A Study of Certain Selected Variables (Family Environment and Social Adjustment) Related to Hearing Impaired Children

The present study was conducted to assess certain selected variables (family environment and social adjustment) related to hearing impaired children. It further aimed to provide them intervention in need-based areas. The sample for the study comprised of 15 hearing impaired children in the age group of 10-17 years, their parents, siblings and teachers. The entire core sample was selected by random sampling procedure from J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra, the only institution for hearing impaired children in Jammu (J&K). Tools used for data collection included Family Environment Scale (Bhatia and Chadha 1993) and Social Adjustment Inventory (Deva 1982) along with interviews and participant observations. Results reveal that the disability of majority of the sample was detected late as a consequence of which the speech of these children was affected. Most of the parents were found to provide supportive environment to the hearing impaired children and exhibited adaptability in adjusting to the special needs of their impaired children. The parents also reported incidences of negative social response. Almost all the families scored average on most of the dimensions of Family Environment Scale such as Cohesion, Organization, Active recreation orientation etc, except for the dimension of Independence where majority of families scored low. The results further revealed that on the basis of Social Adjustment Inventory 54% of the children were found to be moderately adjusted followed by 33% and 13% who were negatively adjusted and adjusted respectively. A one-day intervention programme was also organized for the parents of hearing-impaired children in an attempt to provide them expert advice and support

Audiology · Developmental psychology · Geography · Hearing impaired · Psychiatry · Recreation · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Medicine · Psychology