Deaf/hard of hearing ecological assessment form-child (DEAF-C).
Robert Whitaker, Donna A Morere
PMID 40111192WHAT IT FOUND
A new structured history form for evaluating deaf and hard of hearing children was developed.
It gathers ecological factors like communication access and trauma that generic forms miss, aiming to standardize how clinicians collect background information before assessment.
Key findings
01The DEAF-C is a structured interview or questionnaire designed to gather ecological factors unique to deaf and hard of hearing children, such as communication access and trauma history.
02The form was developed by surveying 28 psychologists experienced with deaf and hard of hearing children to identify common information-gathering practices.
03The DEAF-C is not a standalone assessment but a tool to guide clinical interviews and inform broader psychological or educational evaluations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study describes the development of a tool but does not report data on its reliability, validity, or clinical outcomes. The survey sample was small (28 participants) and recruited via convenience and snowball sampling, which may limit generalizability. The form requires significant time to administer and interpret, and the authors note it is not a substitute for specialized training in assessing DHH children.
Declared interests
The paper does not list a specific funding source or conflict of interest declaration in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the DEAF-C is a validated diagnostic instrument with proven efficacy. It is a structured history form designed to guide assessment, not a test that yields scores or diagnoses on its own.