The aims of this study were to examine a) whether the family-centered intervention method Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) has had an effect on the levels of empowerment of caregivers of children with CI; and b) whether the parents feeling most empowered have a continual habit of reading frequently with their child and have children who achieve higher scores on lexical-semantic tasks; c) whether the empowerment questionnaire “Att vara förälder” (“Being a parent”) is an appropriate assessment tool to evaluate intervention intending to empower the caregivers of children with hearing impairment. Vocabulary was used as a way to gauge the effectiveness of the method. Perceived empowerment of 23 parents was assessed with “Att vara förälder” (“Being a parent”) along with an informal conversation about the questionnaire. In addition, lexical-semantic ability of 11 children (age 5;1-11;8) was assessed with the BNT and the Semantic Feature Test for evaluation if the level of empowerment would affect vocabulary level. Overall the caregivers reported high levels of empowerment. Duration of intervention (range 6 months – 2 years or more) and levels of empowerment corresponded significantly positive. Further, a more active parent scored higher on empowerment than did the parent less active in intervention, as indicated by the self-reports. Qualitative data from the conversation revealed that many of the parents felt that the AVT intervention had helped them to feel more empowered. The results for lexical-semantic ability showed a large variability in the group, not significantly correlated to parents’ level of empowerment. The children older than eight years performed at stanine 5 and over on the BNT. The younger children did not score above stanine 4. In conclusion, the present study represents a first step towards applying empowerment as an instrument for the evaluation of family-centered intervention. Based on our results we argue that all children receiving a CI and their families would benefit from being provided with the possibility for prolonged intervention periods. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka a) om den familjebaserade interventionsmetoden Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) har haft effekt på känslan av empowerment hos föräldrar till barn med CI; och b) om de föräldrar med högst känsla av empowerment har som vana att ofta läsa för sina barn och har barn som presterar högt på testning av ordförråd; c) om enkäten ”Att vara förälder” är ett användbart verktyg för att utvärdera intervention som har som mål att öka känslan av empowerment hos vårdnadshavare till barn med hörselnedsättning. Bedömning av ordförråd användes som ett sätt att undersöka metodens effektivitet. 23 föräldrar fyllde i en empowerment-enkät ”Att vara förälder” och deltog sedan i ett informellt samtal med författarna till studien. Vidare bedömdes lexikal-semantisk förmåga hos 11 barn (ålder 5;1-11;8) med BNT och Särdragstestet med syfte att undersöka om nivån av empowerment påverkar ordförråd. Överlag hade vårdgivarna en hög känsla av empowerment. Interventions-längd (mellan 6 månader – 2 år eller mer) korrelerade signifikant positivt med empowerment. Därutöver framkom att den i interventionen mer aktiva föräldern erhöll ett högre resultat avseende empowerment, jämfört med den föräldern som varit mindre aktiv, enligt självskattningsdata. Kvalitativa data från det informella samtalet tydliggjorde att föräldrarna upplever att interventionen med AVT har förstärkt deras känsla av empowerment. Resultaten varierade stort vad gällde lexikal-semantisk förmåga, vilket inte korrelerade statistiskt med föräldrarnas nivå av empowerment. Barnen äldre än åtta år presterade stanine 5 eller över. De yngre barnen presterade inte över stanine 4. Sammanfattningsvis representerar denna studie ett första steg i ledet att implementera empowerment som ett utvärderingsinstrument i familjebaserad intervention. Baserat på resultaten i vår studie dras slutsatsen att alla barn som får CI skulle, tillsammans med sina familjer, gagnas av att få möjligheten till en långvarig familjebaserad interventionsinsats.

Ett fåtal tidigare studier har visat att barn med cochleaimplantat (CI) har sämre förmåga till såväl ordflöde som verbalt analogiskt resonerande jämfört med normalhörande barn. Det finns ett förhållande mellan språk och analogiskt resonerande, men förhållandet mellan ordflödesförmåga och förmågan till analogiskt resonerande har inte undersökts tidigare för varken barn med CI eller normalhörande barn, vilket motiverar föreliggande studie. Syftet var att undersöka huruvida det finns skillnader mellan barn med CI och normalhörande barn vad gäller ordflöde och analogiskt resonerande. Studien syftade även till att undersöka förhållandet mellan ordflöde och analogiskt resonerande hos barn med CI respektive normalhörande barn. Nio barn med CI i åldrarna 6;4–8;2 år och en kontrollgrupp av trettio normalhörande barn i åldrarna 6;1–7;1 år medverkade. Ordflödesförmågan undersöktes med det fonologiska ordflödestestet FAS och det semantiska ordflödestestet Djur. Visuellt analogiskt resonerande undersöktes med AnimaLogica och verbalt analogiskt resonerande undersöktes med deltestet Auditiv analogi från Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities-3 (ITPA-3). I föreliggande studie har barnen med CI sämre ordflödesförmåga och analogiskt resonerande än de normalhörande barnen. Det finns ett samband mellan semantiskt ordflöde och verbalt analogiskt resonerande hos normalhörande barn, med ett liknande mönster hos barn med CI. Förmågan till ordflöde och analogiskt resonerande samt sambandet mellan dessa förmågor har klinisk relevans för logopeden i och med att detta blir ännu en aspekt att ta hänsyn till vid språkliga utredningar och behandlingar hos såväl normalhörande som barn med CI. / Previous studies have shown that children with cochlear implant (CI) have worse word fluency abilities and analogical reasoning abilities compared to normal-hearing children. There is a relationship between language and analogical reasoning. However, a possible relationship between word fluency and analogical reasoning has not been studied before among children with CI or among normal-hearing children. This warrants the present study, which aimed to examine if there are differences between children with CI and normal-hearing children regarding word fluency and analogical reasoning. The study also aimed to examine the relationship between word fluency and analogical reasoning in children with CI and normal-hearing children. The present study involved nine children with CI aged 6;4–8;2 years and thirty normal-hearing children aged 6;1–7;1 years. Word fluency was examined using the phonological word fluency test FAS and the semantic word fluency test Animal. Visual analogical reasoning was examined using AnimaLogica and verbal analogical reasoning using Spoken Analogies from Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities-3 (ITPA-3). The results of the present study show that the children with CI had poorer word fluency ability and analogical reasoning compared to the normal-hearing children. A relationship between semantic word fluency and verbal analogical reasoning in normal-hearing children was found, with the children with CI showing the same trend. Word fluency ability and analogical reasoning and their relationship has a clinical relevance for speech-language pathologists since this must be considered when investigating and treating language difficulties in children with CI as well as normal-hearing children.

No description available.

The impact of the diagnosis and the reality of being hearing impaired could trigger uncomfortable feelings at different times in the client's life. With the cochlear implant, these feelings will still be a reality, as the implant does not heal the hearing impairment. Psychological interventions could assist the client during this healing process. The process of cochlear implants could also bring other challenges into the client's life. Expectations of quick healing play a major role and should be addressed throughout the process of implantation and rehabilitation. This is another opportunity for the psychologist to intervene. This research shows that the role of the psychologist could be expanded not only to evaluate but also to bring about change. The treatment model gives a logical and workable explanation of how and where the psychologist may intervene in the process of cochlear implantation. This model was tested and adapted by the cochlear implant team at the University of Pretoria over a period of ten years. The model may be used as a template for new teams. Intervening as described in the model presents the opportunity to address various different needs as they occur. The qualitative research design proved to be a fitting method to explore the experiences of the participants from their own viewpoints. The qualitative research is also congruent with a systemic perspective and emphasises social context, multiple perspectives, complexity, recursion and holism. This study aims to develop a complementary psychological treatment programme and create awareness within professionals working with hearing impairment of the complexity of systems. The study shows that one can only understand the behaviour of any given system by tracking changes that occur within that system and its subsystems and by tracking changes between that system and the larger whole. In this study three different therapeutic interventions are used on three different case studies, two children from different age groups and an adult, to accommodate the multiple realities of the different systems. The aim of the study with cochlear implantees and their families is to stimulate new leads and avenues of enquiry that may be used as a basis for further research. / Psychology / Thesis (D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology))

In Slovak Republic, fundamentals of protection of people, property and environment are established by the Constitution of Slovak Republic, the Security Strategy of Slovak Republic and by numerous Acts, Declarations or Regulations of Government which refer to Civilian Protection and Integrated Rescue System. Legislative standards with regards to protection of health or property does not take into account people with health disabilities despite the fact that the right for safety and timely warning of imminent danger is granted for every citizen on the territory of Slovak Republic. Objective of my diploma work is to investigate readiness of institutions participating on solutions of extraordinary events which struck people with health disabilities. Based on results of quantitative survey we would like to point out on deficiencies of the system and to propose a solution to improve procedures of the Integrated Rescue System and Civil Protection with regards to people with health disabilities. Further objective is to process a proposal of methodical tutorial which would contain basis gesticulation important for communication with the hearing impaired. Theoretical part of the diploma work consists of several chapters. The first part discusses basic families, classes and types of health impairment. Further on system of Civil Protection and its mission was processed. Last part is dedicated to the Integrated Rescue System. In that chapter we described fundamental and other rescue branches which by large participated on solutions of extraordinary events. The theory was processed by means of law legislation, sources of literature and internet websites. The empirical (practical) part of the thesis has been used qualitative research method. Because it is extremely difficult to collect such data were made through guided interview with experts of Civil Protection and managers of particular rescue branches (Fire fighting and Rescue Force, Rescue Health Service, Police Force) only in three selected counties of Presov region (Poprad, Stará Ľubovňa, Prešov). Results of the managed interview were evaluated by SWOT analysis which compares the internal and external environment. On the basis of empirical phenomenon a searching strategy (WO) was chosen whereby the focus was laid on utilizing opportunities and eliminating weaknesses. Based on results we concluded that issue of health disability isn?t incorporated into law legislation and plans to solve extraordinary events. There is no common education of managerial and executive rescue branches which would enable them to gather fundamental knowledge of classes and specifications of health disability, possibilities of communication and means of first-aid provision. For further qualitative and quantitative development of education there is a deficiency of material-didactic instruments which serve to accomplish the objective. We also concluded that when rescuing health-impaired people there are no special procedures and methods taken into account. At the same time for the hearing-impaired there is no system of timely warning and information of imminent danger and possibility to call rescue branches through the emergency phone line. With regards to existing deficiencies we proposed practical recommendations. To improve communication with hearing impaired people we created a proposal of a methodical instrument for rescue branches which contains basic signs. As a part of it there is also a one-hand and two-hand finger alphabet for refinement and visualisation of words.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:46:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissVLCC.pdf: 1131386 bytes, checksum: 05728bd4e8ecbc23fcec7789545514e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-07-27 / The scholar integration proposal demands that the school organize itself to facilitate the access for students with hearing impairment to the curriculum, allowing them, under those circumstances, to have educational opportunities to reach enough knowledge to perform their citizenship. The educational needs of these students demand effort of educators providing them a flexibility of the instruction resources, making feasible the opportunities of learning that take into account their singularity, especially related to communication. This paper had as the main objective an assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of fairy tale dramatization, as an educational strategy to provide an improvement of the oral comprehension of stories for five students with hearing impairment, aged between 7 and 13, enrolled on a public school. It was used an experimental multiple baseline design between individuals, which started with an assessment of previous knowledge that each participant had; hearing impairment, previous knowledge about the fairy tale, followed by the participation of each one in a training with a pedagogical activity and in the end a dramatization related to the fairy tale. These activities were performed by each student in different moments, in a same group composed of four no-hearing-impairment participants. The data were collected by video and/or tape recordings. One statistical descriptive analysis was applied, by comparing the previous knowledge that each student with hearing impairment had about the fairy tale, before and after the achievement of both pedagogical activities and dramatization. The results showed that the participants who had been exposed to the two posterior interventions showed more improvement in performing the assessment tests of the fairy tale oral comprehension, as much in the evaluations accomplished after the introduction of the pedagogical support activity as after the dramatization activity. Although the two interventions had promoted improvement in this performance, there were differences in the magnitude of the change when it was compared with each individual among themselves, or in the student himself, the effect of the two strategies (pedagogical support and dramatization). The inter and intra-individual rate differences suggest that individuals benefited themselves in different ways when the two teaching strategies were used, and it seems to point toward that there is no superiority of one strategy over another, what implies the importance in diversifying the teaching instruction to fulfill the individual particularities in learning condition of students with hearing impairment. / A proposta de integração escolar exige que a escola se organize para facilitar o acesso dos alunos com deficiência auditiva ao currículo, permitindo, assim, que eles tenham oportunidades educacionais na aquisição de conhecimentos necessários, para o exercício de sua cidadania. As necessidades educacionais desses alunos exigem que os educadores proporcionem a eles uma flexibilização dos recursos instrucionais, viabilizando oportunidades de aprendizagem que considerem a sua singularidade, especialmente em relação à comunicação. Este estudo teve por objetivo principal avaliar a efetividade da utilização da dramatização de uma história infantil, como uma estratégia educacional para promover a melhora da compreensão oral de histórias por cinco alunos com deficiência auditiva, com idade entre 7 e 13 anos, matriculados em uma escola pública. Foi utilizado um delineamento experimental de linha de base múltipla entre sujeitos, o qual iniciou-se com a avaliação do conhecimento prévio que cada participante portador de deficiência auditiva tinha da História, prosseguiu com a participação de cada um deles em treino via atividade pedagógica e, posteriormente, via dramatização referente à História, sendo que essas atividades foram realizadas com cada um deles em momentos diferentes, embora com um mesmo grupo composto por quatro participantes ouvintes. Os dados foram coletados através da gravação em vídeo e/ou áudio. Aos resultados aplicou-se uma análise estatística descritiva, comparando-se o conhecimento prévio que cada aluno com deficiência auditiva tinha da História, antes e após a realização das atividades pedagógicas e de dramatização. Os resultados demonstraram que os participantes que foram submetidos às duas intervenções subseqüentes apresentaram melhora no desempenho em testes de avaliação da compreensão oral da História, tanto nas avaliações realizadas após a introdução da atividade de apoio pedagógico, quanto após a atividade de dramatização. Embora as duas intervenções tenham promovido melhora no desempenho, houve diferenças na magnitude da mudança quando se comparam os diferentes sujeitos entre si, ou no mesmo sujeito. As diferenças inter e intra-sujeitos sugerem que os indivíduos se beneficiaram de forma diferente quando as duas estratégias de ensino foram utilizadas, e isso parece indicar que não há superioridade de uma estratégia sobre a outra, o que implica na importância de diversificar o ensino, a fim de atender às especificidades individuais no estilo de aprendizagem de alunos com deficiência auditiva.

The thesis called Česká unie neslyšících (Czech Union of the Deaf) - the importance of organization for the quality of life of people with hearing disabilities brings knowledge of special educational care for adults with hearing loss. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with a complex presentation of hearing impairment in a person's life. The emphasis is mainly focused on the factors influencing the quality of life of these people. The great importance of institutions - schools, associations and clubs in the lives of people with hearing impairments is also introduced. Main attention is given to the organization named Česká unie neslyšících. It describes its history and current situation. Research survey indicated in the practical part of this thesis is also focused on organization Česká unie neslyšících. The research was realized by questionnaire survey among the clients of the organization. The aim of the research is to evaluate the benefits of the organization for the people with hearing impairments. The research survey focuses mainly on describing the frequency and reasons for using the services and activities of this organization by its clients. The results of the research survey refer to significant contribution of this organization in a lot of points. These results also contribute to...

Earlier studies of persons with deafness (D) and/or deafblindness (DB) have primarily focused on the mobility and communication problems. The purpose of the present study was to develop technology for monitoring aids to improve the ability of persons with D and/or DB to detect, identify, and perceive direction of events that produce sounds in their surroundings. The purpose was achieved stepwise in four studies. In Study I, the focus was on hearing aids for persons with residual low frequency hearing. In Study II-IV, the focus was on vibratory aids for persons with total D. In Study I, six signal processing algorithms (calculation methods) based on two principles, transposition and modulation, were developed and evaluated regarding auditory identification of environmental sounds. Twenty persons with normal hearing listened to 45 environmental sounds processed with the six different algorithms and identified them in three experiments. In Exp. 1, the sounds were unknown and the subjects had to identify them freely. In Exp. 2 and 3, the sounds were known and the subjects had to identify them by choosing one of 45 sounds. The transposing algorithms showed better results (median value in Exp. 3, 64%-69%) than the modulating algorithms (40%-52%) did, and they were good candidates for implementing in a hearing aid for persons with residual low frequency hearing. In Study II, eight algorithms were developed based on three principles, transposition, modulation, and filtration – in addition to No Processing as reference, and evaluated for vibratory identification of environmental sounds. The transposing algorithms and the modulating algorithms were also adapted to the vibratory thresholds of the skin. Nineteen persons with profound D tested the algorithms using a stationary, wideband vibrator and identified them by choosing one of 10 randomly selected from the list of 45 sounds. One transposing algorithm and two modulating algorithms showed better (p<0.05) scores than did the No Processing method. Two transposing and three modulating algorithms showed better (p<0.05) scores than did the filtering algorithm. Adaptation to the vibratory thresholds of the skin did not improve the vibratory identification results. In Study III, the two transposing algorithms and the three modulating algorithms with the best identification scores in Study II, plus their adapted alternative, were evaluated in a laboratory study. Five persons from Study II with profound D tested the algorithms using a portable narrowband vibrator and identified the sounds by choosing one of 45 sounds in three experiments (Exp. 1, 2, and 3). In Exp. 1, the sounds were pre-processed and directly fed to the vibrator. In Exp. 2 and 3, the sounds were presented in an acoustic test room, without or with background noise (SNR=+5 dB), and processed in real time. Five of the algorithms had acceptable results (27%-41%) in the three experiments and constitute candidates for a miniaturized vibratory aid (VA). The algorithms had the same rank order in both tests in the acoustic room (Exp. 2, and 3), and the noise did not worsen the identification results. In Study IV, the portable vibrotactile monitoring aid (with stationary processor) for detection, identification and directional perception of environmental sounds was evaluated in a field study. The same five persons with profound D as in Study III tested the aid using a randomly chosen algorithm, drawn from the five with the best results in Study III, in a home and in a traffic environment. The persons identified 12 events at home and five events in a traffic environment when they were inexperienced (the events were unknown) and later when they were experienced (the events were known). The VA consistently improved the ability with regard to detection, identification and directional perception of environmental sounds for all five persons. It is concluded that the selected algorithms improve the ability to detect, and identify sound emitting events. In future, the algorithms will be implemented in a low frequency hearing aid for persons with low frequency residual hearing or in a fully portable vibratory monitoring aid, for persons with profound D or DB to improve their ability to sense the environment.

Cette recherche doctorale a pour thème la scolarisation des collégiens sourds ou malentendants. Plus précisément, elle s'interroge sur les conditions d'un partenariat effectif entre le collégien, sa famille, le collège et la structure médico-sociale, à même de faciliter la réalisation d'un projet de scolarisation. Il s'agit de cerner les obstacles à ce partenariat et ses facilitateurs, afin de mettre en lumière les conditions requises pour qu'il fonctionne et apporte l'étayage attendu à la réalisation du projet de scolarisation d'un collégien en situation de handicap. Grâce à une série d’entretiens dirigés et semi-dirigés, nous interrogeons les acteurs (collégiens, parents, professionnels) qui vivent de tels projets de scolarisation dans la région des Pays de Loire. Nous examinons comment les différents acteurs définissent l'objet du partenariat, leur place dans celui-ci, les ressources qu'ils apportent, les relations qu'ils développent avec les autres et l'action qui découle du dispositif partenarial. La réussite du partenariat entre ces différents acteurs tient sur un principe d’équilibre par une complémentarité des ressources de chacun compte tenu du fait que les forces d’un partenaire peuvent combler les lacunes d’un autre. L’idée de l’école inclusive se heurte à des postures isolationnistes des acteurs institutionnels. Le partenariat contribue au développement des pratiques inclusives dans la mesure où cette modalité collaborative permet de créer des passerelles entre les acteurs, clé de voûte de la réussite des projets de scolarisation des élèves en situation de handicap. / This thesis deals with the schooling of the deaf or hearing-impaired children. It looks into the specific conditions for an effective partnership between the child, his or her family, the school and the special school, in order to facilitate the schooling goals. The aim is to identify the pros and cons of a partnership agreement, to highlight the mandatory criterion for it to work and to provide appropriate support for the implementation of the schooling project of special needs children. Through a series of guided and semi-guided interviews, we inquire into the actors (children, families, professionals) who experience such schooling projects in the Pays de Loire Region. We look at how the different stakeholders define the aim of the partnership, their role in it, the resources they bring in, the relationship they develop with others and the actions that follow the partnership measures.The success of the partnership between these various actors is based on a balancing principle which considers that the strengths of a partner can fill in the gaps of another one.The idea of inclusive schooling comes up against the isolationist positions of the institutional actors. The partnership contributes to develop more inclusive practices because this collaborative mode allows to build bridges between the actors, which is the cornerstone for the achievement of special needs children’s schooling projects.

VISUAL MEMORY AS A DETERMINANT OF COMMUNICATIVE AND LEARNING COMPETENCIES IN PUPILS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT ABSTRACT: This submitted work concentrates on visual perception, especially on visual memory and related attention in children and pupils with hearing impairment, which from the theoretical point of view represents the most important compensatory sense for this group of people. The main part of the submitted paper consists in presenting the results of a research survey observing the levels of visual perception and attention in children and pupils in the age group 6 to 8 years old, as well as on comparing them with results achieved by a group of hearing children and pupils of the same age range. We chose four subtests focused on the current state of visual memory and attention. These subtests constitute a part of two standardized tests. The following analysis of the gained data was used to validate our hypotheses regarding the influence of the compensatory mechanism applied when processing visual inputs by people with hearing impairment existing on the level of the central nervous system. Furthermore, the paper provides processed and commented data gained from questionnaires destined for teachers. These questionnaires pursue the evaluation of communicative and learning competencies of the tested study...