Kameron C. Carden
Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Education
School of Health Professions
Communication Sciences and Disorders
CHS 2129 CHS Building 2
kcarden1@samford.edu

Dr. Kameron C. Carden is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also serves as the Director of the Listening and Spoken Language – Focused Study Initative. She has almost 20 years of experience serving young children who are deaf or hard of hearing as a certified speech-language pathologist and listening and spoken language specialist. Dr. Carden’s teaching, research, and service focus on ensuring equitable access for preschoolers who are deaf/hard of hearing using listening and spoken language. Dr. Carden is a board member for the Division for Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DCD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and serves as co-chair of the Educator Special Interest Group for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She also serves on the board of directors for Alabama Hands & Voices as a parent of a child with a hearing loss. Her research interests include complex language assessment and intervention, ecologically valid evaluation practices, and eligibility determination decision-making for preschoolers who are deaf or hard of hearing using listening and spoken language.

Degrees and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Special Education, The University of Alabama
  • M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, The University of Florida
  • B.S.Ed. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Georgia

Awards and Honors

  • Recognition for Excellence in Dissertation Research, College of Education, The University of Alabama, 2024
  • Finalist for Outstanding Dissertation, The University of Alabama Graduate School, 2024
  • Jasper Harvey Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies, Department of Special Education and Multiple Abilities, College of Education, The University of Alabama, 2022

Involvement and Professional Societies

  • American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Member
  • American Cochlear Implant Alliance, Co-Chair, Special Interest Group for Educators
  • Division of Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DCD), Council for Exceptional Children, Executive Board, Chair for the Committee on Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Alabama Hands and Voices, Board of Directors
  • The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs, Board of Directors

Expertise

  • Young children who are deaf/hard of hearing 
  • Listening and spoken language
  • Ecologically valid language assessment and intervention
  • Caregiver coaching and support

Recent Publications

  • Bickel, C. S., Cantley, B., Carden, K., Jung, A., Powell, M., & Ross, S. (2026). Imago Dei in practice: Service, vocation, and healthcare formation at Samford University’s School of Health Professions. Christian Scholars Review, 55(3), 51-62.
  • Carden, K. C. & McWilliam, R. A. (2025). Evaluating preschoolers who are Deaf/hard of hearing using listening and spoken language to determine special education eligibility. Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, 10(1), 16-26. https://doi.org/10.59620/2381-2362.1238
  • Carden, K. C., Blaiser, K. M., Brooks, B. M., & McWilliam, R. A. (2024). Evidence-based practices for evaluating preschoolers who are deaf/hard of hearing using listening and spoken language for special education eligibility. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 9(5), 1377-1397. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_persp-24-00081
  • Carden, K. C., McWilliam, R. A., McLeod, R. H., & Fedewa, M. P. (2024). Narrative intervention for preschoolers who are deaf and hard of hearing using listening and spoken language: A pilot study. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 55(2), 510–528. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_lshss-23-00063

Recent Presentations

  • Carden, K. C. & Blaiser, K. (November, 2025). Empowering caregivers of DHH preschoolers through evaluation-focused training during the EI to preschool transition [Technical research session]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Washington, DC. 
  • Carden, K. C., Blaiser, K., Meyer, K. & Kan, D. (November, 2025). Hearing assistive Technology: Scope of practice infographic to clarify educational team roles and responsibilities [Poster presentation]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Washington, DC. 
  • Carden, K. C., Blaiser, K, & Brooks, B. M. (March, 2025). Check(list) yourself: Evidence-based evaluation practices for young children who are D/HH during the EI to preschool transition [Conference session]. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Annual Conference, Pittsburg, PA.
  • Carden, K.C. (July, 2024). Special education eligibility determination practices and perceptions for preschoolers using listening and spoken language [Pediatric (re)habilitation connect forum]. American Cochlear Implant Alliance CI2024 Conference, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Blaiser, K., Ben-Jacob, A., Richlin, B., Carden, K. & Puhlman, J. (March, 2024). Identifying the gaps between best practice and service delivery in serving children who are DHH in early intervention [Poster presentation]. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference. Denver, CO.

Research Area

  • Improving equitable access for young children who are deaf/hard of hearing using listening and spoken language 
  • Complex language assessment and intervention with children who are deaf/hard of hearing
  • Evaluation and special education eligibility determination practices for children who are deaf/hard of hearing