Positive Experiences and Life Aspirations Among Adolescents With and Without Hearing Impairments

THE STUDY investigated the nature and intensity of positive experiences as well as the aspiration toward transpersonal commitments among 79 normally hearing and 42 hearing‐impaired adolescents, in order to achieve a better understanding of those factors in the experience of hearing‐impaired adolescents that have enriched and empowered their lives. Landsman's Positive Experience Questionnaire (PEQ) and Magen's Life Aspiration Questionnaire (LAQ) were utilized. No differences were found between normally hearing and hearing‐impaired adolescent groups regarding the intensity of their remembered positive experiences. In comparison with normally hearing adolescents, those with hearing impairments reported more positive interpersonal experiences, rarely experienced positive experiences “with self,” and showed less desire for transpersonal commitment, even with their hearing‐impaired peers. The role of the socialization process, with an emphasis on communication between the hearing‐impaired youngster and his and her environment, was discussed.