Miss Kate Gaukroger1
1Deaf Connect, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Kate Gaukroger is an early career occupational therapist working within the Therapy and Family Services Team at Deaf Connect, Meanjin. Since completing her Masters of Occupational Therapy Studies in 2023, she has been working in the early intervention space to support Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Her areas of interest include paediatrics, knowledge translation, and health equity.
Abstract:
Background:
More than 12,000 children in Australia are Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).
There is a strong pathway from early identification to early intervention for these children and their families. Ample funding is provided for delivery of these services, however there are limited opportunities for allied health professionals to support their practice with DHH children and families through professional development or research.
Purpose:
This presentation explores the experiences of allied health professionals currently providing early intervention support for DHH children and their families. The aim of this presentation is to further understand how allied health professionals can be better supported to provide best practice in early intervention for DHH children.
Methods:
Eight allied health professionals working in Meanjin/Brisbane, Australia participated in a semi-structured focus group. Participants discussed their experiences, as well as barriers and facilitators, to early intervention practices with DHH children and their families. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results:
Participants identified multiple barriers to best practice with this population including lack of resources such as research and professional development, cultural differences between hearing professionals and DHH families, and stigma towards deafness. Facilitators to best practice included community connections, transdisciplinary practice, and personal factors such as flexibility and initiative.
Conclusion:
To facilitate the delivery of best practice early intervention, changes are required with the supports and resources available to allied health professionals working with DHH children thereby allowing them to provide holistic services.