Families of young, hearing-impaired children: the impact of diagnosis.

In 1976--77 there were 15 families with young hearing-impaired children, living in Kingston or within a radius of 50 miles, who participated in a study, funded by the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, to evaluate the impact which the diagnosis of deafness made upon them and their families. The sample was too small for sophisticated statistical analysis, but certain indications are provided by the research. The age at which the children were diagnosed was remarkably late and physicians and other involved professionals were felt to be uncomfortable in facing the parents whose children had hearing losses. Parents willingly admitted their need for more guidance at the time of diagnosis but had, in many cases, become somewhat complacent in their responses to their children and their needs. A strong source of support at the preschool stage was felt to be the home-visiting teacher service provided by the Ministry of Education. A need for more in-home guidance was felt by most parents when their children reached school age. Similarly, a need was expressed for a locally based correspondence course.