What We Can Learn From Hearing Parents of Deaf Children

Abstract

Hearing parents of deaf children face stresses and demands related to parenting a deaf child, including difficult choices about language, technologies, education and identity for their children (Marschark, 1997). To date, few researchers have discussed the unique challenges faced by this group. Through a series of semistructured, in-depth interviews with 18 parents, this study investigated the experiences of hearing parents of deaf children spanning various life stages. A phenomenological approach identified 5 themes most pertinent to understanding their experiences. Each theme offers insight, particularly for professionals, into the distinctive issues that might arise at the time of diagnosis of deafness and reveals the challenges hearing parents face when confronted with a barrage of decisions, including choice of oral or sign language, mainstream or special deaf education, and identity with the hearing or Deaf community. The central message from this work is to inform hearing parents of deaf children and professionals working with these parents of the likely challenges that they may face.

Self-acceptance of deaf persons and the subjective assessment of benefits and satisfaction with a cochlear implant in adults with prelingual deafness

“…Psychologicznych uwarunkowań zarówno samooceny globalnej, jak i akceptacji siebie jako osoby głuchej należy poszukiwać w obszarze relacji rodzinnych i społecznych, a szerzej -środowiskowych [9]. W odniesieniu do dzieci z głuchotą prelingwalną, które mają słyszących rodziców, ogromne znaczenie ma poradzenie sobie przez tych ostatnich z diagnozą głuchoty u dziecka, która zazwyczaj jest doświadczeniem traumatycznym, burzącym dotychczasowe życie całej rodziny [10][11][12][13][14]. Od tego, jak radzą sobie rodzice z traumą diagnozy głuchoty u dziecka, a więc od przepracowania żałoby doświadczanej wskutek "utraty dziecka zdrowego, dziecka normalnego, dziecka słyszącego, takiego jak inne dzieci", zależy m.in.…”

Is the Right to Access to the Services and Supports Ensured for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children? An Ethnographic Study Based on the Experience of Hearing Parents

“…This is the case of Flaherty [13] and Wood et al [14], who explored the experience of being a hearing parent of a DHH child after diagnosis, and Dionne et al [15], who studied the life experience of being a parent of a child with disabilities, including deafness. In Flaherty's study [13] the poor information received about the child's deafness is highlighted as an important barrier experienced by parents at the time of diagnosis and difficulties in finding ways to better meet their children's needs. Wood and colleagues [14] point out that some parents have negative experiences due to the limited access to support services as well as to pay for the costs of sensory devices, therapy, early intervention programs, and other required assistance.…”

“…Furthermore, it is wellknown that hearing parents could experience important challenges after their child's diagnosis, not only because in most cases they lack previous experience in deafness, but also because they have to make several vital decisions concerning their DHH child's care in a short period of time while they are still facing the impact of their child's diagnosis. As Flaherty [13] notes, hearing parents have to go through several stressful and confusing experiences such as the deafness diagnosis of their child as a traumatic event and the later grief process, the lack of information about deafness, or the choice of the communication mode, among others. These challenges place the parents in a vulnerable situation before the professionals and experts.…”

Sign language and parenthood: linguistic and identity issues

“…Surdité, engagement et choix parentaux en Allemagne que 9,5 % des parents ont eu des contacts avec des adultes sourds avant la naissance de leur enfant sourd. Une grande partie des parents se sentent désorientés dans ce nouveau monde qu'est la surdité (Flaherty, 2015). Sans repères face à cette annonce, si ce n'est les perceptions, les stéréotypes et les préjugés communs, ces parents se trouvent devant une série de prises de décisions, dont la première touche le mode de communication de leur enfant.…”