Content area
Academically gifted individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) represent a unique intersection of identities that can significantly affect various aspects of their lives. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of academically gifted DHH individuals to gain insights into their unique challenges and strengths. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants (ages 21–85) who self-identified as both academically gifted and DHH. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of the participants’ experiences revealed themes such as resilience, self-acceptance, family support, educational accommodations, and social challenges. The participants demonstrated remarkable adaptability in navigating both academic and social environments, often developing innovative coping strategies. These findings highlight the need for tailored educational approaches and support systems that recognize and nurture the potential of gifted DHH students.
Details
Educational Practices;
Deafness;
Educational Planning;
Influence of Technology;
Addition;
Academic Achievement;
Individualized Programs;
Educational Technology;
Academic Accommodations (Disabilities);
Individualized Instruction;
Assistive Technology;
Cognitive Style;
Educational Attainment;
Informal Assessment;
Environmental Influences;
Individualized Education Programs;
Academic Support Services;
Classrooms;
Educational Assessment;
Creativity;
Academically Gifted;
Autism Spectrum Disorders;
Hearing Impairments;
Educational Experience
Students;
Learning disabilities;
Individualized education programs;
Communication;
Hearing loss;
Educational technology;
Deafness;
Disability;
Handicapped assistance devices;
Classrooms;
Sign language;
Social interaction;
Academic achievement;
Peers;
Adaptive technology;
Creativity;
Learning;
Phenomenological research;
Qualitative research
; Ippolito Sofia 2
; Herren Jenna 3 ; Guzman-Roman, Sophia 3 1 Department of Educational Psychology, Ball State University, 901 N McKinley Ave, Muncie, IN 47306, USA, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698, [email protected] (S.G.-R.)
2 Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; [email protected]
3 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698, [email protected] (S.G.-R.)