INFANTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING, WITH AND WITHOUT PHYSICAL COGNITIVE DISABILITIES

This paper provides narrative summaries of the medical histories and i nteractive behaviors of five infants who are deaf or hard of hearing a nd have other disabilities (HI-MH). All were diagnosed before they wer e 9 months old, when mothers were interviewed and completed parenting stress questionnaires. Mothers and 12-month-old infants were videotape d in a free play situation. These dyads are compared with mothers and (1) 10 infants with hearing deficits whose pre- or post-natal historie s place them at-risk for other disabilities, but who have not been so diagnosed (HI-AR); (2) 8 infants not at-risk for other disabilities (H I-NR) since their hearing deficits are hereditary or have no known cau se; and (3) 20 infants with no diagnosed disability of any kind (HG). Behaviors of the three groups of mothers whose babies are deaf or hard -of-hearing were rated below those of HG mothers although HI groups di d not differ from each other. HI-MH infants and dyads ranked below tho se of the three other groups. Parenting stress scores did not differen tiate among groups. However, scores for mothers of HI-MH infants were characterized either as extremely high (reflecting great stress) or ex tremely low (reflecting denial of stress). Discussion addresses implic ations for intervention.