Hard-of-hearing pupils in ordinary schools. An analysis based on interviews with integrated hard-of-hearing pupils and their parents and teachers.

Abstract

The primary purpose of this investigation was to establish the extent to which health service and educational programs complied with Norwegian legislation for hard-of-hearing children integrated in ordinary schools, and to describe their communication skills, school performance and social network development. Nineteen hearing aid users between the ages of 8 and 16, their parents and their classroom teacher were interviewed. All the pupils came from the same area in south-eastern Norway. The results showed that many of the children had not benefited from the rights to which they were entitled by law. Despite this, the hearing aid users as a group seemed to have a satisfactory development, especially with regard to speech. They seemed content with their school and class situation, especially the younger pupils. Greater loss of hearing often led to earlier diagnosis and, therefore, earlier and more adequate help. Consequently, they felt happier at school. Pupils with a mild loss were mainly left alone without any special service.