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Reading Habits of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults

American Annals of the Deaf +

|

April 25, 2024

|

April 25, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

During COVID-19 confinement, deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Spain increased their reading habits, particularly in digital formats. Motivations for reading remained consistent despite changes in reading volume.

Area Of Science

  • Audiology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Background

  • Limited research exists on deaf reading habits, with older studies predating digital resources.
  • Confinement, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, is known to alter reading behaviors in the general population.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate changes in reading habits among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Spain before and during COVID-19 confinement.
  • To explore the impact of digital reading materials and electronic devices on the reading habits of this population.

Main Methods

  • An online questionnaire was administered to 102 deaf and hard of hearing adult residents of Spain.
  • Reading habits were compared for periods before and during COVID-19 confinement.

Main Results

  • Overall reading increased during confinement, with regular readers showing a more pronounced increase.
  • Motivations for reading were largely unaffected by confinement.
  • Increased reading time was not correlated with the availability of physical books at home; digital reading saw a significant rise.

Conclusions

  • COVID-19 confinement led to increased reading among deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Spain, especially in digital formats.
  • The study highlights the evolving reading habits within the deaf community, influenced by digital accessibility and situational factors like confinement.