Some social aspects of the medical care of deaf mutes.

Abstract

The recent literature contains few results of surveys of the social needs of deaf mutes, though several writers stress their importance and make suggestions for meeting them. Thus, Johnson (1948) emphasized the need to help the parents of the deaf child and particularly the importance of parental understan ding and education in the later adjustment of the growing deaf child to his disability. The Scottish Education Department (1950), in dealing with the problem of deaf children, also emphasized the im portance of treating the family as a single unit, and suggested a permanent centre for the guidance of the families of deaf children in assisting the later adjustment of the affected child. Bakwin (1950), reviewing some of the social and psychological prob lems of deaf children in the United States, concluded that the handicap produces no characteristic person ality distortion, and emphasizes the importance of parental attitude in adjustment; she referred to the dangers as well as the advantages of institutional treatment and suggested that being sent to an institu tion may make the deaf child feel rejected. Pintner and Brunschwig (1946) drew attention to the diffi culties of adjustment of the deaf child, particularly where there are no other deaf relatives. Simon (1948) mentioned the ill effects on the deaf mute of his exclu sion from normal responsibilities. Martens (1936) surveyed the work history of over 10,000 deaf persons who had received occupational training in school; his results showed that success in employment was not related to the amount of vocational training received. Methods