Influence of hearing loss on sibling relationships: Perspectives of the normal hearing sibling

South African Journal of Communication Disorders

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Influence of hearing loss on sibling relationships: Perspectives of the normal hearing sibling
 
Creator Barath, Suvishka Hlongwane, Senamile N. Madlala, Marylene Mzanywa, Sinawo L. Paken, Jessica
 
Subject Audiology siblings; hearing loss; aural rehabilitation; communication; family; relationship; South Africa
Description Background: Sibling relationships, one of the most extended relationships in life, contribute to an individual’s social and emotional development. However, this relationship may be influenced if one sibling has a hearing loss.Objectives: This study explored the influence of a hearing loss on the sibling relationship by gaining the perspectives of the sibling with normal hearing.Method: Adopting a phenomenological research design, semi-structured online interviews were conducted using Zoom and WhatsApp with nine participants who have siblings with hearing loss.Results: Hearing loss may significantly impact the normal hearing sibling’s quality of life, affecting their psychological and social well-being, familial and peer relationships and overall experiences. Personal development, independence, maturity and closer sibling bonds were some of the positive influences reported by the participants. Attendance to aural rehabilitation therapy sessions, knowledge of hearing loss, personalities and household living arrangements positively influenced the relationship between siblings. The lack of attendance to aural rehabilitation sessions resulted in communication difficulties between siblings.Conclusion: There is a need to include siblings in aural rehabilitation and family engagements related to the child with hearing loss to provide a holistic and more effective rehabilitation and adjustment process.Contribution: This study aimed to improve family-centred intervention as it is focussing on the siblings’ perspectives of the hearing loss. Furthermore, previous studies have generally focussed on adults and not much research has been conducted surrounding the sibling relationship.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2023-10-13
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — A qualitative research approach using a Phenomenological design
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajcd.v70i1.939
 
Source South African Journal of Communication Disorders; Vol 70, No 1 (2023); 14 pages 2225-4765 0379-8046
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/939/2061 https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/939/2062 https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/939/2063 https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/939/2064
 
Coverage South Africa; Kwa-Zulu Natal; Eastern Cape; Gauteng 21st Century 15 years and older; Male and female; Black and Asian
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Suvishka Barath, Senamile N. Hlongwane, Marylene Madlala, Sinawo L. Mzanywa, Jessica Paken https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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