South African parents’ views on oral, signing, and bilingual communication for Deaf or hard-of-hearing children

Abstract

Background: Parents of Deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children are faced with a plethora of overwhelming decisions concerning their children, particularly during the early stages of development. Among these decisions are those concerning assistive devices and the modes of communication for their child. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of parents of DHH children towards the various modes of communication for their children within the South African context. Method: The study adopted a Q-methodology research design. Participants rated statements according to what they least and most agree with and then answered follow-up questions concerning the statements. Participants were also invited to participate in a live, one-on-one, semi-structured interview with the researcher. Data were analysed through both qualitative and quantitative statistics. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the qualitative data, while factor analysis through Ken-Q analysis was used for quantitative data. Results: Although 66% of participants thought that sign language allows DHH children to communicate more freely, 88% agreed that a DHH child should always learn to speak if they can. In terms of decision-making, 88% reported the issue of stigma or marginalisation and 88% cited the lack of Deaf schools as barriers in their decision-making. Conclusion: The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing communication mode decisions for DHH children in South Africa. Contribution: These insights are crucial for developing inclusive and effective communication strategies that consider individual needs, societal norms and access to support services.