Parental participation in reading activities of children with hearing impairment at Ashanti school for the deaf, Jamasi in Sekyere south district

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore parental participation in reading activity among their children with hearing impairment at Ashanti School for the Deaf in Sekyere South District. The study was a mixed approach which utilized a case study design with the interview as the data collection instrument. A sample of 42 out of total population of 150 was used. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample Data from the study were analysed using a thematic and descriptive method involving percentages and frequencies was used to analyse the data from the questionnaire. Findings from the study revealed that home factors such as the kind of home where the child is coming from was a contributory factor as far as the reading of a child is concerned and lack of appropriate reading materials impede pupils with hearing impairments ability to read. Besides, Parents' involvements in the reading activities of their children with hearing impairment help minimize the emotional problem they face and make them feel happy. In addition, when parents participate in teaching reading to their children with hearing impairment, it helps them to improve upon their repertoire of vocabulary and enhances good reading ability, thereby enhancing their academic performance. It was recommended that irrespective of the kind of home a child may be coming from parents should endeavor to make provisions for their wards to have a study area and a reading session at home. Parents should provide supports such as textbooks, dictionary, storybooksandlearning supportto their children with hearing impairment to help minimize the emotional problem they face in order to improve their reading skills.