Perceptions on Hearing Aid-Use and its Influence on Self-Esteem of Learners with Hearing Impairment in Integrated Settings, Nairobi City County-Kenya
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Thiga, Elizabeth M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Children with hearing impairment have been hypothesized as having low esteem. Many teachers have reported that there is an increasing number of children who are reluctant to wear hearing aids despite the fact that they are being issued at no cost by non-governmental organizations like Starkey Ear Foundation. The purpose of the study was to find out the perceptions on hearing aid use and its influence on self-esteem of learners with hearing impairment in integrated units in Nairobi City County Kenya. Regarding specific objectives, the study sought to: examine the perceptions of learners with and without hearing impairment towards hearing aid use, determine the perceptions of parents towards hearing aid use by their children, investigate the perceptions of teachers towards hearing aid use and establish the influence of hearing aid use on self-esteem among learners with hearing impairment. The study was guided by Identity Control Theory by Peter Burke. The researcher used descriptive survey design. The target populations were 8 integrated schools from Nairobi City County, head teachers, teachers in charge of learners with hearing impairment, parents and learners with and without hearing impairment. The study employed census sampling technique to select the head teachers while purposive sampling technique was used to select parents of learners with hearing impairment using hearing aids, learners with and without hearing impairment and teachers. The sample size was 90 respondents comprising 8 head teachers, 15 parents, 8 teachers, 51 learners with hearing impairment using hearing aids and 8 learners without hearing impairment. Data was collected by administering questionnaires to learners, parents, teachers and a complimentary interview to the head teachers. A pilot study was conducted at a primary school in Nairobi. The supervisors’ judgment was used to determine the content and face validity of the items on the questionnaires and interviews guide. Test re-test reliability test was used to establish reliability of the questionnaires developed. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics were carried out based on each objective using a computer program SPSS version 22.0. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically based on each objective of the study. The study found the general perceptions of learners with HI, learners without HI, parents, and teachers towards hearing aids-use were generally positive. The overall result of the study indicated a weak positive influence of hearing aids use on self-esteem of learners with hearing impairment. The study recommended that the Government should provide schools with speech therapists/ audiologists to follow up on language intervention of learners with hearing impairment using hearing aids and also encourage collaboration of multi-disciplinary team that includes teachers, parents, head teachers, audiologists/speech therapist to ensure they benefit from hearing aid-use and improve on their self-esteem.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Education (Speech and Language Pathology) in the School of Education, Kenyatta University, October, 2022
Keywords
Hearing Aid-Use, Self-Esteem of Learners, Hearing Impairment, Integrated Settings, Nairobi City County, Kenya