Crowe, K., Fordham, L., McLeod,
S., & Ching, T. Y. C. (2013, in press February). “Part of our world”:
Influences on caregiver decisions about communication choices for children with
hearing loss. Deafness and Education
International.
Here is the abstract
Caregivers of young children with
hearing loss make decisions about which communication mode/s and spoken language/s
their children and family will use. Influences on decision-making about
communication were examined for 177 caregivers of Australian children with
hearing loss through a questionnaire. The majority of the 157 children used
speech as part or all of their communication system (n = 138, 87.9%), and approximately
one-third of the children (n = 52, 33.1%)
currently or had previously used sign as part or all of their communication
system. Twenty-two (14.0%) children and 35 (19.8%) caregivers used a spoken
language other than English. Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis
of caregiver responses about the most important influences on their
decision-making. Theme one identified caregivers’ sources of information,
including advice from professionals, family, and friends, as well as
caregivers’ own research and preferences. Theme two related to practicalities
of communication within the family and the community, as well as the need for
one language or communication mode to be acquired before another was
introduced. Theme three described the influence of children’s individual characteristics
on caregivers’ decision-making, including children’s ability to access speech
through audition, communication skills, additional disabilities, and children’s
own preferences about communication. Finally, in theme four caregivers expressed
their hopes for their children’s future lives, specifically fostering a sense
of belonging, creating future opportunities and successes, and giving children
the opportunity to choose their own method of communication. The findings can
assist families and professionals to make informed decisions about children’s
communication.
Here is a post from June 2012 showing Kate analysing the data for this paper
Here is a post from June 2012 showing Kate analysing the data for this paper
