Analysis of the interactions of a child with a cochlear implant and his hearing classmates in regular school classes
Abstract
In the research project, the interaction domain between the cochlear implant wearer and their hearing classmates in mainstream schools is investigated, focusing on natural interactions outside the controlled classroom (breaks, lunch, leisure activities). With the help of the most powerful hearing aids or cochlear implants (CI), a large proportion of children with profound hearing loss can communicate relatively easily in spoken language and function in the ordinary environment. In the Czech Republic, thanks to technological development, these "well compensated" children are currently mainly educated in a regular primary school. However, their hearing impairment still affects them. Feeling equal in class with hearing classmates without feeling negative differences, this can be relatively difficult for hearing impaired pupils due to communication barriers. Various researches point to limited communication quality between a student with hearing impairment and his/her hearing classmates. Limited communication can have serious psychosocial consequences for the student's personality in inclusion.
The research conducted in the dissertation takes place in the first level classes of mainstream primary schools (grades 1-5) where a student with CI is in inclusion. It is a qualitative research, basic method is participatory observation of the school class with focus on selected phenomena (verbal and non-verbal interactions, establishment, termination and duration of contact, emotional colouring etc.). The data obtained will be analysed through open coding technique. The observations will be complemented by in-depth interviews.