Psychosocial Potential Maximization: A Framework of Proactive Psychosocial Attributes and Tactics Used by Individuals Who Are Deaf

Abstract

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Through advocacy, education, research and financial aid, AG Bell helps to ensure that every child and adult with hearing loss has the opportunity to listen, talk and thrive in mainstream society. With chapters located in the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking! Permission to Copy: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as copyright owner of this journal, allows single copies of an article to be made for personal use. This consent does not extend to posting on Web sites or other kinds of copying, such as copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for creating new collective works of any type, or for resale without the express written permission of the publisher. For more information, contact AG Bell at

Parent Hearing Aid Experiences

“…Another aspect of Potential Maximization is that the individual's gradual understanding and mastery of disability-related psychosocial challenges leads to better social adjustment (Bibby et al, 1996;Goldberg, Higgins, Raskind, & Herman, 2003;Polat, 2003). A review of the literature further suggested that individuals who are deaf likely use the psychosocial skills expected of individuals with typical hearing in addition to specific skills to identify, circumvent, or master psychosocial deafness-related difficulties (Jacobs, 2010).…”

“…While there is much research on the difficulties facing individuals who are deaf, there is a paucity of research that has focused on how they can maximize their social and professional potential. In order to conduct such research, it is necessary to shift focus away from what individuals who are deaf cannot do toward investigating what they can do (Jacobs, 2010).…”

“…Powers (2011) further concluded that there is a dearth of research on how children who are deaf may become successful adults in terms of their professions, relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life. Three plausible reasons are: 1) there are comparatively fewer deafnessrelated studies with adult participants than studies with child or adolescent participants; 2) investigating strength-based psychosocial competencies in participants who are deaf is rare; and 3) a review of studies revealed the absence of a comprehensive and systematic framework of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics that individuals who are deaf use to maximize their potential (Jacobs, 2010).…”

“…This ambiguity was clarified for scoring purposes and to conduct the statistical analyses reported in this article. As such, Reiff et al's framework was modified so that the combined effect of the three thematic categories of Control, Internal Decisions, and External Manifestations equaled Potential Maximization (Figure 1) (Jacobs, 2010). Figure 1 shows Potential Maximization as the overall outcome of Reiff et al's (1995) eight psychosocial themes operating in a systematic and comprehensive manner (Jacobs, 2010).…”

“…As such, Reiff et al's framework was modified so that the combined effect of the three thematic categories of Control, Internal Decisions, and External Manifestations equaled Potential Maximization (Figure 1) (Jacobs, 2010). Figure 1 shows Potential Maximization as the overall outcome of Reiff et al's (1995) eight psychosocial themes operating in a systematic and comprehensive manner (Jacobs, 2010). The fundamental differences between Jacobs' and Reiff et al's frameworks are 1) the addition of the overarching theme of Potential Maximization, and 2) delegating Control as a stand-alone psychosocial attribute in Jacobs' framework.…”