| Abstract [eng] |
In national and international documents, it is emphasized that when implementing inclusive education, it is necessary to consider the diverse needs and identities of individual students. It is noted that while Lithuania has a sufficient legal framework to include deaf and hearing-impaired children in general education, there is still a lack of scientific research on the experiences of families with such children, particularly concerning the understanding of unique characteristics of children with hearing impairments and their education. Therefore, it is very important to analyse the following problematic issues: What unique traits and abilities of hearing-impaired students are observed in the educational process? What educational methods and approaches are applied to hearing-impaired students? How do parents participate in the education of hearing-impaired students? What experiences do families raising hearing-impaired children have, and what support do they expect from specialists of educational institutions? The object of this study is the experiences of parents related to the education of a child with hearing impairments. The aim of the study – to reveal the experiences of parents related to the education of children with hearing impairments. The tasks of the study are as follow: 1) to determine aspects of education and communication with a hearing-impaired child in an educational institution through the analysis of literature and parents’ stories; 2) to reveal the experiences of parents raising children with hearing impairments concerning their education; 3) to reveal the challenges and expectations of parents regarding the implementation of quality education for their children; 4) to identify educational methods and approaches used in the education of students with hearing impairments. Methodology, methods and sample of the study. A qualitative research strategy was chosen for this study. Methods of the study included: theoretical (theoretical analysis), empirical (informal conversation, qualitative content analysis). Scientific and methodological literature was analysed, and legal acts were reviewed. The study includes an analysis of the experiences of parents raising children with hearing impairments, specifically concerning their children’s education. The sample for the study was selected using a convenience sampling method. The study involved 6 parents raising preschool and/or school-age children with hearing impairment. The qualitative study was conducted in July 2023. The most important results of the study. The analysis of scientific and methodological literature revealed that in order to ensure high-quality education for students with hearing impairments, educators need to possess competencies in understanding the unique characteristics of these students, to notice their strengths, to properly adapt the educational content, methods and techniques used in education. It is important for educators to be able to provide emotional support to families, to trust the ability of parents and children to cooperate, and to sensitively provide parents with information related to the special educational needs of students with hearing impairments. Moreover, cooperation between school and family is also very important. The study revealed parents’ experiences related not only to their own emotions but also to those of their children and specialists. The findings showed that parents, in their efforts to provide quality education for their hearing-impaired children, expect collaboration with educators, face financial problems, and encounter insufficient support from educational assistance specialists due to a shortage of professionals. However, they themselves actively seek and find emotional and methodological support within associations for families raising children with hearing impairments, and receive support from other family members. |
