SPEAKER SERIES
Bringing together experts in their field, top researchers and educators, the FHSR Speaker Series works to share up-to-the-minute information on aspects of a deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) child’s life. Previous topics have ranged from music and hearing loss, early intervention and early childhood education, insight from top implant surgeons, choosing the right preschool and what an Individual Education Plan (IEP) should include. We want our families to be empowered with knowledge so they can be the best advocates for their children, and our professional partners to have opportunities to continue to further their professional education.
FHSR 2025 Speaker Series:
When It's Not the Hearing Loss
Many deaf and hard of hearing kids will struggle in school – but sometimes, it’s not the hearing loss. Research shows that 40% – 60% of children with hearing loss will be diagnosed with an additional disability (with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, and visual impairments being the four most prevalent).
Join parents and professionals for an evening exploring how to identify when other factors may be at play, including when and how to seek additional testing or assessments, and when and how to seek additional accommodations.
The evening will feature a keynote by neuropsychologist Lori G. Tall, a moderated panel of hearing loss and education experts, and a wine and cheese reception so you can meet our speakers and others working to help DHH children succeed.
Meet Our Moderator
Anna Tess, Ed.D
FHSR Education Coordinator
As a former teacher of the deaf and school principal, I have seen the many challenges with identifying children with a hearing loss with an additional diagnosis. This additional diagnosis can be challenging to differentiate from the gap that a hearing loss can create. It is vital that parents, educators and other professionals be aware of the educational issues surrounding hearing loss – and when it is time to look for another explanation for a student’s challenges inside the classroom.
An estimated 40-60% of children born with hearing loss today have at least one additional diagnosis. These may include low vision, a development delay, a learning disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory dysregulation, vestibular dysregulation or other health impairments.
I’m proud to present this Speaker Series event, which will include multiple professionals who have worked with children who are deaf with disabilities through their different fields of practice.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Keynote speaker: Dr. Lori Tall, PsyD
Dr. Lori Tall is the owner and Executive Director of Black Bear Academy, a school and therapeutic center offering multidisciplinary educational and therapeutic service for children, and the founder and clinical director of the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care, a neuropsychology practice in downtown Chicago.
As a clinical neuropsychologist, she specializes in educational, neuropsychological, and legal assessments and has worked across clinical and academic settings throughout her career.
Dr. Tall received her doctoral degree from the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, interned in neuropsychology at the University of Minnesota, and was a fellow at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previous to her work at Black Bear Academy, she was a hospital and community-based psychologist at the Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center and served as the director of the Assessment Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University in Evanston and clinical director at Rush Neurobehavioral Center at Rush University Medical Center.
PANELISTS
Katie Fransworth completed her doctorate in Audiology in 2015 from Rush University Medical Center. Currently, she is a pediatric Audiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where she is on the cochlear implant team. Ms. Farnsworth brings to the panel both clinical expertise and personal experience with hearing loss. She was identified with a bilateral severe hearing loss at age 2 and has been working with children who have hearing loss since 2015. She is the co-host of Amplified: Presented by Lurie Children’s, a podcast about growing up with hearing loss.
Katie’s past presentations include:
“Pediatric Cochlear Implant Outcomes in Single Sided Deafness Population: What to Expect in the First Year.”
“Engaging Families about Childhood Hearing Loss Through Podcasting”
“Engaging Families about Childhood Hearing Loss Through Podcasting”
“Audiology Adventures in Podcasting”
Kate Gilliat is a speech-language pathologist with fifteen years’ experience in the field and currently serves as the Director of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services at the Valens Group, where she provides speech, language and aural habilitation therapy to pediatric clients in the early intervention and outpatient settings, as well as supervising and mentoring other speech-language pathologists. With a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a master’s from Gallaudet University, she has specialized in working with children with hearing loss throughout her career. She is a passionate advocate for family choice and a staunch supporter of language access for all children. She was a 2008 PARE Fellowship recipient, a 2016 EDHI- Illinois Professional Achievement Award winner, and a 2022 Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence nominee. Ms. Gilliat brings to the panel both clinical expertise and personal experience with hearing loss. She was identified with a hearing loss at the age of five and has been an active member of the Deaf and hard of hearing community throughout her life.
Megan Worthington is an audiologist, assistant professor and the manager of clinical education for the Rush University Doctor of Audiology program. She is also the audiology coordinator of the Rush University SCOPE Speech and Hearing clinic, providing pro bono services to people in need. She graduated from Rush University with her AuD in 2008 and started teaching a pediatric amplification and habilitation course at Rush University in 2014 before becoming full-time faculty in 2017. Prior to making her return to Rush, she was a clinical audiologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem specializing in pediatric audiology and cochlear implants for 9 years. She previously had adjunct appointments at Northwestern University, Saint Xavier University and the Hebrew Theological College while working as a clinical audiologist. She is a past President of the Illinois Academy of Audiology (ILAA) and has served on the board of directors for ILAA in multiple positions. Dr. Worthington is currently working on her dissertation for her PhD in Health Sciences at Rush University.
Heather H. Bennett received an MBA from the University of Illinois and Board Certifications from Corporate Directors International and the Private Directors Association. As a partner with Newport LLC with over twenty years of consulting experience in Marketing and Business strategy, Ms. Bennett helps her clients grow, de-risk and innovate to meet their goals. She is also the author of the Amazon bestseller, Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time.
Ms. Bennett brings to the panel her passion as a mother and advocate. Her school-aged daughter was born with hearing loss and received cochlear implants, and has additional education needs.
Ms. Bennett currently serves as the Co-Chair of FHSR’s Board of Directors, a key member of the Executive Committee, a voice for all deaf and hard of hearing children and their parents, and a liaison to the FHSR Associate and Advisory Boards.
