Parenting Resources of Deaf Parents with Hearing Children

Parenting resources and counseling needs of deaf parents with school-aged hearing offspring were explored as part of a larger cross-sectional descriptive study of perceptions of deaf parents\u27 child-rearing performance. Three categories of informant provided research data. Fifteen deaf parent/hearing child dyads were interviewed. Parents also completed short questionnaires. Hearing grandparents, fewer than half of whom live near their deaf adults offspring, responded to mailed surveys. Questionnaires provided quantitative results showing that deaf parents turned more frequently to relatives and friends than to professionals for help with child-rearing problems. Parents identified few and grandparents identified no parenting programs or services suitable for deaf parents. Results of thematic analysis of interview data support and illustrate questionnaire findings. Parent support groups and counseling services in sign language were needs mentioned by deaf parents. Factors contributing to limited access to both peer support and professional resources were discussed along with implications for community service providers