Maltreatment and behavioral characteristics of youth who are deaf and hard-of-hearing

This paper summarizes the available literature on child abuse and neglect a mong children with disabilities in general and considers children who are d eaf and hard-of-hearing within this larger rubric given the low prevalence rates of children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing among the disabled popul ation. This procedure allows for comparisons between disabilities as well a s abused and nonabused children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Maltreatm ent data on children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in a large epidemiolo gical study of the prevalence of child maltreatment among children with dis abilities are summarized. Children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing compris ed 6.1% of the disabled population who were identified as victims of maltre atment. Their most prevalent form of maltreatment was neglect, followed by physical abuse and sexual abuse. Although children who are deaf and hard-of -hearing are significantly more likely to be maltreated by immediate family members, placement in a residential school is a risk factor for sexual and physical abuse. Maltreated children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing exhib it significantly more behavior problems including Post Traumatic Stress Dis order related behaviors than nonmaltreated peers.