Guardians’ Attitudes Toward Children With Hearing Impairments

Sumalee Dechongkit; Jeamjai Jeeraumporn; Parichat Kunadhamraks; Ponjit Jithavech; Jutamas Hunyor

doi:10.14456/rmj.2018.10

Authors

Sumalee Dechongkit Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Jeamjai Jeeraumporn Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Parichat Kunadhamraks Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Ponjit Jithavech Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Jutamas Hunyor Pratumnaksuankulab School, Bangkok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/rmj.2018.10

Keywords:

Attitude, Hearing impairments, Guardian, เจตคติ, ความบกพร่องทางการได้ยิน, ผู้ปกครอง

Abstract

Background: The attitudes of guardians have a significant impact on the social, emotional, and psychological development of children with disabilities. Guardians’ negative attitudes toward children with hearing impairments may affect the ways of nurturing their children.

Objective: To determine the attitudes of guardians toward their children with hearing impairments. The guardians’ attitudes were determined by using a Thai language questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards people with disabilities, which was composed of 30 items with a total score of 180. Higher scores reflected more positive attitudes.

Methods: The questionnaires were distributed to 47 guardians. Forty-two questionnaires were completed for analysis.

Results: The attitude scores ranged from 54 to 118 with a mean of 89.38 and a standard deviation of 16.46. There was a relationship between their attitudes and a set of 5 characteristics of guardians which were age, educational level, income, degree of contact, and knowledge about hearing loss by using multiple regressions. Thirty-five percent of the variance of guardian attitudes was accounted for by a linear combination of the five guardian characteristic variables. The educational level of guardians was found to have a positive relationship with attitudes of guardians.

Conclusions: The mean score of guardian attitudes was 89.38. Among the 5 guardian characteristic variables, the education level was positively correlated to guardian attitudes.

References

Horne MD. Attitudes toward handicapped students: Professional, peer, and parent reactions. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1985.

Kumar S, Rao G. Parental attitudes towards children with hearing impairment. APDRJ. 2008;19(2):111-117.

Adox S. Grandparenting special needs children: Coping with challenges is a family affair. The Spruce website. https://www.thespruce.com/grandparenting-special-needs-children-1695846. Updated January 16, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2018.

Dharitri R, Murthy VN. Hearing impaired children: their behavior problem and parental attitudes. J Clin Psychol. 1990;17(1):12-16.

Kemp LCD. Environmental and other characteristics determining attainment in primary schools. Br J Educ Psychol. 1955;25(2):67-77. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8279.1955.tb01339.x.

Taylor E, Chadwick O, Heptinstall E, Danckaerts M. Hyperactivity and conduct problems at risk factors for adolescent development. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996;35(9):1213-1226.

Fox NA, Kimmerly NL, Schafer WD. Attachment to mother/attachment to father: a meta-analysis. Child Dev. 1991;62(1):210-225.

Kurian T. A Survey of parental attitudes towards their hard of hearing children. JAIISH. 1978;1:1-9.

Wanjiru TN. Parental attitudes towards children with hearing impairment and academic performance: a case of Kambui School for the deaf. [master’s thesis]. Githunguri District, Kiambu: Kenya, Kenyatta University; 2014.

Dechongkit S. Selected relationships and descriptions concerning attitude toward and knowledge about people with disabilities among university faculty members in Thailand. [dissertation]. Illinois, USA: Illinois State University; 1999.

Suksabai W, Dechongkit S. Attitudes of nurse teaching associates toward people with disabilities. Rama Med J. 2004;24:1-6.

Yuker H, Block J, Younng J. The measurement of attitudes toward disabled persons. Albertson, NY: Human Resources Center; 1966.

Zernitsky-Shurka E. The impact of cultural: ethnic, religious, and national variables persons with disabilities. In: Yuker HE, ed. Attitudes toward persons with disabilities. New York, NY: Springer; 1988:154-163.

Cuskelly M, Gilmore L. The home and family environment and its impact on school achievement. SAJE. 2007;8:287-297.

Staniland L. Public perceptions of disabled people: Evidence from the British social attitudes survey 2009. London: The Office for Disability Issues; 2011. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325989. Accessed February 13, 2018.

Dunst CJ, Trivette CM. Assessment of social support in early interventions programs. In: Meisels SJ, Shonkoff JP, eds. Handbook of Early Childhood Intervention. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1990:326-349.

Bell HM. Manual for the Adjustment Inventory (student form) Standard. California: Stanford University Press; 2004.

Forer LK. Birth Order and Life Roles. Springfield, IL: Illinois Press; 1999.

Yazbeck R, Parmenter U. Parent-child relationship and ADHD symptoms: a longitudinal analysis. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2004;36(2):285-296.

McLoyd VC. The impact of economic hardship on black families and children: Psychological distress, parenting and social emotional development. Child Dev. 1990;61(2):311-346.

Rank NR. Socialization status. In: Nichols WC, Pace-Nichol MA, Becvar DS, Napler AY, eds. Handbook of development and intervention. New York, NY: Wiley; 2000.

Sylvia M. Attitudes of Pre-school Teachers Towards inclusive education for children with hearing impairments. [master’s thesis]. Kenya: Kenyatta University; 2002.

Yuker H. Variables that influence attitudes toward people with disabilities: conclusions from the data. J Soc Behav Personal. 1994;9:3-22.

Hung HL, Paul PV. Inclusion of students who are deaf or hard of hearing: secondary school hearing students’ perspectives. Deafness Educ Int. 2006;8(2):62-74.