Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Intervention with parents of hearing impaired children: elaboration and evaluation of an orientation program not requiring attendance

Orientation of parents enables them to accept their child's deafness and it also helps them understand treatment options that will enable their child to develop favorably. Orientation should be carefully presented in order to avoid insecurity, anxiety, unreal expectations or inadequate reactions on the part of the parents. Orientation is offered at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up, though the parents may present financial difficulties and little time to enroll in ongoing support programs. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an orientation program for parents of children between two and six years with severe and profound deafness who were unable to attend the treatment center. The program was structured in four units and was applied with 30 parents who initially were enrolled at the University of São Paulo Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, in Bauru/SP. The units were prepared based on content that specialists from various fields divulge during diagnosis of hearing impairments, considering the interests and difficulties parents express. Their level of understanding was identified as to assessment, follow-up, opinions about achievement as well as the child's needs, their own and their family's needs. In order to evaluate the program, parents' answers to a questionnaire on each unit were analyzed, and final interviews were conducted. The analysis revealed that the program offered clear information and suggestions of activities that were adequate to the family context, and that the program contributed to the children's development. Some parents had difficulty expressing themselves in writing and in developing some of the activities, nevertheless, this did not undermine their understanding and their participation in the program.

Special Education; Hearing Impairment; Orientation for Parents; Orientation Program


Associação Brasileira de Pesquisadores em Educação Especial - ABPEE Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01 Vargem Limpa, CEP: 17033-360 - Bauru, SP, Tel.: 14 - 3402-1366 - Bauru - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista.rbee@gmail.com