Family therapy with deaf member families

Abstract

This paper examines how family therapists can be more responsive to the unique needs and problems of deaf member families. Methods of training in communication for deaf children are compared, as well as the conflicts that may accompany the adoption of a given method. The pivotal role of communication problems between hearing and deaf family members in contributing to symptomatic behavior is stressed. The relationship between the roles of interpreter and therapist as well as obstacles to treatment are reviewed. A selected case history illustrates the interplay of these variables in successful treatment.