Self-Concept and Deafness: Factors Affecting the Development of Deaf Children

ABSTRACT

From the perspective of hearing-impaired individuals, deafness or hearing impairment means more than just the inability to hear. Deafness imposes on the individual in almost every aspect of their lives, educationally, socially and emotionally. How then does the hearing-impaired individual perceive himself in relation to others? This paper attempts to answer this question by looking into the literature on the psychosocial factors that might influence the self concept of hearing-impaired individuals.

Three factors are delineated; they are familial acceptance, attitudes of society, and communication. Implications for parents and teachers are suggested.