ABSTRACT

This study explores the experiences and perceptions of late-diagnosed deaf children within low-income, multilingual families, aiming to understand the impact of delayed detection on these families. The diverse needs of deaf children globally, influenced by the degree of deafness and age at diagnosis, underscore the significance of early intervention. Despite technological advancements and newborn screening programs, a substantial number of deaf children still receive late diagnoses. Limited literature on late-diagnosed deaf children indicates that family socioeconomic status plays a pivotal role, affecting access to information and services, resulting in disparities in education, language acquisition, and academic achievement.

The research employs an interpretivist paradigm, acknowledging the socially constructed nature of reality and emphasizing the researcher’s active participation in the process. This approach seeks to unravel the unique challenges and perspectives of low-income, multilingual families, recognizing individual circumstances such as cultural background, socioeconomic status, and resource accessibility.

Methodologically, the study involves 6-10 low-income, multilingual families with late-diagnosed deaf children, utilizing observation and semi-structured interviews to delve into their experiences and perceptions. The urgency for such research is underscored by recent audit reports revealing significant failures in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss in children within the NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology service, prompting a comprehensive review of children’s hearing services.

This study contributes valuable insights to the discourse on late-diagnosed deaf children, emphasizing the need for improved healthcare services, especially in the context of low-income families, and advocating for inclusive policies to address the diverse challenges faced by this population.

Hatice Yarar

s2459300@ed.ac.uk

Moray House School of Education and Sport

University of Edinburgh

The Project / The Experiences and Perceptions of Low-income Multilingual Families with Late-diagnosed Deaf Children and Their Teachers by is licensed under a