About – Mental Health & Deaf People

Biography

Dr. Cathy Chovaz is a full Professor Emeritus, Psychology at Kings University College at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She is the Director of the Canadian Centre of Deaf Education and Accessibility Forum (CDEAF) and Clinical Supervisor for PAH! Her area of expertise is mental health and deafness.

She has co-authored a textbook Mental Health and Deafness (2014) with Dr. M. Du Feu, and has a textbook, Head-to-Head and Heart-to-Heart: Perspectives, Insights, and Discourse Regarding Deaf People and Mental Health, due to be published spring 2026 with Gallaudet University Press. In addition, she has published numerous journal articles. She gives lectures, presentations and workshops both nationally and internationally regarding the mental health of Deaf children and adults. Dr. Chovaz is Canada’s first deaf clinical psychologist and she maintains a consultation private practice.

Google Scholar

ORCID

Research Interests

Theory of mind

What is Theory of Mind (ToM)

The understanding that others have intentions, desires, beliefs, perceptions, and emotions different from one’s own and that such intentions, desires, and so forth affect people’s actions and behaviors. Children show the rudiments of theory of mind as toddlers, have a limited understanding of the relation between belief and action by age 3, and can begin to infer false beliefs in others by around age 4.

Theory of Mind with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

ToM helps a child:

understand behaviour
predict behaviour
Solve problems
Form friendships
Resolve conflicts

ToM typically develops in children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Research suggests that many DHH children have delays in ToM which may be related to deficits or delays in language acquisition. These delays in ToM may put the child at risk for negative mental health outcomes including understanding perspectives, relationships as well as how to manage conflict and challenges.

Dr. Cathy Chovaz is the clinical consultant to the PAH! which is a mental health program for DHH children under the Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf (BRCCED). PAH! has developed a ToM screening tool which identifies if a DHH child is delayed in developing the important tenets of ToM. If a child is delayed in the development of ToM, PAH! Deaf staff offer specialized modules

We feel it is vital that DHH children be given support to develop ToM skills. If you have any concerns regarding your child and their development of ToM, please contact [email protected].

Visit PAH! Website

Select Articles

Marschark, M., Edwards, L., Peterson, C., Crowe, K., & Walton, D. (2019). Understanding Theory of Mind in Deaf and Hearing College Students. Journal of deaf studies and deaf education, 24(2), 104–118. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/eny039

Peterson, C.C. (2020) ‘Theory of mind and conversation in deaf and hearing children’, The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies in Learning and Cognition, pp. 212–231. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190054045.013.13.

Tesfamariam, E., & Chovaz, C. (2024). Theory of Mind and Deafness: Developing a Non-Verbal Assessment Tool. Western Undergraduate Psychology Journal, 12(1), 91–122.

Deaf Justice

Select Articles

Chovaz, C. J., Russell, D., & Boudreault, P. (2023). Deaf community experiences in the Canadian justice system. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000404.

Russell, D., Chovaz, C.J., & Boudreault, P. (2018). Administration of Justice: The Experiences of Deaf, Deafblind, and Deaf People with Additional Disabilities in Accessing the Justice System. Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada, Ottawa. https://cad-asc.ca/projects/access-to-justice/

CDEAF

Dr. Chovaz is the Director of CDEAF, a King’s College centre that recognizes that deaf individuals with mental health issues are a marginalized, under researched and under supported group in Canada. The vision of CDEAF is to create a forum to advance collaborative thoughts, ideas, and strategies within the area of mental health and deafness.

CDEAF recognizes that DHH individuals with mental health issues are a marginalized, under researched and under supported group in Canada. The vision of CDEAF is to create a forum to advance collaborative thoughts, ideas, and strategies within the area of mental health and deafness.