Hearing impairment: a family crisis

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Developmental Psychology
• Family Studies

Background:

• The diagnosis of hearing impairment in a child presents a significant life event for families.
• Early intervention and educational placement are critical for the development of hearing impaired children.
• Families often experience a period of crisis upon learning of their child's hearing loss and subsequent educational needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the initial crisis experienced by families of hearing impaired children.
• To examine the adjustment process of hearing impaired children at the point of entry into a school for the deaf.
• To discuss the application of crisis theory to this specific client group.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of crisis theory.
• Clinical perspective on assessing family and child adjustment.
• Analysis of the unique needs of hearing impaired children.

Main Results:

• The initial period of adjustment for hearing impaired children and their families can be characterized as a crisis.
• Crisis theory provides a useful framework for understanding the challenges faced by these families.
• Clinician assessment is crucial for identifying and supporting families during this critical phase.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the crisis phase is essential for effective support of hearing impaired children and their families.
• Applying crisis theory can enhance clinical interventions for this population.
• Early and appropriate support can mitigate the negative impacts of the initial crisis.