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Serving Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: A Professional Development Course for SLPs and other Service Providers

Serving Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing A professional development course for Speech Language Pathologists and Other Service Providers

About the Course

Students with hearing loss in Colorado, although low in incidence, have educationally significant and often quite specific needs in speech, language and academic development.  Service providers, especially Speech and Language Pathologists, may at one time or another provide services to students with hearing loss.  This course provides knowledge, information and resources to assist in better understanding, assessing, analyzing data and serving students who have hearing loss.

This course contains 5 modules which focus on the impact of hearing loss, aspects of a potential language gap, role of the SLP and essential nature of collaboration with service providers on the Deaf/HH education team as well as other essential components. Formal and informal assessment, using language samples, and knowing where to find resources and materials can be critical in providing specialized instruction and monitoring student progress.  Whether part of a large district program, a small rural school or anywhere in between, this course has been developed to support YOU in the services you provide to students with hearing loss. 

If you have any questions about this course or encounter any errors, please contact Shauna Moden at moden_s@cde.state.co.us.

Module Topics

These modules should be completed in order as they contain content which builds on knowledge gained in succession. 

  • Module 1:  The Impact of Hearing Loss on Speech and Language
  • Module 2:  The SLP and the Child with Hearing Loss
  • Module 3:  Language Sampling: A 3 Part Series
    • Part 1 - Language: Where to Start
    • Part 2 - Language Sample Analysis
    • Part 3 - Writing Goals & Objectives
  • Module 4:  Assessment
  • Module 5:  Auditory Skill Development

Certificate

A total of eight and half (8.5) CDE clock hours are available upon completion of this entire course. After viewing each module a brief evaluation and quiz is available. Upon successful completion of the quiz a link to a customized PDF certificate will be emailed to the email address provided in the quiz. If a user does not get a passing score, a link to retry the quiz will be sent automatically. 


Welcome and Introduction

Series Presenter:

Kerry M. Young, M.A., CCC-SLP LSLS AVEd

About the Presenter

Hello! My name is Kerry Young, a speech language pathologist specializing in listening and spoken language skills with over 25 years of experience. My love for working with individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing began after my undergraduate studies (Kansas State University) and I moved back to St. Louis, MO (where I was born and raised). When I moved back to St. Louis I began working at the Moog Center for Deaf Education as an assistant both in the classrooms as well as audiology. During these two years, I worked closely with the team and quickly knew this was my professional calling. After two years at the Moog Center I received my graduate degree from Truman State University and returned to St. Louis and had a classroom at the Moog Center for 3 years, which was just the beginning of a career that I don’t call a career but a passion. From  here I moved around the country and held various positions (speech therapist, administrator and graduate faculty member) as well as provide presentations to other professionals to assist them in their skill set for their students/patients. While I resided in Colorado I worked in various capacities from the public school system to a cochlear implant team at Children’s Hospital Colorado. I assisted in coordinating the deaf/hard of hearing program for the Colorado Department of Education, as well as adjunct faculty at the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Colorado-Boulder. My passion does not only lie in providing services for individuals with hearing loss but working with and coaching future speech therapists as well as school teams around the state. No matter where I have lived and worked, I believe in being a team player and learning from others to hone my skills to better help my patients and their families. I have provided both in person and telehealth therapy to individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing from birth-92 for over 10 years. My husband and I moved from Denver, CO to Riley, KS in 2021 to help take care of his aging parents. In my spare time I love to spend time with my human family, as well as my various farm animals, garden, walk, and bike. I am ASHA certified, LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Educator and hold 8 state licensures for telehealth services.

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Module 1 - The Impact of Hearing Loss on Speech and Language

Self paced professional development

Module 1 provides an introduction to hearing loss, audiological assessments and the importance of knowing how to read and understand a student’s audiogram.   A brief introduction is given about amplification, speech audiometry and speech perception. Hearing loss impacts speech and language development in a variety of ways and this module brings clarity to understanding these concepts while eliminating some common misconceptions.

Learning Objectives

Participants will: 

  • Understand varying degrees of hearing loss and the impact they have on speech/language development.
  • Understand how to explain an audiogram to a family.
  • State 2 ways that differ in vocabulary and language from children with normal hearing vs. children who have hearing loss.

Time Required for Completion:

1.5 hours

Module 1 Handouts/Resources

Watch Module 1

Watch The Impact of Hearing
Loss on Speech & Language


​Module1 Quiz & Certificate

After completion of the quiz with a score of 5 out 6 correct, you will receive an email with a certificate for 1.5 CDE clock hoursIf you do not pass the quiz, you will receive an email with feedback and a link to try again. Please note links to certificates will expire 14 days after creation, it is your responsibility to download and print/save the certificate for your record.

PD event offers a certificate

Module 1 Evaluation & Quiz

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Module 2 - The SLP and the Child with Hearing Loss

Self paced professional development

Module 2 examines the role of the SLP, the goal of working with a child with hearing loss and the purpose of collaboration with other professionals also serving the student.  

Learning Objectives

Time Required for Completion

Participants will:

  • Understand the SLP’s role in relation to the child who has a hearing loss around listening, speech and language; and
  • Understand how to collaborate with other providers for the child with hearing loss.

1.5 hours

Module 2 Handouts/Resources

Watch Module 2

Watch The SLP & the
Child with Hearing Loss


Module 2 Quiz & Certificate

After completion of the quiz with a score of 4 out 5 correct, you will receive an email with a certificate for 1.5 CDE clock hours. If you do not pass the quiz, you will receive an email with feedback and a link to try again. Please note links to certificates will expire 14 days after creation, it is your responsibility to download and print/save the certificate for your record.

PD event offers a certificate

Module 2 Evaluation & Quiz

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Module 3 - Language Sampling: A 3 Part Series

Self paced professional development

Module 3 provides an introduction to using language samples and language rating forms to improve specialized instruction with students who are Deaf/HH.  This module is broken into 3 parts and it is advised to watch all 3 parts in a timely manner as there is one quiz for this module which includes questions from all 3 parts:

  • Part 1:  Language: Where to Start
  • Part 2:  Language Sample Analysis
  • Part 3:  Writing Goals and Objectives

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  1. Better understand the impact hearing loss has on language, how a language gap impedes participation and learning in the school environment across academic areas and social development. 
  2. Understand the importance of and how to take routine language samples and how to do so.
  3. Be exposed to two language rating forms and how to use them to collect and analyze student data using the Assessment of Spoken Language (TASL) and Cottage Acquisition Scales for Listening, Language and Speech (CASLLS).
  4. Learn how to develop language goals and learning targets from obtained student language data.
  5. Learn how to plan for and deliver a syntax lesson with specific target structures to accelerate the language learning for a student who is Deaf/HH. 
  6. Be presented strategies specific to teaching language to DHH students.

Time Required for Completion

3 hours

Module 3 Handouts & Resources

Watch Module 3 Videos

Module 3 Part 1 Language: Where to Start

Watch Part 1

Module 3 Part 2 Language: Language Sample Analysis

Watch Part 2

Module 3 Part 3: Writing Goals and Objectives

Watch Part 3

Module 3 Quiz & Certificate

After completion of the quiz with a score of 5 out 7 correct, you will receive an email with a certificate for 3 CDE clock hoursIf you do not pass the quiz, you will receive an email with feedback and a link to try again. Please note links to certificates will expire 14 days after creation, it is your responsibility to download and print/save the certificate for your record.

PD event offers a certificate

Module 3 Evaluation & Quiz

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Module 4 - Assessment

Self paced professional development

Module 4, focusing on standardized assessment, provides information on various measures which can be used to assess the language of students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.  Specific standardized assessments and methods in this module are analyzed in the following categories: birth to three years old, preschool, kindergarten to second grade, second to fifth grade and middle/high school.  Standardized language assessment data is essential to gather, especially during the IEP re-evaluation period, while bearing in mind standardized data must be analyzed alongside language samples, language rating protocols and student performance when interpreting results used to develop student goals and objectives.  Proper assessment and data analysis along with high expectations for language output from students results in improved outcomes.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Gain knowledge of informal and formal assessments to administer for various ages of children with hearing loss
  • Be challenged to think beyond standardization to other items which should be considered when looking at IEP goals/objectives

Time Required for Completion:

1.5 hours

Watch Module 4

Watch Assessments

Module 4 Quiz & Certificate

After completion of the quiz with a score of 2 out 3 correct, you will receive an email with a certificate for 1.5 CDE clock hours. If you do not pass the quiz, you will receive an email with feedback and a link to try again. Please note links to certificates will expire 14 days after creation, it is your responsibility to download and print/save the certificate for your record.

PD event offers a certificate

Module 4 Evaluation & Quiz

Module 4 Handouts/Resources

  • Birth-Age 3
    • Overall development:
      • Rossetti Infant Toddler Scale: parent questionnaire: various areas assessed (birth-5)
      • Development Activities Screening Inventory (DASI)
    • Language:
      • Receptive Expressive Emergent Language (REEL-4): parent questions about receptive/expressive language
      • Preschool Language Scale (PLS): receptive/expressive language/speech sounds (birth-6; 11 yrs)
      • MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (8-37 months)
    • Non Standardized
      • Auditory: Cincinnati Auditory Checklist
      • Cottage Acquisition Scales for Listening, Language and Speech (CASLLS) * not standardized (birth-8 yrs)
  • Preschool
    • Vocabulary:
      • ROWPVT/PVT: receptive vocabulary (2-80 yrs)
      • EOWPVT/EVT: expressive vocabulary (2-80 yrs)
    • Basic Concepts:
      • Boehm Test of Basic Concepts-Preschool (3-5;11)
      • Bracken Basic Concept Scale Receptive (3-6;11)
      • Bracken Basic Concept Scale Expressive (3-6;11)
    • Articulation:
      • Informal or GFTA
    • Language:
      • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Preschool (CELF-P2): receptive/expressive language
      • Preschool Language Scale (PLS-5): receptive and expressive language
      • Test of Semantic Skills-Primary (TOSS-P): receptive/expressive language (4;0-8;11 yrs)
      • Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL): receptive/expressive language (3;0-21 yrs)
      • Structured Photographic Expressive Language-III (SPELT-3) (4-9;0 yrs)
      • Oral Written Language Scales-Second Edition (OWLS-2) (3-21 yrs for listening comprehension and oral expression.

  • Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
  • Language:
    • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5(CELF-5): receptive/expressive language
    • Test of Semantic Skills-Primary (TOSS-P): receptive/expressive language (4;0-8;11yrs)
    • Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL): receptive/expressive language (3;0-21yrs)
    • Structured Photographic Expressive Language-III (SPELT-3) : expressive language (4-9;0yrs)
    •  Oral Passage Understanding Scale (OPUS): listening comprehension (5-21 yrs)
    • Oral Written Language Scales-Second Edition (OWLS-2) (3-21 yrs for listening comprehension and oral expression. Writing and Reading Comprehension: (5-21 yrs)
    • Word Test-Elementary: higher level language skills (6-11 yrs)
  • 2nd - 5th Grade
    • Continue any of the previously mentioned assessments.
    • Oral Passage Understanding Scale (OPUS): listening comprehension (5-21 yrs)
    • Oral Written Language Scales-Second Edition (OWLS-2) (3-21 yrs for listening comprehension and oral expression). Writing and Reading Comprehension: (5-21 yrs)
    • Word Test-Elementary: higher level language skills (6-11 yrs)
    • Test of Semantic Skills-Intermediate (TOSS-I): higher level language (9-13 yrs)
  • Middle/High School
    • Any of the previously mentioned assessments
    • Language:
      • Oral Passage Understanding Scale (OPUS): listening comprehension (5-21 yrs)
      • Oral Written Language Scales-Second Edition (OWLS-2) (3-21 yrs for listening comprehension and oral expression. Writing and Reading Comprehension: (5-21 yrs)
      • Word Test-Elementary: higher level language skills (6-11 yrs)
      • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Meta Linguistic (higher level language) (9-21yrs)
      • Test of Semantic Skills-Intermediate (TOSS-I): higher level language (9-13 yrs) 

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Module 5 - Auditory Skill Development

Self paced professional development

Auditory skill development is the process of improving hearing and listening skills which develop in a hierarchy of increasing complexity.  It is essential to incorporate auditory skill development in the educational programming of students who are Deaf or hard of hearing to aid them in improving listening skills.  The brain requires direct instruction to make sense of sounds from common environmental sounds to the incredibly complex sounds within spoken language.  Understanding the listening hierarchy of skills, how to target objectives within each area and strategies for practicing listening skills with students is essential in the journey of auditory skill development.

Learning Objectives: 

Participants will:

  1. understand the importance of incorporating auditory skill development in the education of students who are Deaf/HH.
  2. name various auditory skill development protocols and checklists.
  3. understand the listening hierarchy of skills and how to target skills within each area.
  4. understand how to write appropriate auditory skill development IEP goals and objectives for students with hearing differences.

Time Required for Completion:

1.0 hours

Module Handouts and Resources 5 Note Catcher

Watch Module 5

Watch Auditory Skill Development

Module 5 Quiz & Certificate

After completion of the quiz with a score of 4 out 5 correct, you will receive an email with a certificate for 1 CDE clock hourIf you do not pass the quiz, you will receive an email with feedback and a link to try again. Please note links to certificates will expire 14 days after creation, it is your responsibility to download and print/save the certificate for your record.

PD event offers a certificate

Module 5 Evaluation & Quiz

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If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.