Psychological and physical well-being in hearing-impaired children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological and physical well-being in 6-11-year-old hearing-impaired children.


METHODS
The cohort consisted of 70 boys and 61 girls who either attended a special school for deaf children (n=78) or a mainstream school (n=53). We used the FKSI (Frankfurt Self-Concept Scales for Children).


RESULTS
Children in special schools saw themselves in a less favourable light than children in mainstream schools. They were less confident and less assertive. They reached lower scores in making friends, and were more anxious and sad. Children attending mainstream schools were found to be more self-confident the more pronounced the hearing loss was, but reported lower well-being in higher classes. The physical well-being, however, was not affected in children with hearing impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in the self-perception of hearing-impaired children and normal-hearing children must be taken into consideration when making a decision about the appropriate type of school for these individuals.
Keilmann
Annerose
A
Department for ENT and Communication Disorders, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany. keil@kommunikation.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Limberger
Annette
A
Mann
Wolf J
WJ
D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires