PSYCHOSOCIAL INFLUENCE OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT ON THE INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Individuals with hearing impairment are confronted with a lot of problems due to the condition of their disability. This has a negative impact on their social and psychological wellbeing with multiplying effect on their interpersonal relationship. Therefore, this study investigated the psycho-social influence of hearing impairment on interpersonal behavior of youths with hearing loss. The study adopted a survey research design. A sample consisting of 211 participants with hearing loss were purposively selected from the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Nigeria. A questionnaire, part of Psycho-social Competence Scale (PCS), was used for data collection with reliability coefficient of 0.72. The findings revealed that hearing impairement affects social interaction of youths with hearing impairment, hearing loss affects emotional wellbeing of youths with hearing impairment and youths with hearing impairment feel inferior in company of persons without hearing impairment. Based on this, it was recommended that a friendly home environment should be made and youths with hearing impairment should be advised to accept their loss and take it as a challenge that can be used to achieve a better end and the society should have right attitude and beliefs toward youths with hearing impairment.

Headnote

Abstract

Individuals with hearing impairment are confronted with a lot of problems due to the condition of their disability. This has a negative impact on their social and psychological wellbeing with multiplying effect on their interpersonal relationship. Therefore, this study investigated the psycho-social influence of hearing impairment on interpersonal behavior of youths with hearing loss.

Methodology

The study adopted a survey research design. A sample consisting of 211 participants with hearing loss were purposively selected from the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Nigeria. A questionnaire, part of Psycho-social Competence Scale (PCS), was used for data collection with reliability coefficient of 0.72.

Results

The findings revealed that hearing impairement affects social interaction of youths with hearing impairment, hearing loss affects emotional wellbeing of youths with hearing impairment and youths with hearing impairment feel inferior in company of persons without hearing impairment.

Based on this, it was recommended that a friendly home environment should be made and youths with hearing impairment should be advised to accept their loss and take it as a challenge that can be used to achieve a better end and the society should have right attitude and beliefs toward youths with hearing impairment.

Keywords: Psychosocial, Hearing impairment, interpersonal behavior

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Introduction

Every class of children with hearing disability is a heterogeneous, comprising of diverse intra and interpersonal characteristics Lisben (1). The characteristics might be self-motivated or societal induced ones.

Studies have consistently been revealing that hearing disability has great consequences on individuals with such problem. Studies by Mba (2), Onyilofor (3) and Hallberg & Calsson (4) revealed that individuals with hearing impairment find it difficult to adjust socially and psychologically. This might be as a result of negative feelings and lack of acceptance from the society. Social stigma experienced by people with hearing impairment is a threat to social identity Mba (2) and lack of social identity might result into psychological breakdown which can thereafter lead to perverse behavior. Similarly, Hallberg & Calsson (4) noted that students with hearing disability do experience more ego distorting experience than their peers without hearing impairment Mba (2). This can lead to depression and withdrawal tendency. This is a result of the feeling of disadvantaged, due to their disabilities, as well as the abuse they suffer from the population without hearing impairment Hallahan&Kauffman (5). Furthermore, studies by Garnefski,Grol & Hamming (6) and Monzani et al. (7) have also confirmed that deafness increases the risk of developing emotional problems. This makes the adjustment very difficult for individuals with hearing impairement. There is also a significant level of anxiety and depressed mood among people with hearing loss, as reported by Tombs, (8). Eldredge & Davis (9) have also reported negative effect of hearing impairement on psychosocial well-being among youths with hearing loss.

Obviously, no man is an island, youths with hearing impairment must live in an environment and interact with different categories of people in their everyday life. It is worthy to note that psychological and social disposition of individuals will eventually lead to success or failure of activities performed by individuals in the society.

Io youths with hearing impairment, there is obvious evidence of psycho-social problems precipitated by both self and societal induced dispositions. Studies by Garnefski, Grol&Hamming (6) and Monzani, et al. (7) have revealed that adolescents with hearing impairment often experience difficulty in social relationship. It has been further revealed that hearing impairment leads to loneliness, rejection and social isolation Owolawi & Eleweke (10). This phenomenon of altered selfimage could cause fatal behavior of criminal tendencies Monzani, et al. (7). Studies have further revealed that emotional problem could hamper social maturation of a person with hearing impairment Hallahan & Kauffman (11). This may limit communication and social interaction of persons with hearing loss. Obviously, verbal communication is highly essential in social interaction and when it is absent there is likelihood of disorganized social and emotional development. A child that is frequently cut offfrom communicating with the hearing population lives and grows up in relative isolation and this predisposes the individual to psychological trauma Kathlean & Michael (12).

However, Akinpelu (13) has conducted a research on self-perception and social relationship among adolescents with hearing impairment in mainstream school using a social activity scale on 220 adolescents with hearing impairment. The result of the study showed that students with hearing impairment participated in school activities and interacted with other students frequently. Such positive development might be result of conducive environment.

In another development, Olubela, Alade & Adeniran (14) studied psychological disposition of students with hearing impairment in a regular university setting. The study revealed that students with hearing impairment displayed aggression and poor social relationships. In other words, the study revealed that students with hearing impairment are psychologically and socially maladjusted. Andrea (15) also noted that hearing impairment, though inconspicious disability do affects individuals with such impairment overtly. They stressed that hearing impairment like any other disability can hinder the normal activities expected of the victims in terms of adjustment, socialisation and cooperation. In a related research, Wiley (16) reported that hearing impairment has social, academic and psychological effects on youths with hearing impairment. He noted that persons with hearing disability may be withdrawn, become less active, reduce social contact, have poor academic performances and avoid conversation with others. The study conducted by Mykleburst (17) has also revealed that deaf children exhibit greater impulsivity and inadequate emotional regulation. The above are adverse implications of hearing impairment on the affected individual. This was further corroborated by Leigh et al. (18) who reported that hearing loss lowers the quality of life and for most adolescents and adults with hearing impairment hearing loss has psychological, physical and social consequences. Therefore, it is imperative to examine psychosocial implication of hearing impairment on interpersonal relationship of youths with hearing impairement in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated psychosocial influence of hearing impairment on the interpersonal behavior of youths with hearing loss in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Research Questions

1. Does hearing difficulty inhibit the social interaction of youths with hearing loss?

2. Does hearing loss affect the emotional well-being of persons with hearing impairment?

3. Do youths with hearing difficulty feel more comfortable in company of persons without hearing impairment?

Research Methodology

This study employed a survey research design. It is an ex-post facto because only existing variables were investigated without manipulation.

Population

The population of the study was youths with hearing impairment at the Federal College of Education (Sp.), Oyo.

Sampling Technique

In this study, 211 youths with hearing impairments were purposively selected based on their availability and accessibility at the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Nigeria. The school used is an integrated setting accomodating disabled and non disabled students. The average age of the participants was 19.5 years with degree of loss range from slight to profound hearing loss. Non disabled and students with other disabilities were not considered.

Instrument

The instrument used for this study is a selfdeveloped structured questionnaire titled Psychosocial Competence Scale. The instrument is divided into two sections (A & B). Section A is on the bio-data of the participants while Section B contained 25 items of structured questions with five subsections addressing behavioral patterns of a person with hearing loss. Out of 25 items of the question in the scale, 12 items addressing the psychosocial variables of the study were used in line with the research questions. For contents validity the instrument was given to experts in the field of psychology while the reliability of the instrument was obtained at 0.75 through a pilot test using Cronbach alpha formula.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis

Psychosocial competency scale was distributed among 211 participants purposively selected at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo and the responses were thereafter collected by the researcher. The data collected from the study were collated, coded and analysed using frequency count and simple percentage.

Results

This section presents the results and the discussion of findings of the data collected.

Research Question 1

Does hearing difficulty inhibit the extent of social interaction of youths with hearing loss?

In table one, going by responses of students to item one under research question one, 69 (34.4%) strongly disagree with the statement, 36 (16.7%) disagree with the opinion, while 32 (15.8%) agree and 74 (35.1%) strongly agree with the statement. From cumulative percentages, it was revealed that high percentage of the respondents feel jealous. On item number two, 75 (35.2%) strongly disagree with the statement, 42 (19.6%) ordinarily disagree while 32 (15.8%) agree and 62 (29.4%) strongly agree with the statement. The implication from the cumulative percentages was that students with hearing loss don't mix well with nonhearing impaired peers. In item number three 3, 95 (44.7%) strongly disagree with the statement, 62 (29.1) disagree while 7 (3.9%) agree and 47 (22.3%) strongly agree with the statement. From the percentages, it is obvious that students with hearing impairment are not active members of the group they belong to. On item number four, 56 (26.5%) of the respondents strongly disagree with the statement, 50 (23.7%) disagree while 34 (16.1%) agree and 71 (33.6%) strongly agree with the statement. From the result, one can deduce that the participants have difficulty relating with others as a result of their disability. On item number five, 26 (12.3%), strongly disagree, 51 (24.2%) disagree while 64 (30.1%) agree and 70 (33.4%) strongly agree. From the responses of the participants this implies that students with hearing impairment don't interact freely with people in their community.

Research Question 2

Does hearing loss affect the emotional wellbeing of youths with hearing impairment?

In Table 2, 36 (17.1) strongly disagree with statement number one, 38 (18.0%) disagree while 107 (50.7%) agree and 30 (14.2%) strongly agree with the statement. The percentage of participants that agree with the statement is more than those that oppose the statement. The implication is that youths with hearing impairment enjoy meaningful relationship with others despite their disabilities. On item number two, 39 (18.5%) strongly disagree with the statement, 52 (24.6%) ordinarily disagree while 12 (5.7%) agree 108 (51.2%) strongly agree with the statement. The implication is that youths with hearing impairment enjoy friendship with people without hearing impairment in their environment. On item number three, 12 (5.7%) strongly disagree with statement, 85 (40.3%) ordinarily disagree while 53 (25.1%) agree and 61 (28.9%) strongly agree with the statement. From the result, the percentage of youths that favorably agreed with the statement was higher than the percentage of youths that opposed the statement. The implication is that youths with hearing impairment have cordial relationship with their teachers and peers.

Research Questions

Do youths with hearing impairment feel more comfortable in company of other persons without hearing impairment?

In Table 3, responses to item number one indicated that 109 (51.7%) disagree with the statement while 45 (21.3%) agree and 57(27.3%) strongly agree with the statement. From the responses above, it is obvious that the percentage of youths with hearing impairment that disagree with the statements is higher than the percentage of youths that agree. The implication is that communication sometimes poses difficulty for youths with hearing impairment. On item number two, 58 (27.5%) strongly disagree with the statement, 44 (20.9%) ordinarily disagree while 42(19.9%) agree and 67(31.8%) strongly agree. The result indicated that high percentage agrees with the statement. This means that youths with hearing impairment don't only want to relate mainly with people with hearing impairment.

On item number three, 14 (6.6%) strongly disagree with the statement, 105 (49.8%) disagree while 33 (15.6% agree and 59 (28%) strongly agree. The responses of the participants indicated that high percentage disagree with the statement indicating that language often limits the level of interaction of youths with hearing impairment with other people. On item number four, 69 (32.7%) strongly disagree with the statement, 45 (21.3%) ordinarily disagree while 35 (16.6%) agree while 62 (24.4%) strongly agree. It is obvious that the percentage of youths with hearing impairment that did not support the statement is higher than those that agree with it. This indicates that youths with hearing impairment sometimes feel inferior to other people that can hear.

Discussion

The study investigated the psychosocial influence of hearing impairment on the interpersonal behavior of youths with hearing loss. The result of the research question one revealed that hearing impairment inhibits the social interaction of youths with hearing loss. The result of this finding was corroborated in the studies by Mba (2), Onyilofor (3) and Hallberg&Calsson (4) and they all reported that people with hearing impairment find it difficult to adjust socially and psychologically. This might be the reason why some of them are withdrawn and exhibit some socially undesirable behaviors. The result is also in line with the study of Wiley (16) that reported that deaf children exhibit greater impulsivity and limited social interaction as a result of the lack of exposure.

The result from the second research question also revealed that hearing loss affects emotional well-being of youths with hearing impairment. This is obvious from their responses that though some of them want to have meaningful relationships with others and want to have friendship with hearing people. Nevertheless, their inability to mix freely with others results into loneliness and feeling of depression. Adrea (15) supported the finding and observed that hearing disability often results with isolation and that isolation can easily distort emotional well-being of a person. Akinpelu (13) has also corroborated the finding and observed that hearing impairment affects individuals overtly. The above expression confirms Andrea (15) that remarked that hearing loss lowers the quality of life of most adolescents and adults with hearing impairment. The finding was also in line with Leigh, et al(18) and Hallam, Ashton, Sherbourne& Galey (19) who reported that people with hearing impairement were more vulnerable to depression and that the rate of incidence of depression among this group was 4.8 times higher than the general population. However, the result is contrary to the report of Owolawi & Eleweke (10) that found that students with hearing impairment participated actively in school activities and interacted with other students frequently.

Furthermore, the result of the third research question revealed that youths with hearing impairment always feel comfortable in company of other persons with hearing impairment than with those without hearing impairment. This attitude might be as a result of some negative behaviors that youths with hearing impairment experienced in the course of relating with some people in the society coupled with the trauma of their disabilities. Andrea (15) supported this finding and reported that hearing impairment has social, psychological and academic effects on the affected persons. He further stated that people with hearing impairment displayed withdrawal tendency, become less active and avoid social contact with other people in the society. This can lead to inferiority, complex that normally accompany every disability.

Conclusion

This study examined psychosocial influence of hearing impairment on the interpersonal behavior of youths in Oyo state, Nigeria. It is obvious from the study that, hearing impairment has negative impact on interpersonal relationship of youths with hearing disability in Nigeria. Youths with hearing impairment have restricted social interaction, suffer emotional trauma and have difficulties in adjustment. By implication, the negative impact of the disability account for disorganized personality as revealed by previous studies. In view of the above, it is imperative for all stakeholders to intensify effort in improving psychosocial well-being of people with hearing impairment in Nigeria.

Recommendation

Based on the findings in this study, it is therefore recommended that:

§ Home and school environment should be made friendly. This can be done through reorientation of the society on the issue of disability.

§ Adequate counseling should be given to parents of youths with hearing impairment on how to cultivate spirit of acceptance and love.

§ Youths with hearing impairment should also be advised to accept their condition and to understand that their disability is not a barrier to achieving greater height.

* Constant re-orientation should be done, so as to change the attitudes and beliefs of the society towards the condition of hearing impairment.

References

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