WEBINAR—The Information We Carry: Genetics and Hearing Loss

Healthcare/Medical Webinars

A female scientist looking through a telescope at tube samples.

Genetics are a common cause of hearing loss, affecting millions of people of all ages, yet there is still much to explore around such a complex topic.

In this fascinating webinar, our panel of experts—a pediatric audiologist, a speech-language pathologist and a licensed genetic counselor—explained the basics of genetic hearing loss, the importance of genetic testing for diagnosis, treatment and family planning and how advances in research are shaping the future of hearing healthcare. Following their presentations, they responded to live audience questions.

Whether you have genetic hearing loss, are raising a child with genetic hearing loss or simply want to learn more, this session provides valuable insights into the rapidly evolving field of hearing loss genetics. You can also learn about the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) new support group for parents of children with genetic hearing loss, The Genetic Connection, starting on September 24. Info: hearingloss.org/event/the-genetic-connection Thanks to our HLAA Hear for Life partner Eli Lilly for supporting these resources.

See panelist information and watch the open captioned video below.

Panelists:

Shelby Redfield

Shelby Redfield is a licensed genetic counselor and investigator in the Otolaryngology department at Boston Children’s Hospital. She specializes in pediatric hearing loss, working both in the clinic and in research to support children and families who are living with hearing loss. She is heavily involved in the hearing gene therapy program at Boston Children’s Hospital, both as a genetic counselor and research manager. She is a member of the Translational Hearing Genomics Lab and strives to improve genetic diagnosis through cutting-edge genomics research, such as through the implementation of a genetic newborn hearing screen,  while also providing compassionate, patient-centered care.

Lee Lochner, MA CCC-SLP

Lee Lochner is a pediatric speech language pathologist and a parent of a child with hearing loss. As a professional, she specializes in fostering communication in children with complex communication needs. As the daughter of a pediatric audiologist and the parent of a child with hearing loss, she has walked a unique journey as she has navigated the healthcare and education systems. The combination of her lived and professional experiences allows her to offer a rare perspective on hearing loss issues and speech and language development.

Joan Hewitt, Au.D.

Joan Hewitt is a pediatric audiologist at Project TALK specializing in intervention for infants and children with hearing loss and complex needs related to hearing loss. She has advanced degrees in both audiology and auditory/oral education of the deaf and teaches audiology and aural habilitation at California State University-San Marcos. For more than 35 years, Dr. Hewitt has provided auditory/verbal services, hearing testing, hearing aid fitting, cochlear implant MAPping services, and educational support to children with hearing loss. She is the co-editor of From Listening to Language, co-author of a number of pediatric audiology textbook chapters and a frequent presenter on children and hearing loss.

HLAA Communications