Comparison of seclusion and restraint prevalence between hearing patients and deaf or hard of hearing patients in a state hospital setting.

The present study is an effort to obtain preliminary data to assess the validity of the long-standing claim that the rate of seclusion and restraint is higher among deaf and hard of hearing individuals than among hearing individuals. This difference has been claimed repeatedly despite there being no research to support it. The sample was comprised of 22 deaf or hard of hearing individuals who had been committed to a large state hospital, all but three of whom had been discharged prior to data collection. The deaf and hard of hearing subjects were matched to subjects with no hearing loss on factors believed to be associated with behaviors that can result in seclusion or restraint. Archived clinical records of both groups of subjects were reviewed to determine the rates of seclusion and restraint for the two groups, as well as to assess the length of time each group was in seclusion or restraint. The results indicate a significantly higher frequency of seclusion and restraint for the deaf and hard of hearing group than for the hearing group. Of note is that the hearing individuals spent longer in seclusion and restraint than did the deaf and hard of hearing. The hypothesis of a higher rate of restrictive events among deaf and hard of hearing individuals is supported. The results of this study suggest that further research be undertaken to determine the generalizability of these results as well as possible sources of the differences between these two groups.