Parental response to their child's hearing impairment

The differential patterns of behaviour of hearing parents (30 married couples) who cope with the reality of parenting a hearing-impaired child were studied. Responses on the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress indicated no significant differences between mothers and fathers for pessimism, child characteristics, and physical incapacitation. Mothers obtained a significantly higher stress-response on their perception of difficulties for themselves, other family members, and the family as a whole. Parents with more education reported less stress than those with less education. Mothers perceived the emotional support they received from their spouses as insufficient and the amount of free time they had for themselves as inadequate.