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The relations of coexistence of children and adolescents who are deaf or hard of hearing: A qualitative exploratory study

Abstract:

Qualitative exploratory study with phenomenological focus probing the relation of 10 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Adolescents (D/HH-CA) with their family, health professionals, teachers, friends and the deaf community; the resilience qualities of those children and adolescents seeking shelter with their mothers who possess relative high levels of stress nurtured by the difficulties to support and intervene with them, while fathers in general retreat in their feelings not seeing the true dimension and leaving home when they learn that their child is deaf. Professionals lack strategies for care and communication, are distant from deaf and hard of hearing children and adolescents, and families are usually disappointed in the poor quality they receive from health services. Teachers and friends of the D/HH-CA avoid them, causing unpleasant feelings and early dropouts from school. Those who have the opportunity to attend a school for deaf more easily develop resiliency and selfesteem. Half of the surveyed D/HH-CA use hearing aids and all use the sign language or family signs to communicate with family and friends. The D/HH-CA using hearing devices maintain no contact with the deaf community in their region, nor do the children not having access to hearing aids and for whom the sign language is the primary language, maintain contact with the children having hearing aids. D/HH-CA’s, like all other children and adolescents, have their dreams and aspirations to make it in life. The survey-based research provided hypotheses to direct in future research on the development of family strategies to cope with deaf and hard of hearing children, to improve the resilience of those children, and to enhance their coexistence and partnership relation.