Self-Esteem in Children and Adolescents With Hearing Loss

Abstract

Children with hearing loss are at risk for lower self-esteem due to differences from hearing peers relative to communication skills, physical appearance, and social maturity. This study examines the influence of generic factors unrelated to hearing loss (e.g., age, gender, temperament) and specific factors associated with hearing loss (e.g., age at identification, communication skills) on how children with hearing loss wearing cochlear implants or hearing aids appraise self-esteem. Fifty children with hearing loss wearing cochlear implants or hearing aids participated (Mean age: 12.88 years; mean duration of device use: 3.43 years). Participants independently completed online questionnaires to assess communication skills, social engagement, self-esteem, and temperament. Children with hearing loss rated global self-esteem significantly more positively than hearing peers, t = 2.38, p = .02. Self-esteem ratings attained significant positive correlations with affiliation (r = .42, p = .002) and attention (r = .45, p = .001) temperaments and a significant negative association with depressive mood (r = − .60, p < .0001). No significant correlations emerged between self-esteem and demographic factors, communication skills, or social engagement. Because successful communication abilities do not always co-occur with excellent quality of life, clinicians and professionals working with children with hearing loss need to understand components contributing to self-esteem to improve identification, counseling, and external referrals for children in this population.

Socio-emotional adjustment of adolescents with cochlear implants: Loneliness, emotional autonomy, self-concept, and emotional experience at the hospital

“…Individuals who received the CI early displayed a more positive physical self-concept. In line with previous studies, early implantation could be a factor that implies considerable improvements not only in cognitive and linguistic development but also in the socio-emotional domain, such as relational skills and self-concept (Mance and Edwards, 2012;Moog et al, 2011;Warner-Czyz et al, 2015). The interesting aspect of the present study is that the only significant difference between adolescents with CIs and their peers was the physical dimension of self-concept.…”

Proceedings of the annual conference of the American cochlear implant alliance

“…Adolescents with hearing loss report slightly but significantly higher ratings of global self-esteem versus TH peers (Warner-Czyz et al, 2015). Affiliation, attention, and fewer depressive symptoms were associated with higher self-esteem (Warner-Czyz et al, 2015). In summary, adolescents with CI show higher rates of depression, but similar levels of anxiety and self-esteem to hearing peers.…”

“…Participation in mainstream education and use of oral speech corresponds to lower levels of depression (Theunissen et al, 2014). Adolescents with hearing loss report slightly but significantly higher ratings of global self-esteem versus TH peers (Warner-Czyz et al, 2015). Affiliation, attention, and fewer depressive symptoms were associated with higher self-esteem (Warner-Czyz et al, 2015).…”

Assessment on the perceived self-esteem of Saudi adults with deafness and hard of hearing

“…However, depressive mood provides a negative role in the establishment of the children's perceived self-esteem. 13 Al-shammari and others also studied and determine the social-emotive perceptions of deaf students in Hail, Saudi Arabia. High level of happiness and satisfaction within themselves were recorded in students interviewed.…”