both DHH children and their caregivers. Then, specific strategies for practitioners to promote mental health when working with families will be shared. Through the dual perspective of a professional social worker and Deaf+ parent, the presenter will explore ways to work with families to promote mental health in everyday sessions and give tips for when families are struggling.
- Participants will recognize the connection between caregiver mental health and DHH child development.
- Participants will identify factors impacting the mental health of DHH children and their caregivers.
- Participants will select clear strategies to promote the mental health of the entire family unit when working with DHH children in their own practice.
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
Amy Keslinke
(Primary Presenter), Illinois Hands and Voices, amy.keslinke@ilhandsandvoices.com;
Amy Keslinke is an educator with experience teaching students from third grade into adulthood. When she learned during her second pregnancy that her son would be born with a congenital heart defect, she knew her life as a parent would change. When he was diagnosed with severe-to-profound hearing loss at six months old and continued to accrue multiple other medical diagnoses before his first birthday, Amy developed a special interest in empowering parents of children who are deaf with disabilities. Amy has presented at the state and national levels and is president of the Illinois Hands and Voices Board of Directors, providing unbiased support to parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, many of whom have additional disabilities. She is working on her masters degree in social work and is an adjunct faculty member in the Adult Basic/Secondary Education program at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois. She lives in Gilberts, Illinois, with her husband, Dan, and children, Emerie and Evan.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Elgin Community College.
• Receives In kind,Other financial benefit for Board membership from Illinois Hands and Voices Guide By Your Side.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Personal,Professional,Personal interest
(Family Support)
(Board President)
(DHH Advocacy)
relationship for Volunteer employment,Volunteer teaching and speaking,Board membership.
• Has a Professional
(Student)
relationship for Other volunteer activities.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Hands & Voices; Elgin Community College; University of St. Francis.
Nature: Illinois Hand & Voices- travel expenses
Elgin Community College- employment
University of St. Francis- student, research support.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.