Counseling families of hearing impaired children comparisons of the attitudes of australian and usa parents and audiologists

Martin, F. N.; Abadie, K. T.; Descouzis, D.

This study was designed to examine similarities and differences between Australia and the United States concerning the counseling of parents of hearing-impaired children. Viewpoints of parents and audiologists in both countries were compared. Questionnaires were sent to parents and audiologists in Australia for comparison with previous results obtained from the same two groups in the U.S. Parents' impressions and reactions to the diagnosis of their children's hearing loss, as well as to the ways in which they were told of the diagnosis, were examined in the questionnaires. Audiologists' current counseling practices and their perceptions of parents' feelings were also surveyed.