An ecosystemic perspective on the raising of deaf children by hearing parents in South Africa : a mixed methods study.
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Date
2009
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Abstract
Deafness is one on the most common types of disability in South Africa with 90% of deaf
children being born to hearing parents, many of whom are unprepared for the consequences
of deafness. Since deafness is an invisible disability, the severity of its impact upon both the
child and the family is often underestimated. The aim of this study was to explore the
experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children. Thus, the primary research questions
were: What are the experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children in South Africa,
and how do various ecosystemic variables affect the way they manage their parenting role?
This study was informed by the ecological systems theory which is the theoretical
framework that underpins this study. The research paradigm shaping this study was
pragmatism, while the strategy used was phenomenology. The mixed methods approach was
employed, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches concurrently in a triangulation
design. The findings emanating from the quantitative data served to complement the findings
from the qualitative data. These findings were corroborated in the interpretation stage.
The findings, representing the lived experiences of hearing parents raising deaf children,
show that although the parenting experiences differ according to the unique circumstances in
the family, school and community, there are several commonalities. These include issues
associated with the diagnosis and parenting of deaf children. Some of these issues included
the challenge of communicating with the deaf child, the financial burden, stigmatization
from the general public, strained interpersonal relationships, concern about the child’s
future, as well as lack of opportunities for the Deaf to study at tertiary institutions and
limited employment opportunities for deaf persons.
The findings from both sets of data reveal that, despite the resilience of participants, there is
a need for formal support for parents from professionals in the community, as well as
informal parental support from the family, friends, and community members, including other
hearing parents raising deaf children, and the need for a central location to access
information on deafness and related matters. Recommendations were made to address these
issues, with a view to facilitating the emotional well-being of hearing parents raising deaf
children, and consequently improving the quality of life of the deaf child and the family.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
Keywords
Parents of deaf children--South Africa., Deaf children--Family relationships--South Africa., Deaf children--Education--South Africa., Theses--Education.