A neurodevelopmental profile of the rural hearing‐impaired child in the Q wa Q wa region, S outh A frica

• Published in: Journal of research in special educational needs Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 285 - 296
• Main Authors: Bothma, Jó‐Marié v d M., Dunn, Munita, Kokot, Shirley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2015
• ISSN: 1471-3802; 1471-3802
• DOI: 10.1111/1471-3802.12046

Being hearing impaired does not only affect a child's academic performance, but can also influence a child's overall development and ability to succeed academically. Children with hearing impairment often experience delays in other areas of their development and an understanding of the inter‐relatedness of these delays are important in order to address all these aspects, and thus minimise the impact on a child's overall development. The paper provides a neurodevelopmental profile of 4‐year‐old to 8‐year‐old rural hearing‐impaired children based on the result of a psychometric assessment. Eighteen children were selected from a special needs school in the rural Q wa Q wa F ree S tate area of S outh A frica and underwent a psychometric assessment using two test batteries ( G riffiths mental developmental scales – extended revised and a neurodevelopmental evaluation scale). The neurodevelopmental profile will contribute to knowledge of the nature of the challenges faced by the hearing‐impaired child in rural education and the neurodevelopmental origin of these challenges.