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Overview

We conduct rigorous research that lays the foundation for better health-related quality of life among deaf and hard of hearing people who use American Sign Language. We are a deaf-centric research center that utilizes quantitative and qualitative methodologies to gather accessibility and patient-reported outcomes from over 2,000 deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States.

We proudly offer innovative educational programs that draw upon our multidisciplinary research, for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, right here at Gallaudet University.

OUR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Research


We research and evaluate health research projects

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Share


We share results through presentations and publications

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Engage


We engage in community partnership, training and education

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Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar directs the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University.

Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar, our Center Director and a Professor in the Department of Psychology, leads our research efforts. Her team is involved in a wide range of biobehavioral and patient-centered research projects.

In addition, Gallaudet University faculty & staff, students and community members – from a variety of academic backgrounds – contribute to the Center. Together, we are working to improve the health of deaf and hard of hearing people not only in the United States but also around the world.

Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar

Center Director & Associate Professor

We conduct our research and share our data because we believe deaf and hard of hearing people deserve equity in health care.


Health is a fundamental human right.

We work to ensure access to health care for over 450 million deaf people across the globe.

Center for Deaf Health Equity conducts patient-centered research to link accessibility to health outcomes among deaf and hard of hearing individuals. We research and share findings because we believe deaf people deserve equitable access to health care.

Our research lab is one of 18 labs here at Gallaudet University within Academic Affairs and the Provost’s Office oversees our efforts

Research Projects

Since 2015, we have been awarded many grants, totaling over
$10 million.

We are currently applying for additional grants.

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Information

Meet the Team

Poorna Kushalnagar

Director

Katja Jacobs

Research Assistant

Emmanuel Perrodin-Njoku

Post-baccalaureate Research Associate

Peter Yeung

Technical Specialist

Katherine Manlapas

Community Health Navigator

Juan Fumero-Carrion

Community Health Navigator

Adam Novsam

Community Health Navigator

Erika Bergeron

Clinical Research Coordinator

Aparna Lele

Assistant Director

Publications

Young Deaf Adults’ Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Perceived Risk of Vaccine Preventing Cervical, Anal, Penile and Oral Cancer

  • Author(s): Spellun, A., Moreland, C. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2018-12-07
  • Journal: Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2018.11.013

What Medical Education can do to Ensure Robust Language Development in Deaf Children

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Pollard, RQ, Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Published: 2014-10-09
  • Journal: Medical Science Educator
  • DOI: 10.1007/s40670-014-0073-7

Video Remote Interpreting Technology in Healthcare: A Cross-Sectional Study of Deaf Patients’ Experiences

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Paludneviciene, R., & Kushalnagar, R.
  • Published: 2019-11-03
  • Journal: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
  • DOI: 10.2196/13233

The usability of American Sign Language videos for presenting mathematics assessment items

  • Author(s): Hansen, E. G., Loew, R. C., Laitusis, C. C., Kushalnagar, P., Pagliaro, C. M., & Kurz, C.
  • Published: 2018-04-12
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/eny008

Language Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Infants and Children: Information for Spiritual Leaders and Communities

  • Author(s): Burke, TB; Kushalnagar, P.; Mathur, G; Napoli, DJ; Padden, C.; Rathmann, C; VanGilder, K.
  • Published: 2011-08-05
  • Journal: Journal of Religion, Disability and Health
  • DOI: 10.1080/15228967.2011.590644

Support for Parents of Deaf Children: Common Questions and Informed, Evidence-based Answers

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Published: 2018-12-29
  • Journal: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.12.036

Sociocognition Issues Affecting Working Relationships Between Deaf Professionals and Interpreters

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P. & Rashid, K.
  • Journal: Journal of American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association

Social Media Use and HIV Screening Uptake Among Deaf Adults in the United States: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

  • Author(s): Argenyi, M. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2019-02-10
  • Journal: Journal of Medical Internet Research Public Health Surveillance
  • DOI: 10.2196/13658

Sign Language for Deaf Infants: A Key Intervention for a Developmental Emergency

  • Author(s): Spellun, A. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2018-05-22
  • Journal: Clinical Pediatrics
  • DOI: 10.1177/0009922818778041

School Placement and Perceived Quality of Life in Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Author(s): Schick, B., Skalicky, A., Edwards, T., Kushalnagar, P., Topolski, TD., & Patrick, DL
  • Published: 2012-11-26
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/ens039

Retrospective Parent-Child Communication Difficulties and Risk for Depression in Deaf Adults

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Bruce, S., Sutton, T., & Leigh, I.
  • Published: 2016-07-02
  • Journal: Journal of Physical and Developmental Disabilities
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10882-016-9501-5

Reading among Diverse DHH Learners: What, How and For Whom?

  • Author(s): Easterbrooks, SR, Lederberg, AR, Antia, S., Schick, B., Kushalnagar, P., Webb, M., Branum-Martin, L., & Connor, CM
  • Journal: American Annals of the Deaf
  • DOI: 10.1353/aad.2015.0002

PROMIS-Deaf Profile Measure: Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation in American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Paludneviciene, R., Kallen, M., Atcherson, S., & Cella, D.
  • Journal: Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
  • DOI: 10.1186/s41687-020-00208-7

PROMIS-ASL: Patient Reported Outcomes Measure for Deaf/HH Adults

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Atcherson, S., Paludneviciene, R., Schlehofer, D., Bruce, S., Gardner, E., McCaw-Maxwell, D., & Cella, D.
  • Journal: Quality of Life Research

Prevalence of Depression or Anxiety Diagnosis in Deaf Adults

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Reesman, J., Holcomb, T., & Ryan, C.
  • Published: 2019-08-01
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enz017

Prevalence of Alcohol Use: A National Survey of Deaf Adults in the United States

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Hoglind, T., Simons, A. N., & Guthmann, D.
  • Journal: JADARA

PrEP Knowledge and Perceived Effectiveness to Prevent HIV Infections among Deaf Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men

  • Author(s): Biskupiak, A., Smith, S. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2018-12-12
  • Journal: LGBT Health
  • DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2018.0102

Perceived communication barrier in family is linked to increased risks for food insecurity among deaf adults who use American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Moreland, C., Simons, A., & Holcomb, T.
  • Published: 2018-01-31
  • Journal: Public Health Nutrition
  • DOI: 10.1017/S1368980017002865

Peer support and food security among deaf college students

  • Author(s): Keogh, B., Kushalnagar, P., & Engelman, A.
  • Published: 2018-10-26
  • Journal: Journal of American College Health
  • DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1515750

Mode of communication, perceived level of understanding and perceived quality of life in youth who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P.; Topolski, TD; Schick, B; Edwards, TE; Skalicky, AM; Patrick, DL
  • Published: 2011-05-02
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enr015

Validation of a Quality-of-Life Measure for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Youth

  • Author(s): Patrick, DP, Edwards, TC, Skalicky, AM, Leng, M, Topolski, T, Schick, B, Kushalnagar, P., Sie, K
  • Published: 2011-03-14
  • Journal: Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
  • DOI: 10.1177/0194599810397604

Making Cancer Health Text on the Internet Easier to Read for Deaf People who use American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Smith, S., Hopper, M., Ryan, C., Rinkevich, M., & Kushalnagar, R.
  • Published: 2016-06-08
  • Journal: Journal of Cancer Education
  • DOI: 10.1007/s13187-016-1059-5

Levels of Emotion Valence and Arousal in American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Bruce, S., Sutton, T., & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Journal: Journal of American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association

Language Choices for Deaf Infants: Advice for Parents Regarding Sign Languages

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Pollard, RQ, Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Published: 2015-11-24
  • Journal: Clinical Pediatrics
  • DOI: 10.1177/0009922815616891

Language acquisition for deaf children: Reducing the harms of zero tolerance to the use of alternative approaches

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Published: 2012-04-02
  • Journal: Harm Reduction Journal
  • DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-9-16

Intelligence, Parental Depression, and Behavior Adaptability in Deaf Children Being Considered for Cochlear Implantation

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P.; Krull, KR; Hannay, HJ; Mehta, PD; Caudle, SE; Oghalai, J
  • Published: 2007-04-21
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enm006

Infants and Children with Hearing Loss Need Early Language Access

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Moreland, C., Napoli, D., Osterling, W., Padden, C., Rathmann, C.
  • Journal: Journal of Clinical Ethics
  • DOI: PMC3072291

Health Websites: Accessibility and Usability for American Sign Language Users

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Naturale, J., Paludneviciene, R., Smith, SR, Werfel, E., Doolittle, R., Jacobs, S., DeCaro, J.
  • Published: 2014-06-05
  • Journal: Journal of Health Communication
  • DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2013.853226

Health-Related Information Seeking among Deaf Adults: Findings from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey in American Sign Language (HINTS-ASL)

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P. & Kushalnagar, R.
  • Published: 2018-08-06
  • Journal: In Emerald Studies in Media and Communication_e-Health: Current Evidence, Promises, Perils, and Future Directions. Emerald Publishing Limited.
  • DOI: 10.1108/S2050-206020180000015008

Health Information National Trends Survey in American Sign Language (HINTS-ASL): Protocol for the Cultural Adaptation and Linguistic Validation of a National Survey

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Harris, R., Paludneviciene, R., & Hoglind, T.
  • Published: 2017-09-13
  • Journal: Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols
  • DOI: 10.2196/resprot.8067

Prostate-Specimen Antigen (PSA) Screening and Shared Decision Making Among Deaf and Hearing Male Patients

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Hill, C., Carrizales, S., & Sadler, G.
  • Published: 2018-10-23
  • Journal: Journal of Cancer Education
  • DOI: 10.1007/s13187-018-1436-3

Prevalence of Self-Reported Hypertension in Deaf Adults Who Use American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Simons, A., Moreland, C., & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2018-07-13
  • Journal: American Journal of Hypertension
  • DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpy111

Health Disparities among Mid-to-Older Deaf LGBTQ Adults Compared to Mid-to-Older Deaf Non-LGBTQ Adults in the United States

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P. & Miller, C.
  • Published: 2019-10-30
  • Journal: Health Equity
  • DOI: 10.1089/heq.2019.0009

Global Regulatory Review Needed for Cochlear Implants: A Call for FDA Leadership

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G. Napoli, D. J., Padden, C., Rathman, C. & Smith. S.
  • Published: 2020-09-02
  • Journal: Maternal and Child Health Journal
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10995-020-03002-5

Genetic Testing and eHealth Usage among Deaf Women

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Holcomb, J., & Sadler, G.
  • Published: 2019-06-10
  • Journal: Journal of Genetic Counseling
  • DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1134

Food Worry in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Author(s): Engelman, A., Paludneviciene, R., Wanger, K., Jacobs, K., Kushalnagar. P.
  • Published: 2020-12-09
  • Journal: Public Health Reports
  • DOI: 10.1177/0033354920974666

Food insecurity, chronic disease, and quality of life among deaf adults who use American Sign Language

  • Author(s): Engelman, A. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2019-12-03
  • Journal: Journal of Environmental Hunger and Food Security
  • DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2019.1699220

Ensuring language acquisition for deaf children: What linguists can do

  • Author(s): Humphries, T, Kushalnagar, P, Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., & Rathmann, C.
  • Journal: Language
  • DOI: 10.1353/lan.2014.0036

Ensuring Full Participation of People with Disabilities in an Era of Telehealth

  • Author(s): Valdez, R. S., Rogers, C. C., Claypool, H., Trieshmann, L., Frye, O., Wellbeloved-Stone. C. Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2020-11-18
  • Journal: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
  • DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa297

Engaging the Deaf Sign Language Community: Lessons from a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Center

  • Author(s): McKee, M., Thew, D., Starr, M., Kushalnagar, P., Reid, JT, Graybill, P., Velasquez, J., Pearson, TA
  • Published: 2012-11-01
  • Journal: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
  • DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2012.0037

Discourses of prejudice in the professions: the case of sign languages

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Published: 2017-09-29
  • Journal: Journal of Medical Ethics
  • DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2015-103242

Deaf Women’s Health: Adherence to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Engelman, A., & Simons, A
  • Published: 2019-08-01
  • Journal: American Journal of Preventive Medicine
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.017

Towards Health Equity: Deaf Adults’ Engagement in Social e-Health Activities and e-Communication with Health Care Providers

  • Author(s): Ryan, C. & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2018-10-03
  • Journal: Journal of Health Communication, International Perspectives
  • DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2018.1527875

Deaf Patient-Provider Communication and Lung Cancer Screening: Health Information National Trends Survey in American Sign Language (HINTS-ASL)

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Engelman, A., & Sadler, G.
  • Published: 2018-03-05
  • Journal: Patient Education and Counseling
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.03.003

Deaf LGBTQ Patients’ Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Healthcare Providers

  • Author(s): Miller, C., Biskupiak, A., & Kushalnagar, P.
  • Journal: Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
  • DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000319

Deaf adults at higher risk for severe illness: COVID-19 information preference and perceived health consequences

  • Author(s): Moreland, C. J., Paludnevicine, R., Park, J. H., McKee, M. M. & Kushalnagar. P.
  • Published: 2021-03-17
  • Journal: Patient Education and Counseling
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.03.020

Deaf Adolescents’ Learning of Cardiovascular Health Information: Sources and Access Challenges

  • Author(s): Smith, SR., Kushalnagar, P., & Hauser, PC.
  • Published: 2015-06-04
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/env021

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Medical Conditions in the U.S. Deaf Transgender Community

  • Author(s): Sanfacon, K., Leffers, A., Miller, C., Stabbe, O., DeWindt, L., Wagner, K., and Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2020-08-12
  • Journal: Transgender Health
  • DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2020.0028

Critical Health Literacy in American Deaf College Students

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Ryan, C., Smith, S., & Kushalnagar, R.
  • Published: 2017-05-24
  • Journal: Health Promotion International
  • DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dax022

Coproduction, Coeducation, and Patient Involvement: Everyone Included Framework for Medical Education Across Age Groups and Cultures

  • Author(s): Price, A., Damaraju, A., Kushalnagar, P., Brunoe, S., Srivastava, U., Debidda, M., Chu, L.
  • Published: 2021-11-03
  • Journal: JMIR Medical Education
  • DOI: 10.2196/31846

Concerns with data analysis and interpretation. Commentary on: Geers et al. (2017). Early sign language exposure and cochlear implantation benefits

  • Author(s): Dye, M.W., Kushalnagar, P., and Henner, J.
  • Published: 2017-06-19
  • Journal: Pediatrics, June 2017, e20163489
  • DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-3489

Conceptual model of quality of life in adults with congenital and early deafness

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., McKee, M., Smith, SR., Hopper, M., Kavin, D., & Atcherson, SR.
  • Published: 2014-04-19
  • Journal: Disability and Health Journal
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2014.04.001

Cochlear Implants and the Right to Language: Ethical Considerations, the Ideal Situation, and Practical Measures Toward Reaching the Ideal

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G. Napoli, D. J., Padden, C., Rathman, C. & Smith. S.
  • Published: 2020-09-11
  • Journal: The Ethical Challenges of Emerging Medical Technologies
  • DOI: 10.4324/9781003074984-35

Bilingualism: A Pearl to Overcome Certain Perils of Cochlear Implants

  • Author(s): Humphries, T, Kushalnagar, P, Mathur, G, Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Journal: Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology

Avoiding Linguistic Neglect of Deaf Children

  • Author(s): Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, DJ, Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, SR
  • Journal: Social Service Review
  • DOI: 10.1086/689543

Adverse Childhood Communication Experiences Associated With an Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases in Adults Who Are Deaf

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P., Ryan, C., Paludneviciene, R., Spellun, A., & Gulati, S.
  • Published: 2020-07-04
  • Journal: American Journal of Preventive Medicine
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.04.016

Bilingualism and attention: a study of balanced and unbalanced bilingual deaf users of American Sign Language and English

  • Author(s): Kushalnagar, P, Hannay, HJ, Hernandez, AE
  • Published: 2010-04-18
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enq011

Caregiver-Reported Indicators of Communication and Social Functioning for Young Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Author(s): Patrick, DL, Edwards, TC, & Kushalnagar, P., Topolski, T., Schick, B., & Sie, K
  • Journal: Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
  • DOI: 10.1093/deafed/eny006

Assessment of Internet Health Information on the COVID-19 among Deaf Communities in Japan: From Infodemiological Perspective (In Japanese)

  • Author(s): Takayama, K., Minakawa, A. & Kushalnagar. P.
  • Published: 2020-12-22
  • Journal: Sign Language Studies Japan

Health disparities among Black deaf and hard of hearing Americans as compared to Black hearing Americans

  • Author(s): Perrodin-Njoku, E., Corbett, C., Moges-Riedel, R., Simms, L., Kushalnagar, P.
  • Published: 2022-01-14
  • Journal: Medicine
  • DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028464
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Poorna Kushalnagar

Director

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