Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

Program Overview

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program (DHHP) provides primarily assessment training experiences within an interdisciplinary team approach. The program’s clinical team includes hearing and Deaf professionals, all of whom are experienced in working with infants, children, and adolescents who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) and their families. Patients present with complex medical, developmental, behavioral, psychosocial, language, and/or learning challenges. DHH patients span the pediatric age range from infancy through young adulthood, with most of the patients being under the age of 6 years. There is opportunity to gain expertise in assessment of children ages 0-6 years old with sensory differences. The majority of the patients use hearing technology and communicate with spoken English. Some patients communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) or use sign support with English, and most team members are bilingual (English and ASL).

The DHHP works with the Cochlear Implant (CI) surgery team to provide pre-surgical evaluations for all patients being considered for CI. CI and outpatient evaluations focus on assessing for neurodevelopmental/psychological diagnoses in the context of hearing loss to ensure the whole child is being treated with appropriate medical, therapeutic, and educational recommendations. The evaluations include clinical interviews, administration of psychological/neuropsychological measures, and discussion of results/recommendations. Collaboration with medical professionals, particularly those in Otolaryngology, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, is a component of the evaluation, and some evaluations are completed alongside aforementioned professionals. As desired by trainees, opportunities for short-term intervention is provided for DHH specific referral questions (e.g., refusal to wear hearing aids, pre-surgical anxiety management).

Position

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program is offering one postdoctoral fellowship position for the 2026-2027 training year. This is a one-year position with the potential for a second year. The fellow’s time is dedicated to clinical service delivery, didactics, clinical research, teaching, and community service activities.

Clinical Service Delivery

Involvement in clinical activities is expected for 60% of the postdoctoral fellow’s time. Clinical opportunities will include: evaluations for the Cochlear Implant surgical team, psychological/neuropsychological evaluations of DHH children and adolescents, and short-term psychotherapeutic/pediatric psychology consultation/intervention with DHH children and family members.

Supervision

Supervision is provided by the attending psychology/neuropsychology faculty in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and involves observation of clinical work as well as one-to-one meetings. The fellow receives a minimum of two hours of supervision per week and has the opportunity to work with several different supervisors. At the beginning of the year, an individual training plan is developed to guide progress, self-reflection, and promote regular review and discussion of the fellow’s training needs.

Research and Scholarship

Contributions to ongoing projects is expected of the postdoctoral fellow, and development of personal research goals is strongly encouraged. Current research projects include neuropsychological outcomes for children with unilateral hearing loss under consideration for Cochlear Implants, assessment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children who are DHH, and cognitive/psychosocial consequences of late and/or insufficient access to language. The fellow will regularly attend project meetings to keep up-to-date on program- and department-level research and quality improvement efforts. The fellow can participate in writing journal articles, as well as preparing IRB protocols and grant applications.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program’s interdisciplinary team actively contributes to local, regional, and national conferences in our field. Scholarly contributions include professional development workshops and lectures, dissemination of best practices, and original research. Individual research and scholarship goals are discussed at the beginning of the training year, with the aim of producing at least one poster or workshop presentation at a professional meeting. Travel support may be available for participation at conferences.

Didactic Seminars

The fellow attends seminars focusing on clinical, academic/research, and professional issues. The psychology program at Boston Children's Hospital hosts regular professional development seminars attended by fellows in all specialization programs. Previously covered topics include licensure, academic career development, and professional liability insurance.

Within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, monthly Lunch & Learn seminars cover topics relevant to professionals serving the DHH community. The fellow attends Otolaryngology meetings where cases are presented and discussed among faculty and trainees from multiple disciplines. Additional opportunities to attend DHH related didactic seminars are provided throughout the year.

Participation in the weekly seminars coordinated by the faculty of the Center for Neuropsychology is expected of the DHHP fellow. Clinical topics covered include: theoretical bases of assessment; diagnostic methodology; selection, administration, and interpretation of tests/tasks/techniques; communication of findings, written (chart notes, consults, formal reports) and oral (feedback sessions); strategies for intervention and management; consultation in the medical setting and with outside professionals. Brain-behavior relationships in children, learning disabilities and learning disorders, developmental neuropathology, clinical research design, and professional issues will also be discussed in detail throughout the year. The fellow also has the option to attend a biweekly small group neuroanatomy/ behavioral neurology tutorial, if this fits their training goals.

The fellow is strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many conferences and seminars offered in the hospital, Harvard Medical School, and local institutions, such as the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine Seminar Series (Brigham & Women's Hospital). The fellow is expected to attend Boston Children’s Hospital Psychiatry Grand Rounds and Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conferences.

Qualifications

This fellowship is ideal for individuals interested in language development/impact of language on cognition and who want to work in a fast paced hospital setting with medically complex patients. Successful applicants will demonstrate awareness of current trends in the literature on language, cognitive, psychological, and academic development of DHH children and adolescents. Previous direct experience with DHH children and adolescents and/or competency in American Sign Language is desired but not required.

Substantial experience in pediatric psychology, child clinical psychology, and/or pediatric neuropsychology is required, including use and interpretation of psychological/neuropsychological tests and strong writing skills.

Questions about the fellowship are best addressed by emailing Rachel Landsman, PsyD at Rachel.Landsman@childrens.harvard.edu.