Patterns of Social Adjustment in Hearing-Impaired Children at the Early Childhood Stage

(1) * Abhiram Kushawaha Mail (Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Language University, Lucknow (India), India)
(2) Bushra Alvera Mail (Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Language University, Lucknow (India), India)
*corresponding author

Abstract


Early childhood is a critical period for the development of social and emotional competencies that underpin later academic success and psychological well-being. Children with hearing impairment often encounter significant communication barriers that may hinder peer interaction, emotional regulation, and overall social adjustment. The present study examined the patterns of social adjustment among hearing-impaired children aged 4–6 years and compared outcomes across inclusive and special early childhood settings. A descriptive survey design was employed with a sample of 60 children. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test, and Pearson’s correlation. Findings revealed that children enrolled in inclusive preschools demonstrated significantly higher social adjustment scores than those in special schools (t = 4.21, p < .05). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.62) was observed between communication competence and social adjustment, indicating that improved expressive and receptive skills enhance peer participation and social confidence. No significant gender differences were found. The study highlights the importance of early intervention, communication development, and inclusive pedagogical practices in promoting positive psychosocial outcomes among hearing-impaired children.


Keywords


Social Adjustment; Hearing-Impaired Children; Early Childhood Education; Inclusive Education

   

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57235/ijrael.v5i1.8055
      

Article metrics

10.57235/ijrael.v5i1.8055 Abstract views : 0 | PDF views : 0

   

Cite

   

Full Text

Download

References


Aanondsen, C. M., Jozefiak, T., Lydersen, S., Heiling, K., & Rimehaug, T. (2023). Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents’ mental health, Quality of Life and communication. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 297. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04787-9

Aggarwal, K., Ravi, R., & Yerraguntla, K. (2023). Impact of Hearing Loss on Social Participation in Children: A Scoping Review [Review of Impact of Hearing Loss on Social Participation in Children: A Scoping Review]. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 76(1), 804. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-04284-1

Aktan, R. N., Uludağ, B., & Terlemez, Ş. (2024). Review of peer bullying in children with hearing loss. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-024-00635-z

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2018). Effects of hearing loss on development.

Calderon, R., & Greenberg, M. (2011). Social and emotional development of deaf children. Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies.

Eichengreen, A., Broekhof, E., Tsou, Y., & Rieffe, C. (2022). Longitudinal effects of emotion awareness and regulation on mental health symptoms in adolescents with and without hearing loss. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(4), 705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01900-9

Eriks-Brophy, A., et al. (2012). Inclusive education for children with hearing loss. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 17(3), 354–372.

Fahim, D. F. M., Sayed, S. I., Abdelrazic, M. I., & Abuelela, I. S. (2025). Emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with hearing impairment. BMC Pediatrics, 25(1), 369. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05696-4

Gillespie, A. N., Smith, L. J., Shepherd, D. A., Xu, J., Khanal, R., & Sung, V. (2023). Socio-Emotional Experiences and Wellbeing of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Their Parents before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Children, 10(7), 1147. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071147

Hong, M., & Lv, S. (2024). The current situation and influencing factors of social adaptation of hearing impaired middle school students: a qualitative research. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-07184-x

Jong, T. J. de, Schroeff, M. P. van der, Achterkamp, M. D., & Vroegop, J. L. (2023). First results of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, applied as a screening tool for psychosocial difficulties in pediatric audiology. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 280(10), 4467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-07979-x

Jong, T. J. de, Schroeff, M. P. van der, Stapersma, L., & Vroegop, J. L. (2023). A systematic review on the impact of auditory functioning and language proficiency on psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents with hearing loss [Review of A systematic review on the impact of auditory functioning and language proficiency on psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents with hearing loss]. International Journal of Audiology, 63(9), 675. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2023.2261074

Khalid, U., Majeed, N., Chovaz, C. J., Choudhary, F. R., & Munawar, K. (2025). Psychological well-being and mental health risks in deaf and hard of hearing youth: a systematic review [Review of Psychological well-being and mental health risks in deaf and hard of hearing youth: a systematic review]. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 34(11), 3359. Springer Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02795-6

Knoors, H., & Marschark, M. (2014). Teaching Deaf Learners: Psychological and Developmental Foundations. Oxford University Press.

Kutlu, S., & Yücel, E. (2023). An Examination of the Social Skills of Preschool-Age Children with Cochlear Implants. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Eğitim Dergisi, 24(4), 543. https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.1277447

Lee, W. Y., Tan, J. T. A., & Kok, J. K. (2022). The Struggle to Fit in: A Qualitative Study on the Sense of Belonging and Well-being of Deaf People in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Psychological Studies, 67(3), 385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00658-7

Most, T. (2007). Speech intelligibility, loneliness, and social adjustment among deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 12(4), 495–507.

Øvergaard, K. R., Oerbeck, B., Wagner, K., Friis, S., Øhre, B., & Zeiner, P. (2021). Youth with hearing loss: Emotional and behavioral problems and quality of life. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 145, 110718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110718

Podury, A., Jiam, N. T., Kim, M., Donnenfield, J. I., & Dhand, A. (2023). Hearing and sociality: the implications of hearing loss on social life [Review of Hearing and sociality: the implications of hearing loss on social life]. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17, 1245434. Frontiers Media. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1245434

Qi, L., Zhang, H., Nie, R., & Du, Y. (2024). Resilience promotes self-esteem in children and adolescents with hearing impairment: the mediating role of positive coping strategy. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1341215

Scherer, N., Bright, T., Musendo, D. J., O’Fallon, T., Kubwimana, C., Eaton, J., Kakuma, R., Smythe, T., & Polack, S. (2021). Mental health support for children and adolescents with hearing loss: scoping review. BJPsych Open, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1045

UNESCO. (2017). A guide for ensuring inclusion and equity in education.

World Health Organization. (2021). World report on hearing.

Yoshinaga-Itano, C. (2003). Early intervention and language development in children with hearing loss. Pediatrics, 111(5), 1131–1140.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Abhiram Kushawaha, Bushra Alvera

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.