Deaf and hard of hearing children have three times rate of socioemotional difficulty
The rate of socio-emotional difficulties amongst deaf and hard of hearing children is over three times that of the typical hearing population.
The new study has found that nearly half (42%) have clinically significant socio-emotional problems – which have an impact on home life, classroom learning and the ability to get on with others. Only 14% of these, however, are currently receiving mental health or counselling supports.
It finds that the area of greatest difference for deaf and hard of hearing children is in peer difficulties, an area other studies have shown results in an increased lifetime risk of self-harm.
The report, ‘Socio-emotional Development in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children’ is the first of its kind carried out in Ireland and was commissioned by Chime, the national charity for deafness and hearing loss.
It has warned that an approach which has involved urgent cases requiring specialist attention being seen by a psychiatrist in the UK at parents’ expense, is unsustainable, and that quicker intervention is required.
“Peer problems have been shown to increase the risk of self-harm over a lifetime, so the report findings in this area are very concerning,” said Chime CEO, Mark Byrne.
“Mainstream services struggle to assess and meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children with socio-emotional difficulties. Deafness in and of itself is not the cause of these difficulties. Rather, a host of factors often outside their control leave deaf and hard of hearing children more vulnerable to socio-emotional difficulties.”
Mr Byrne said the HSE acknowledged in 2017 the need for specialist screening and intervention services for deaf and hard of hearing children with complex needs.
In countries such as Sweden, where there is specialist early intervention, scores for deaf and hard of hearing children were similar, if not lower, than the typically hearing population, report author Dr Elizabeth S. Mathews of DCU pointed out.