Journal Article

Hard of hearing learners in a school for the deaf: A case study in the Eastern Cape province

Ndwandwe, Thabisa P., Joseph, Lavanithum

2025

Overview

Background Learners who are hard of hearing (HoH) in the Eastern Cape typically attend special schools for the deaf. Failures in mainstream schools result in learners being placed at a special school where South African Sign Language (SASL) is used as the medium of instruction. This is despite learners having residual hearing compared to their d/Deaf peers. This scenario is common in South Africa and often poses a dilemma for professionals in the field. Objectives The objectives of this study were to describe the contextual factors of the audiological history (cause of hearing loss, age of diagnosis and use of amplification) and the communicative function of learners, to explore the school experiences of HoH learners in terms of their classroom and social experiences and to describe learners’ views on self-identity. Method The study participants consisted of two groups, learners (eight) and their parents or caregivers (six). A case study design was used. The data sources for the study included participant interviews, direct observations and a review of records. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results The learners used SASL and had positive school experiences. They could communicate effectively in SASL and identified with the school community and Deaf Culture. Learners used speech-reading and some oral language. Parents and caregivers could not communicate in SASL with their children. Conclusion Learners who are HoH had a sense of belonging in a school for the deaf where SASL is used as a medium of instruction. Contribution The findings contribute to the understanding of learners who are HoH in the South African Special Needs Education context where research of this nature is lacking.

• Publisher: AOSIS,African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS,AOSIS (Pty) Ltd,South African Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SASLHA)
• Subject: Adolescent / African languages / Belonging / Bilingualism / Caregivers / Case studies / Child / Children & youth / Classrooms / Communication / d/Deaf / Data analysis / Deaf / Deaf Culture / Deafness / Deafness - psychology / Deafness - rehabilitation / Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities - methods / Education, Special / Families & family life / Female / function / hard of hearing / Hearing / Hearing loss / Humans / Identity / Inclusive education / Information management / learners / Learning environment / Male / Medical diagnosis / Medium of instruction / Original Research / Parents & parenting / Persons with Hearing Disabilities - psychology / Persons with Hearing Disabilities - rehabilitation / Research methodology / School environment / Schools / Self concept / Self esteem / Sign Language / Social change / Social experiences / South Africa / South African Sign language / Special education / Special needs children / special school / Special schools / Speech / Spoken language / Statistics / Teaching