THE GENERALIZATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PEER SOCIAL BEHAVIORS OF YOUNG-CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a social skill s and comparision intervention on peer social behaviors of 43 young ch ildren who were deaf and hoard of hearing (D/HH). Both interventions w ere conducted in small groups consisting of children who were D/HH and hearing. Data were obtained on 15 social behaviors in four categories ; peer interaction, play, child initiations/peer responses, and peer i nitiations/child responses. Social behaviors were recorded during free play (a) before the intervention, (b) immediately after the intervent ion ceased, and (c) 4 weeks after the intervention ceased. Children re ceiving the social skills intervention decreased their frequency of so litary and parallel play. These changes were maintained 1 year later i n an outdoor play setting.