Previous research has concluded that hearing loss is related to psychological risk factors in a person that could potentially increase feelings of disconnect or isolation. However, the gap in literature and lack of knowledge regarding social disconnectedness and perceived isolation specifically for deaf/hard of hearing women makes it difficult for clinicians to develop appropriate programs to assist this population. The purpose of this study was to contribute information regarding the effects of hearing loss on social disconnectedness and perceived isolation to help clinicians create proper treatment plans to better assist the deaf/hard of hearing with negative feelings (e.g., loneliness, depression) resulting from those conditions. The dialogue and psychosocial theories provided the best foundation for this study as to how hearing loss can affect isolation and disconnectedness. The design of this quantitative study included a survey created from the social disconnectedness and perceived isolation scales for 97 participants who were deaf/hard of hearing (n = 45) or hearing (n = 52) to examine differences in isolation and disconnectedness. An independent-samples t test was utilized, and statistically significant findings showed that hard of hearing women who were 18 to 49 years old experienced more feelings of social disconnectedness than hearing women in the same age group, and that hearing women 18 and older and 50 and older experienced more feelings of perceived isolation more than their deaf/hard of hearing counterparts. The implication for social change pertains to the importance of understanding the effects of hearing loss on an individual's psychological processes. This knowledge can be helpful for clinicians when determining proper treatment strategies.

Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι η μελέτη της επίδοσης κωφών μαθητών σε διάφορα είδη αριθμητικών προβλημάτων. Συγκεκριμένα, η μελέτη των επιδόσεων κωφών μαθητών σε αριθμητικά προβλήματα προσθετικού τύπου σε σχέση με την τάξη που παρακολουθούν, το είδος του προβλήματος, καθώς και η επίδραση της χρήσης Ελληνικής Νοηματικής Γλώσσας στη κατανόηση των προβλημάτων. Τα ερωτήματα στα οποία γίνετε μια προσπάθεια να απαντηθούν είναι: (1) σε ποιό βαθμό η χρήση Ελληνικής Νοηματικής Γλώσσας κατά την εκφώνηση του αριθμητικού προβλήματος διευκολύνει την κατανόηση του και επομένως συμβάλει θετικά στην επίλυση του, (2) σε ποιο βαθμό η επίδοση των μαθητών στα ίδια αριθμητικά προβλήματα διαφοροποιείται ανάλογα με την τάξη, την οποία παρακολουθούν, και την ηλικία τους και (3) εάν το είδος του αριθμητικού προβλήματος σχετίζεται με τη φοίτηση των μαθητών π.χ. εάν κάποια προβλήματα γίνονται κατανοητά σε παιδιά μεγαλύτερης τάξης. Στην έρευνα πήραν μέρος επτά μαθητές (Ν=7) από τα Ειδικά Δημοτικά Σχολεία Κωφών και Βαρηκόων Αργυρούπολης και Πάτρας και 30 μαθητές (Ν=30) από το Δημοτικό Σχολείο Γαλατά Τροιζήνας, οι οποίοι αποτέλεσαν την ομάδα ελέγχου. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι κωφοί και οι βαρήκοοι μαθητές παρουσιάζουν χαμηλότερες επιδόσεις στην επίλυση αριθμητικών προβλημάτων τύπου από αυτές των ακουόντων μαθητών ίδιας ηλικίας, ανεξαρτήτως τρόπου επικοινωνίας. Συγκεκριμένα, οι επιδόσεις τους στην περίπτωση που γίνετε χρήση Ε.Ν.Γ. κατά την εκφώνηση των παραπάνω προβλημάτων, παρουσιάζονται αρκετά βελτιωμένες από την περίπτωση της χρήσης γραπτού λόγου. Επιπλέον, οι επιδόσεις των κωφών και βαρήκοων μαθητών της έκτης τάξης, και με τους δύο τρόπους επικοινωνίας, είναι καλύτερες από αυτές των μαθητών της πέμπτης τάξης. Όσον αφορά τις επιδόσεις των κωφών μαθητών στα διάφορα είδη αριθμητικών προβλημάτων, φαίνεται να έχουν καλύτερη επίδοση από όλους στα προβλήματα αυτά, στα οποία δίνονται όλες οι αρχικές ποσότητες και ζητείται η τελική, όπως και σε αυτά που οι λέξεις που χρησιμοποιούνται είναι συνεπείς με τις πράξεις που απαιτούνται για την επίλυση τους. Οι μαθητές της έκτης τάξης παρουσιάζουν καλύτερη επίδοση σε όλα τα υπόλοιπα προβλήματα. Τέλος, τα παραπάνω αποτελέσματα πρέπει να ληφθούν σοβαρά υπόψη από τους δασκάλους και τους μαθηματικούς, ώστε να βελτιώσουν τη διδασκαλία τους με το να χρησιμοποιούν Ελληνική Νοηματική Γλώσσα για να κατανοούν οι μαθητές πλήρως τις διάφορες έννοιες και τη μαθηματική γλώσσα. Επίσης θα πρέπει να βελτιωθεί η αναγνωστική ικανότητα των κωφών γενικότερα ώστε να μπορούν να κατανοούν τα αριθμητικά προβλήματα και να δοθεί περισσότερος χρόνος στη διδασκαλία των μαθηματικών. / The purpose of this assignment was a first study of deaf students' performance in different types of arithmetic problems. Specifically, the study of deaf students' performance on arithmetic problems to comparison with the class monitor, the type of the problem, and the influence of Greek Sign Language use in understanding of these problems. To analyze this, there was an attempt to answer the following questions: (1) to what extent the use of Greek Sign Language in the pronunciation of arithmetic problem makes them easier for understanding and thus contribute positively to their being answered, (2) to what extent the performance of students at the same arithmetic problems varies according to the order, which follow, and their age and (3) whether the type of arithmetic problem associates with the attendance of students, e.g. if some types of problems are more understandable to older children. Seven students (N = 7) of the Special Primary Schools for Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Argyroupolis and Patras participated in this study as well as 30 students (N = 30) of the Elementary School of Galatas Trizoinias, which served as the control group. The results of the study showed that deaf and hard of hearing students are less efficient in solving arithmetic problems than their hearing piers, regardless of the method of communication. Specifically, their performance, when using G.S.L., are presented quite improved than the use of case writing. Moreover, the performance of sixth grade deaf and hard of hearing students, with both modes of communication are better than those of students of fifth grade. Regarding the performance of deaf students in different types of arithmetic problems they seem to have better performance when all the original amounts are given and the final is been asked. Also when the words used in the problems are consistent with the acts required to solve them. The students of sixth grade are better in the problems. Finally, these results should be taken seriously by teachers and mathematicians to improve their teaching, by using Greek Sign Language, so as their students to understand fully the various mathematical concepts and language. Also they should try to improve the reading ability of deaf students in general so that they can understand the arithmetic problems and also give more time to the teaching of mathematics.

In the present thesis, computer-assisted reading intervention with a phonics approach was examined in deaf and hard of hearing children (DHH) aged 5, 6 or 7 years old using cochlear implants, hearing aids or a combination of both. Children with normal hearing (NH), matched for non-verbal intelligence and age, served as a reference group. Deaf and hard of hearing children constitute a heterogenetic population regarding cognitive and academic achievement. Many of them do not reach age appropriate levels in language and reading ability during their school years, with negative consequences for later training facilities and job opportunities. Finding relevant intervention methods to promote early language learning and literacy development that are easy to implement is therefore of great importance. In this thesis three aspects of cognitive ability (phonological processing skills, lexical access and working memory capacity), and reading ability was examined at three points in time; baseline 1, pre intervention and post intervention. Additionally, computer-assisted training delivered by  means of the Internet in the children’s homes was explored in order to determine whether it would be a useful and efficient method for the DHH population. Overall, the results from the present thesis support the notion that offering a computer-assisted intervention program delivered at home, is an alternative way to support not only NH children with reading difficulties but also to support DHH children’s phonological development and decoding proficiency. / I denna avhandling undersöktes fonologisk lästräning vid datorn för döva och hörselskadade barn 5, 6 och 7 år gamla som använde cochleaimplantat, hörapparat eller en kombination av båda. Barn med normal hörsel som var matchade avseende icke-verbal intelligens och ålder utgjorde jämförelsegrupp. Döva och hörselskadade barn utgör en heterogen grupp avseende kognitiv förmåga och skolframgång. Många av dem når inte kraven för åldern avseende språk och läsförmåga under skoltiden vilket får negativa konsekvenser för senare utbildning och arbete. Att hitta relevanta interventionsmetoder för att främja tidig språkinlärning och läsutveckling som är lätta att genomföra, är därför av stor betydelse. I avhandlingen undersöktes tre aspekter av kognitiv förmåga (fonologisk bearbetningsförmåga, lexikal åtkomst och arbetsminneskapacitet) och läsförmåga vid tre tidpunkter; förtest 1, före intervention och efter intervention. Dessutom undersöktes om datorbaserad intervention som genomförs via Internet i hemmet, skulle vara en användbar och effektiv metod för döva och hörselskadade barn. Resultaten i stort visar att fonologisk lästräning vid datorn i barnens hem är en alternativ metod att stödja inte bara barn i risk att utveckla lässvårigheter, utan även döva och hörselskadade barns fonologi och avkodningsförmåga.

Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om under vilka omständigheter elever med dövhet eller hörselnedsättning (d/hns) utövar self-advocacy i övergången från högstadiet till gymnasiet. Self-advocacy innebär att individen står upp för sina behov och påverkar sin omgivning för att få likvärdiga förutsättningar till delaktighet. Detta är en kvalitativ intervjustudie med abduktiv ansats. Resultatet bygger på intervjuer med åtta gymnasieelever med dövhet eller hörselnedsättning som går tillsammans med hörande klasskamrater. Teorier om self-advocacy och identitet används i analysen och relation och interaktion mellan olika aktörer är centrala. Resultaten visar att eleven med d/hns i en skolövergång hamnar i flera situationer där hen kan förbättra tillgängligheten i klassrummet genom att utöva self-advocacy. Exempelvis kan eleven berätta om sin d/hns, påverka mikrofonanvändande och påverka lärarens undervisning. Studien visar också att elever ibland väljer att inte stå upp för sina behov för att undvika stigmatisering. I resultatet har en modell tagits fram som lyfter in eleven i sin kontext under övergångsprocessen och modellen kan användas för att förstå det komplexa samspelet mellan elev, lärare och klasskamrater under övergången. Slutsatsen är att det kan vara krävande för eleven att återkommande förväntas stå upp för sitt behov av tillgänglig kommunikation och att omgivningens bemötande skapar eller hindrar handlingsutrymmet för self-advocacy. Lärarens relationsskapande och förståelse för sin maktposition verkar vara de mest avgörande faktorerna för utvecklandet av handlingsutrymme för elevens self-advocacy. / The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge about under what circumstances pupils with deafness or pupils who are hard of hearing (d/hh) practice self-advocacy during the transition from lower secondary school to upper secondary school. Self-advocacy means that the individual stands up for their needs and influences their surroundings to achieve equal conditions for participation. This is a qualitative interview study with an abductive approach. The results are based on interviews conducted with eight upper secondary d/hh pupils and attend classes with hearing classmates in mainstream school settings. Theories of self-advocacy and identity are used in the analysis, and relationships and interactions between people are central. The results show that the student with d/hh during a school transition ends up in several situations where he or she can improve accessibility in the classroom by practicing self-advocacy. For example, the student can inform their classmates and/or teacher about their d/hh, influence them to use microphones and influence the teaching. The study also shows that students sometimes choose not to stand up for their needs in order to avoid stigma. In the results, a model has been developed that highlights the student in its context during the transition process and the model can be used to understand the complexity in the interaction between student, teacher and classmates during the transition. The conclusion is that it can be demanding for the student to recurrently be expected to stand up for their need of accessible communication and that the environment's response creates or hinders the acting space for self-advocacy. The teacher's ability to build relationships and understanding of his or her position of power appears to be the most decisive factors for the development of acting space for the student's self-advocacy.

Varje år byter ett antal elever som är döva eller har hörselnedsättning (D/HN) skolform under pågående grundskoleutbildning. Det har inte funnits en samlad bild av varför bytet sker och hur eleverna upplever omställningen. Vi har i denna studie genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med nio högstadieelever med syftet att bidra med kunskap om elevers erfarenheter av att byta skolform från en auditivt orienterad skolmiljö (grundskola) till en visuellt orienterad skolmiljö (regional specialskola). Den tematiska analysen har inspirerats av Schlossbergs (1981; 2011) transitionsmodell, vilken kan appliceras på alla typer av övergångar, förändringar och byten oberoende av om de är förväntade eller ej. Elevernas byte av skolform kan ses som en flytt från en språklig och kulturell kontext till en annan, och deras erfarenheter har delats in i tre huvudteman; flytta ut, flytta in samt göra sig hemmastadd. I intervjuerna framkom varierande erfarenheter, vilket visade att gruppen D/HN-elever som byter skolform var en heterogen grupp. Resultatet visade dock på en del likheter mellan eleverna, exempelvis att en majoritet av eleverna har upplevt ett socialt utanförskap i den auditivt orienterade skolmiljön där de inte känt sig jämlika sina skolkamrater eller fått likvärdiga möjligheter till fungerande lärsituationer. Byte av skolform har påverkat elevernas identitetsarbete och de flesta eleverna beskrev efter bytet en känsla av att vara samma som de andra, känna sig hemma och känna tillhörighet med andra D/HN-elever. Vidare visade resultatet även en förskjutning i elevernas syn på teckenspråk från att ha varit ett hjälpmedel till att vara en del av deras sociala och kulturella identitet. Bytet av skolform har lett till att elevernas identitetsarbete påverkats positivt, och eleverna har gått från att vara marginaliserade till att vara inkluderade. Slutsatser som drogs utifrån resultatet var att D/HN-elever behöver få möjlighet att utveckla en positiv social identitet istället för en marginell sådan, och för att kunna göra detta är tillgång till visuellt orienterade miljöer av vikt. / Every year a number of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students change school settings during their years in compulsory school. Why the decision is being made and how the students themselves experience the transition are questions that have not been asked when researching school placement for DHH students. This study aims to contribute with knowledge about DHH students' experiences in changing from an auditory oriented school setting (compulsory school) to a visually oriented school setting (compulsory special needs school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students). The thematic analysis is informed by Schlossberg's (1981;2011) transition model, which is a model that can be applied to any form of change or transition whether expected or unexpected. The change in school settings can be seen as a move from one linguistic and cultural context to another, and the students' experiences have been divided into three themes; moving out, moving in and making oneself at home. The interviews point to different sorts of experiences which show that this group of students is vastly diverse, although with some significant similarities. The change in school setting has had an effect on their identity work and the students describe it as feeling at home, being the same as the others and as a sense of belonging with other DHH students in the visually oriented school setting. The result shows that the students have gone from seeing sign language as a tool that can facilitate communication to recognizing it as a language that is a part of them and their social and cultural identity. As stated above there has been a positive effect on the students’ work on their identities and they feel included instead of marginalized. For DHH students to develop a positive rather than a marginal social identity, the students need access to visually oriented settings.

This phenomenological study investigated the nature and extent of the support parents received during IEP development. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Participants, located in a Northeastern state, were 10 hearing parents of children who had been diagnosed with hearing loss at birth and were between ages 5 and 12. Data were in-depth interviews that were analyzed, coded, and organized into themes using an inductive approach to analysis informed by Hatch. Results indicated that parents believed they needed more guidance on what to expect during the first IEP meeting, that advocating for appropriate accommodations for their child was important, and that education professionals communicate in a more compassionate and less business-like manner when speaking with parents. Parents also indicated increased anxiety due to their perceptions that education professionals have inadequate knowledge about issues relating to hearing loss and hearing amplification technology. Based on these results, special education professionals and policy makers can focus on increased understanding of hearing loss and amplification use in order to help children with hearing loss achieve more positive educational outcomes effecting positive social change.

No description available.

This study aimed to explore sound design and sound representation techniques to strengthen the inclusion of players with sensory disabilities alongside non-disabled players. Additionally, it aimed to identify characteristics in inclusiveness components for video games. Tap Tone is a 3D action-adventure prototype with iteratively improved inclusiveness components based on research and requirements analyses. Twenty-five participants were recruited for user tests and divided into four groups: 1) non-disabled, 2) vision impaired, 3) deaf and hard of hearing, and 4) blindfolded players. Data were collected with a questionnaire and saved in-game data. The data was analyzed using statistical methods, including ANOVA and a t-test. Results indicate that the experience for deaf and hard of hearing is significantly different from the groups vision impaired and non-disabled. The results indicate similarities in experience for non-disabled and vision impaired players. Moreover, the player performance indicates similarities between the groups non-disabled, vision impaired and deaf and hard of hearing. Finally, the study identified and discussed key characteristics of the inclusiveness components. / Denna studie syftade till att utforska ljuddesign och ljudrepresentationstekniker för att stärka inkluderingen av spelare med sensoriska funktionshinder tillsammans med icke-handikappade spelare. Dessutom syftade det till att identifiera egenskaper i inkluderande komponenter för videospel. Tap Tone är en prototyp av ett 3D-action-äventyrsspel med stegvist förbättrande inkluderingskomponenter baserade på forskning och kravanalyser. Tjugofem deltagare rekryterades för användartester och delades in i fyra grupper: 1) ickehandikappade, 2) synskadade, 3) döva och hörselskadade och 4) spelare med ögonbindel. Data samlades in med ett frågeformulär och data sparad genom spelet. Datan var analyserad med hjälp av statistiska metoder, inklusive ANOVA och ett t-test. Resultaten tyder på att upplevelsen för döva och hörselskadade skiljer sig signifikant från grupperna med synskada och icke-handikappade. Resultaten indikerar likheter i erfarenhet för icke-handikappade och synskadade spelare. Dessutom indikerar spelarens prestation likheter mellan grupperna icke-handikappade, synskadade och döva och hörselskadade. Slutligen identifierade och diskuterade studien nyckelegenskaper hos de inkluderande komponenterna.

No description available.

Children with disabilities are three to four times more likely to be abused than their non-disabled peers due to the impact of challenges related to behavior, cognition, language, social skills, and communication skills. In September of 2018, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) specifically noted the need to establish maltreatment prevention and response curricula and promote research and advocacy surrounding maltreatment of children with disabilities. One common curriculum recommended is Kidpower®. While Kidpower® shows promise in increasing people safety skills and offers some basic accommodations for use with disabled populations, a complete accommodation plan for deaf or hard of hearing students has not been developed. The purpose of this study was to explore how Kidpower® curriculum could be accommodated to meet the unique needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from the perspective of the deaf education community, including deaf adults, deaf education teachers, deaf education teacher preparation faculty, and parents with deaf or hard of hearing children. A combination of focus groups and interviews were utilized to review lessons and homework from the Kidpower® curriculum. Participants gave feedback on obstacles and ideas for accommodations and modifications that would mediate the challenges. Data were inductively coded and analyzed for themes. Findings indicated the deaf education community believes the curriculum needs media components, language modifications and teaching strategies, enhanced visual information, and representation of people and situations related to the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children to be an effective curriculum for this population.