The way in which subjects of different ages copy a complex design
gives an indication of the relative levels of visual perception and
the related developmental trend of overall cognitive development and
left-right hemispheric functioning. The purpose of this study was to
investigate the impact of severe to profound hearing loss on the above
perceptive abilities. The subjects were chosen from the Oregon State
School for the Deaf in Salem and ranged in age from 8 to 17.
Additional personal characteristics were documented: sex, degree of
hearing loss, age of onset of deafness, cause of deafness, other
handicapping conditions, and handedness. The subjects were asked to
first copy the Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure and then reproduce it
from memory. Scores were derived from the graphic strategies used to
initially start both reproductions, complete the initial drawing, and
from the accuracy and error measurements. The hypotheses were
formulated which allowed cross-tabulations between each of the scores
and each of the personal characteristics. The results were subjected
to chi-square tests, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and two- and three-way
analyses of variance. Differences were significant at the p < .10
level. The age of the subjects proved to be the most significant
factor in the study. The youngest group used adult strategies to
complete the drawing, but with more errors than would be expected from
adults. Loss of efficiency was noted with the 11-13 year old group
and then the expected trend of increased sophistication in perception
with advanced age proved true for the three older age groups. It was
suggested that the early dependence on vision in lieu of auditory
stimulation was responsible for the early strengths of the youngest
group. Also right-handed subjects used more complex graphic
strategies than did the left-handed subjects. This finding was
expected based on other studies concerning cerebral assymetries
relative to handedness. The sex of the subject, however, had no main
effect on the results. Some interactions among variables were noted.
There were no significant differences relative to age, onset, degree
of hearing loss, etilogy, or other handicapping conditions. / Graduation date: 1985
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/38113 |
| Date | 31 October 1984 |
| Creators | Eldredge, Nancy Marie |
| Contributors | Wall, Mary Jane |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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