Hearing families with deaf children: stress and functioning as related to communication method.

Abstract

This study examined the attitudes and stress of hearing families with a profoundly deaf preschool child. The 28 families were equally divided into those using oral and simultaneous communication and were additionally subdivided by communicative ability (high vs. low). Mothers completed questionnaires and interviews on stress concerns, parent attitudes, and their child's developmental level. Results of the questionnaires showed few differences between simultaneous and oral families. However, comparison of the four subgroups indicated that those with high competence simultaneous communication skills had more positive attitudes and less stress than highly competent oral communication families. Simultaneous children received a higher estimated social age than oral children. These results are discussed in light of behavioral data showing the simultaneous communication dyads showing more reciprocal and positive social interaction than were the oral communicators. Both groups of parents professed a desire for more counseling and paraprofessional opportunities.