The purpose of this study was to describe the strengths and needs of Deaf adults as parents of school-age and adolescent children. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was employed to gather data from a convenience sample of Deaf parents and hearing children from 15 families. The Parental Strengths and Needs Inventory (PSNI)--a 60 item Likert instrument--and structured interviews were used in data collection. The PSNI was administered to parents in sign language via videotape, and they were interviewed with the assistance of a professional interpreter. Parents' and children's total scores on the PSNI were above average according to Strom and Coolege's scoring instructions (1985). Review of subset scores indicated that Deaf parents had above average interest in acquiring additional information about childrearing, and parents of adolescents felt more than average frustration. Comparison of parents' and children's scores on parallel forms of the PSNI demonstrated no significant differences in total or subset scores, supporting validity of parents' scores. Comparison of parents' and children's interview responses with the topics on the PSNI revealed that the content on the PSNI was valid, but incomplete for Deaf parents. Deaf parents shared the concerns of normally hearing parents, but had additional concerns specific to parental deafness which were not addressed in the PSNI. Contributions of the study to Nursing research focused on strategies for triangulation and pilot testing of instruments in cross-cultural research. Limitations of the study were presented in terms of instrumentation and study design. Cautions also reported are interpretation of findings related to the ex-post-facto nature of the research design and the complexity of factors interrelated with parental Deafness.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of differential auditory experience on development of visual perception. It was assumed that when auditory deprivation occurs at birth or at various ages at onset, there may be a corresponding delay in the development of certain visual perceptual processes. [TRUNCATED]. / 2031-01-01

Background: Noise is one of the most important forms of environmental pollution among developed and developing countries. A report from UK National Study of Hearing estimated that around 440 million people suffer from noise induced hearing loss in EU countries with 1–1.6 million disability-adjusted life year lost. In China, the Second China National Sample Survey on disability in 2007 revealed that about 27.8 million people suffered from hearing impairment, and 73.4% of which (about 20 million) were diagnosed with disability. The prevalence of hearing impairment was estimated to be 2.1% in the general population, and increased to 11.0% among those aged greater than 65 years. Objective: To find out the effect of earplug on noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), as well as understanding the source and exposure of noise in the industry, to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in factories with noise exposure, to analyze relationships between NIHL and age, sex, dose and duration of occupational noise exposure, type of work, use of hearing protection products, education level and other factors. Significant risk factors identified were used to provide evidence-based recommendations in prevention and control of NIHL. Study Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study Method: A total of 1874 workers exposed to noise in a compressor factory in Guangzhou, China were included. Between September 2011 and January 2012, physical examination including a screening program of hearing loss, pure tone audiometry test were carried out among workers including information on age, sex, work types, noise exposure level, exposure time, as well as the questionnaire about earplug using status, status of using ear products report by company, smoking status, education level, discharge of ear, history of herpes zoster, history of using ototoxic drugs, history of ear surgery, family history of NIHL, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure. The outcome variable is the audiometric mean value which reflects hearing status of the subjects. Subgroup differences in mean value of audiometry were compared by independent sample t-test. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between earplug use and NIHL, adjusted for other potential confounders. Factors associated with earplug use were also identified. Result: 1873 workers took part in the study (both physical examination and questionnaire) The prevalence of NIHL is 381 (20.3%) from study, and an average noise level of 83.5 dB was detected in the factory across different types of working place. The pure tone audiometric mean value (PTA) is 26.7 dB with a standard deviation of 4.8. The mean PTA value for those using earplug is 25.81 dB, which was significantly lower than those not using earplug with a mean PTA value of 1.54 dB (p < 0.001). A 0.962 mean difference is detected between noncontinuous earplug usage group and continuous usage group. Multiple linear regression model showed a dose response effect in use of earplug on NIHL, with an estimated mean PTA 1.49 dB (p-value <0.001) and 0.96 dB (p-value = 0.001) lower than those not using earplug at all. Hearing protective effect with part of dose response relationship is found in education level groups as well. Workers from technical school have a 5.974 dB lower of mean PTA, where the decrease is 3.909 dB in high school group, reference of primary level. Moreover, ever smokers show 1.557 dB higher on reference as nonsmoker. Other significant results can be found in family history of NIHL, ototoxic drug using, with statistical significant, respectively, with the direction of positive to NIHL, which shows harmful effect on workers’ hearing. Multivariable logistic regression model is used to find out factors associated with earplug usage. In the model, higher education level is found to be associated with higher earplug usage, especially among participants from technical schools, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 34.07, whereas those from high school group have an AOR of 12.35.(With Primary school group being the reference group.) Workers whose daily tasks involve phosphorus board, punching press, compressor are found to have a relatively low percentage on earplug usage compliance, with AOR of 0.55, 0.41, 0.23 respectively. (Those from machine shops are used as the reference group.) The result is in accordance with their positive correlation on NIHL. Conclusion: Use of earplug was found to be protective to NIHL. Factors such as education level, smoking status, discharge of ear, family history of NIHL and certain types of work were found to be associated with lower risk of NIHL. To protect hearing of the workers and reduce NIHL prevalence, provision of and education on hearing protection products and supervision of continuous use of earplug in noise exposed industry should be implemented. Occupational health monitoring to the enterprises should be enhanced by health sectors of Chinese government. Due to the limitation of retrospective design of this dissertation, further cohort studies are called for to provide stronger evidence of factors’ effect on NIHL. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

The caregiver family plays an integral role in promoting the overall functioning of the family unit. The six caregiver families in this study were nuclear families in Manitoba who are of hearing status and are raising a child who has special needs in communication. Caregivers shared their parenting experiences as they learned about deafness, took on new roles to meet the needs of their children, and carried out work to bridge the gaps between the deaf child and social systems, such as the school, recreational, and medical systems. The findings from this qualitative study share how caregiver families moved from knowing nothing about deafness to acquiring knowledge and specialized skills on deafness, and deaf-blindness, from their child’s birth to school entry. Several families described their struggles in obtaining resources for their deaf children. Two families relocated to a city so their child could attend a school for the deaf, who teaches academic material using the American Sign Language (ASL). Relocation experiences were described as a grieving process and required multiple adjustments in their life. The families undertook extensive work to establish a shared language in their home so the child could access family life. Once language was established in the home, caregivers further created social linkages between their child and social institutions outside the home. Families also provided recommendations on how hearing people could support the child and his or her family, and offered advice to caregivers and anyone else new to deafness with their perspectives on how others may address typical barriers that they may encounter along the way. This study refers to the Ecological perspective and Empowerment theory and is discussed in the literature review describing the caregiver roles, work and approach to facilitate the integrative linkages between their home, extended family, friends, school, medical professionals, and hearing public.

The caregiver family plays an integral role in promoting the overall functioning of the family unit. The six caregiver families in this study were nuclear families in Manitoba who are of hearing status and are raising a child who has special needs in communication. Caregivers shared their parenting experiences as they learned about deafness, took on new roles to meet the needs of their children, and carried out work to bridge the gaps between the deaf child and social systems, such as the school, recreational, and medical systems. The findings from this qualitative study share how caregiver families moved from knowing nothing about deafness to acquiring knowledge and specialized skills on deafness, and deaf-blindness, from their child’s birth to school entry. Several families described their struggles in obtaining resources for their deaf children. Two families relocated to a city so their child could attend a school for the deaf, who teaches academic material using the American Sign Language (ASL). Relocation experiences were described as a grieving process and required multiple adjustments in their life. The families undertook extensive work to establish a shared language in their home so the child could access family life. Once language was established in the home, caregivers further created social linkages between their child and social institutions outside the home. Families also provided recommendations on how hearing people could support the child and his or her family, and offered advice to caregivers and anyone else new to deafness with their perspectives on how others may address typical barriers that they may encounter along the way. This study refers to the Ecological perspective and Empowerment theory and is discussed in the literature review describing the caregiver roles, work and approach to facilitate the integrative linkages between their home, extended family, friends, school, medical professionals, and hearing public.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Drexel University, 2008. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-165).

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Disorders))--Mahidol University, 1982.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-43).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1972. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.