Parental practice and experience in managing behaviour of children with hearing impairment : a case study at a special school in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aspired to delineate the parental practice, experience and coping strategies in dealing with behavioural problems of their children with hearing-impairment in a Special School in Kano State, Nigeria. A qualitative case study was used with the aim of bringing back the situation to normalcy by developing strategies that may improve parental practice on the behaviour of their children with hearing-impairment. In-depth semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis were the tools used by the researcher in this study. Purposeful sampling was employed in selecting the main participants in this research. Six parents: two teaching staff and two administrative staff were interviewed about the problem under investigation. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed in which categories were identified and generated from the interviews. Findings from this study accentuated several major themes and categories of parental practice which have to do with counselling the child and attitudes towards the children with hearing impairment. Behaviours were found in the form of apparent temper outbursts and defiant behaviour; Parental experience includes judgement of others and the impact on the family; Parental coping strategies consist of acquiring spiritual intervention and seeking social support; School behavioural dispositions of the children were aggressive and noncompliant behaviour. Based on the findings, the researcher provides discernments to parents, their children with hearing impairment, and the immediate community where such children live. This may enable policy makers and the governments in Nigeria to plan for intervention programmes that may foster a strong relationship and understanding among parents, the school and the society.