Temperament and behavioural adjustment in hearing impaired children

Temperament and behavioural adjustment were assessed in 26 hearing impaired pre-school children. By comparison with normally hearing children the clinical group was rated by their mothers as having a more difficult temperament, but no greater level of behaviour problems. Teachers of these children rated them as less well adjusted overall and specifically, more anxious compared with a normative group. Mothers of hearing impaired children showed elevated levels of anxiety, depression and overall problem scores on the General Health Questionnaire and the latter variable was the best predictor of rated behaviour problems in their children. Teacher rating of behaviour problems was best predicted by their rating of the child's temperament. Greater support for mothers of hearing impaired children is suggested as important in preventing behavioural maladjustment in this handicapped group.