Analysing care-related decisions in parents of congenitally deaf children: introduction of an explanatory model

Abstract

Research into issues of deafness is characterised by the dominance of the medical model of disability. Although social and cultural-linguistic models have received increasing attention from scholars, they have been used mainly in theoretical debate. Empirical application has been limited. Based on our comprehensive research project into the care-related decisions of parents of congenitally deaf children in Flanders, Belgium, an explanatory model for care-related parental decisions was constructed, which transcends the specific findings generated by our studies. This model is presented and discussed in this paper. Illustrations are provided based on our empirical findings.

Parent-to-Parent Support for Parents With Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Conceptual Framework

“…A 3D model would best represent the interaction and merging of the conceptual framework and the environment to support it. has an important role in helping parents provide assistance to their children (Åsberg, Vogel, & Bowers, 2007;Bradham, Houston, Guignard, & Hoffman, 2011;Brown & Remine, 2008;Dalzell, Nelson, Haigh, Williams, & Monti, 2007;Eleweke, Gilbert, & Bays, 2008;Fitzpatrick, Graham, Durieux-Smith, Angus, & Coyle, 2007;Fitzpatrick, 2010;Hardonk et al, 2013;Jackson, Wegner, & Turnbull, 2010;Larson, Munoz, DesGeorges, Nelson, & Kennedy, 2012;Lederberg & Golbach, 2002;Muñoz, Blaiser, & Barwick, 2013;Poon & Zaidman-Zait, 2014;Sipal & Sayin, 2012). When a child is diagnosed with a hearing loss, the majority of these children will be born to parents with typical hearing who were not expecting the diagnosis (Bagatto, Scollie, Hyde, & Seewald, 2010;Mitchell & Karchmer, 2004 The international consensus document provided the impetus for this research study.…”