Join

Beyond the Audiogram: Understanding the Hidden Impact of Hearing Differences in the Classroom

1 PDH
0.1 ASHA CEUs
Thursday Session 1

Abstract

Children with hearing differences experience more than reduced access to speech and sound. They navigate a distinct social and emotional landscape in school that often goes unrecognized. This session will explore how hearing differences affect social communication, including missed communication cues, conversation fatigue, and increased listening effort. We will also examine how the risk for bullying and social isolation evolves across developmental stages and requires age-specific intervention. The emotional impact on students and the experiences of families, including cycles of stress, guilt, and grief, in relation to school-based interactions will be discussed. Participants will learn how these factors can be integrated into IEP development, including goals related to social communication and self-advocacy. Practical strategies will be provided to support students across ages, with a focus on the evolving role of the SLP in supporting participation, independence, and long-term success for children with hearing differences in school settings.

Presenter

Madison Howe

Madison Howe, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-AP, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Audiology Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She specializes in pediatric audiology, with a focus on supporting children with hearing and vestibular differences from birth through young adulthood. Prior to joining UAMS, Dr. Howe practiced clinically at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she worked closely with interdisciplinary teams. Dr. Howe is actively involved in national and state professional service, including roles with the Audiology Praxis National Advisory Council, Chair of the ASHA Multicultural Issues Board, and President-Elect of the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA).

Madison Howe Headshot

Learner Objectives

  • Describe the unique social and emotional challenges experienced by students with hearing differences across developmental stages in school settings.
  • Explain how families of children with hearing differences experience evolving patterns of grief, guilt, and stress across the school-age years, and how these experiences shape engagement with school-based services and decision-making.
  • Apply developmentally appropriate strategies across the school-age continuum to support social and emotional development, and integrate these priorities into the IEP process to foster self-advocacy and increasing independence.

    Timed Outline

    • 5 min: Framing the Conversation
    • 5 min: The Seen Effects of Hearing Loss
    • 15 min: The Unseen Effects of Hearing Loss: Bullying, Social Isolation, Listening Effort
    • 10 min: How Challenges Evolve Across Age Ranges
    • 10 min: Family Experience Across the School Years
    • 10 min: Translating to IEP Development and Intervention
    • 5 min: Summary & Key Takeaways

      Disclosure Statements

      Disclosures for Madison Howe:

      Financial
      Salaried by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
      Non-Financial
      President-Elect for the Arkansas Speech-Language Hearing Association; co-founder of the Pediatric Audiology Learning Society (PALS); Chair of ASHA Multicultural Issues Board; National Advisory Council for Audiology Praxis; board member of the Society for Ear Nose and Throat Advances in Children