Counseling of families and children with hearing loss

In the case of permanent childhood hearing impairment, it is often assumed that the fitting of hearing aids along with commencement of early intervention will facilitate optimal language development. However, as noted by Kurtzer-White and Luterman (2003), the resolution of grief associated with the diagnosis, parent-child bonding, parental stress, parental emotional availability, and the child's sense of self have equally important roles to play. Although such should be essential considerations in all services for children with hearing loss, often it is found that little attention and resources are invested in these factors. Counseling may assist parents in dealing with their grief and promote the development of coping and problem-solving skills, thus affecting outcomes for children with hearing loss (Calderon & Greenburg, 1999; Kurtzer-White & Luterman, 2003; Yoshinaga-Itano & de Uzcategui, 2001). In fact, the literature indicates parental coping to be determined largely by how well they are able to deal with their feelings that are generated by the initial diagnosis and the overwhelming amount of information that usually accompanies it (Kurtzer-White & Luterman, 2003). This chapter will deal with both personal adjustment and informational counseling. Specifically, it will address the importance of self-awareness growth, the listening process, and the development of empathetic understanding. It will also explore the concept of nonfinite grief, discuss information priorities for families of children with hearing loss and provide useful suggestions for counseling of the children themselves. Ultimately, this chapter will assist and encourage pediatric audiologists to enhance their counseling skills