Technology Used by Hearing-Impaired Adolescents for Social Inclusion: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Presently hearing-impaired adolescents are not alien to the world and facing social segregation due to limited social skills. The use of ICT is one of the major assistance applicable for the social inclusion of students with hearing impairment (SWHI) by compensating the limited hearing.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: This study was sketched to highlight the role of various digital technological aids in the social inclusion of hearing-impaired students using a cross-section survey design. A sample of 85 students from the public and private schools of Lahore was selected. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data from SWHI. Content and construct validity estimated by experts. Cronbach alpha reliability of the instruments was .88. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data
 Findings: The use of digital devices has added great value in integrating SWHI in general society. No significant difference has been found in the use of technology based on gender, a statistically significant difference was explored in the use of technology by SWHI based on their zone.
 Implications/Originality/Value: The provision of the latest technology and teachers' training to use digital devices for teaching hearing-impaired students to facilitate their social inclusion was major recommendation.