The effect of hearing impairment on the quality of attachment and mother-toddler interaction.
In the present study, 41 hearing impaired and 41 hearing toddlers together with their hearing mothers were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation and during free play. Both security of attachment and ratings of maternal and toddler behavior during free play were remarkably similar for the hearing impaired and hearing dyads. In addition, security of attachment was related to the ratings of maternal and toddler behavior in a similar way for the hearing impaired and hearing toddlers. The results suggest that development of a secure attachment and maintaining a good mother-toddler relationship does not depend on normal language development during the toddler years.
Lederberg
A R
AR
Department of Educational Foundations, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303.
Mobley
C E
CE
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D010553:Personality Development; D012931:Social Environment