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From Research to Practice: Keynote Presenters Will Discuss Trendsetting Research at the 2025 Symposium

AG Bell is pleased to announce the keynote presenters for the 2025 Global LSL Virtual Symposium!

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During the 2025 AG Bell Global LSL Virtual Symposium, four NIH-funded keynote sessions will feature innovative leaders in the field of hearing health research and auditory science. The speakers and their work will engage and inform all levels of attendees, from the newest learners to the most experienced ones.

“The keynote speakers are always informative and interesting,” said Jonathan Jolivette, one of the Symposium Education Program Advisory Committee co-chairs. “I always look forward to the announcement of the presentations. We are honored to have four incredible researchers who will present keynote sessions this year!”

 Evelien Dirks, PhD, is a professor, NSDSK, and program director at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, where her research focuses on the early development of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) within the context of the parent-child interaction.

During her presentation, Promoting Spoken Language in Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: The Strength of the Parent-Child Interaction, Dr. Dirks will discuss the how parent-child interaction fosters spoken language development. Her presentation will include recent research outcomes and practical tools to help promote this kind of interaction.

Dylan Chan, MD, PhD, is a professor of pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the United States. He directs the UCSF Children’s Communication Center, which conducts translational research related to pediatric hearing health disparities.

Dr. Chan’s presentation, Understanding and Addressing Disparities in Pediatric Hearing Care, will discuss how sociodemographic factors have a profound impact on hearing healthcare and access. His presentation will examine some examples of the root causes for pediatric hearing health disparities and discuss ideas for how they can be improved.

Emily Lund, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor at Texas Christian University in the United States. Her research is focused on language and literacy development, especially in children who struggle with language second to another diagnosis, such as hearing loss.

Dr. Lund’s presentation, Contributions of Early Vocabulary Knowledge to Literacy Growth in Children with Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids, will describe how vocabulary knowledge in preschool-aged children who are DHH impacts development of other domains of language development as well as emergent literacy skills. The relationships between vocabulary knowledge and early literacy acquisition will be explored.

Shani Dettman, B Ap Sc., Speech Pathology, MEd, PhD, LSLS Cert. AVT, is an associate professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her work focuses on the long-term outcomes for children who receive cochlear implants.

Dr. Dettman will present Long-Term Communication Outcomes in Children using Cochlear Implants, during which she will summarize the speech perception, production, and language data collected for pediatric cochlear implant users since 2000. Her presentation will include a discussion about how the evidence supports early access to cochlear implants for long-term speech perception, speech production, language, and literacy benefits.

“This year’s keynote speakers come to us with a range of unique experiences and perspectives. If I had to choose one keynote presentation over another, I would not be able to do so as each promise to be ‘that good’ and ‘that unique’ compared to other symposium content. Being able to learn from them will broaden our understanding of listening and spoken language development and practice,” said Gayla Guignard, AG Bell’s chief strategy officer. “I look forward to hearing more about their research and how professionals can be inspired to take this information and apply it to their practices.”

Don’t miss your chance to learn more about what these speakers are doing and how their work helps us understand listening and spoken language development strategies. Registration will open on January 24 and includes both the live and on-demand versions of the Symposium as well as continuing education credits for ASHA, AAA and the AG Bell Academy.

Visit the 2025 AG Bell Global LSL Virtual Symposium website to register and for more information.

De la investigación a la práctica: los ponentes principales presentarán investigaciones que marcan tendencia en el Simposio Global de 2025

Durante el Simposio Global Virtual de AG Bell de LSL 2025, AG Bell ofrecerá cuatro sesiones magistrales financiadas por los NIH que impartirán líderes innovadores en el campo de la investigación de la salud auditiva y la ciencia auditiva. Los ponentes y su trabajo atraerán e informarán a asistentes de todos los niveles, desde los más noveles a los más experimentados.

«Los ponentes principales siempre son informativos e interesantes», asegura Jonathan Jolivette, uno de los copresidentes del Comité asesor del programa de educación del Simposio. «Siempre espero con gran interés el anuncio de las ponencias. Tenemos el honor de contar este año con cuatro extraordinarios investigadores que presentarán sesiones magistrales».

Evelien Dirks, PhD, es profesora, NSDSK y directora de programas en la Universidad de Tilburg (Países Bajos). Sus investigaciones se centran en el desarrollo temprano de los niños con sordera/hipoacusia en el contexto de la interacción entre progenitores e hijos.

Durante su presentación, Fomento del lenguaje hablado en niños con sordera o hipoacusia: la fuerza de la interacción entre progenitores e hijos, la Dra. Dirks hablará de cómo la interacción entre progenitores e hijos fomenta el desarrollo del lenguaje hablado. Su presentación incluirá los resultados de investigaciones recientes y herramientas prácticas para ayudar a promover este tipo de interacción.

Dylan Chan, MD, PhD, es profesor de Otorrinolaringología Pediátrica-Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello en la Universidad de California, San Francisco (UCSF), en los Estados Unidos. Dirige el Centro de Comunicación Infantil de la UCSF, que lleva a cabo investigaciones traslacionales relacionadas con las disparidades en la salud auditiva pediátrica.

La presentación del Dr. Chan, Comprender y abordar las disparidades en la atención auditiva pediátrica, tratará de cómo los factores sociodemográficos tienen un profundo impacto en la atención médica auditiva y en el acceso a la misma. En su presentación se examinarán algunos ejemplos de las causas fundamentales de las disparidades en la salud auditiva pediátrica y se debatirán ideas sobre cómo mejorarlas.

Emily Lund, PhD, CCC-SLP, es profesora agregada en la Universidad Cristiana de Texas (Estados Unidos). Su investigación se centra en el desarrollo del lenguaje y la lectoescritura, especialmente en niños que presentan dificultades con el lenguaje, siendo secundarias a otro diagnóstico, como el de la pérdida auditiva.

En la presentación de la Dra. Lund, Contribuciones del conocimiento temprano del vocabulario al desarrollo de la lectoescritura en niños con implantes cocleares y audífonos, se describirá cómo el conocimiento del vocabulario en niños en edad preescolar que tienen sordera/hipoacusia afecta al desarrollo de otras áreas del desarrollo del lenguaje, así como a las habilidades de lectoescritura emergentes. Se explorarán las relaciones entre el conocimiento del vocabulario y la adquisición temprana de la lectoescritura.

Shani Dettman, B Ap Sc., Fonoaudiología, MEd, PhD, LSLS Cert. AVT, es profesora agregada en la Universidad de Melbourne, Australia. Su trabajo se centra en los resultados a largo plazo de los niños que reciben implantes cocleares.

La Dra. Dettman presentará Resultados de la comunicación a largo plazo en niños con implantes cocleares. En esta presentación resumirá los datos de percepción del habla, producción y lenguaje recopilados de usuarios de implantes cocleares pediátricos desde el año 2000. Se incluirá, además, un debate sobre cómo las pruebas apoyan el acceso temprano a los implantes cocleares para obtener beneficios a largo plazo en la percepción del habla, la producción del habla, el lenguaje y la lectoescritura.

«Los ponentes principales de este año nos aportarán una variedad de experiencias y perspectivas únicas. Si tuviera que elegir una presentación magistral en concreto, no sería capaz, ya que cada una destaca por su excelencia y singularidad entre el resto de los contenidos del simposio. Su aportación ampliará nuestra comprensión del desarrollo y la práctica de la escucha y el lenguaje hablado», asegura Gayla Guignard, directora de Estrategia de AG Bell. «Deseo conocer mejor su investigación y cómo los profesionales pueden inspirarse para captar esta información y aplicarla a sus prácticas».

No se pierda la oportunidad de conocer mejor lo que hacen estos ponentes y cómo su trabajo nos ayuda a comprender las estrategias de desarrollo de la escucha y el lenguaje hablado. El plazo de inscripción se abrirá el 24 de marzo e incluirá las versiones en vivo (en directo) y bajo demanda del Simposio, además de unidades de educación continua (CEU) de ASHA, AAA y AG Bell Academy.

Visite el sitio web del Simposio Global Virtual de AG Bell de LSL 2025 para inscribirse y obtener más información.

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Stay in the Loop with AG Bell!

Be the first to know about webinars, events, symposiums, and more.

  • Timely Announcements

    Stay informed about upcoming conferences, webinars, and public events.

  • Professional Insights

    Get updates on thought leadership in hearing health, education, and innovation.

  • Free Resources

    Access toolkits, expert tips, and opportunities to engage.

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    Get answers with access to our information library

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    A bilingual magazine with in-depth stories about growing up with hearing loss

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Whether you're an educator, audiologist, medical provider, business, or advocate—there's something for you.

Get updates delivered straight to your inbox.

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