Living with Worry: The Experience of Mothers with Deaf Child

Abstract

Background Born of a child with hearing loss is a stressful and unexpected experience for the parents. Understanding the experience of the mothers of children with hearing loss is a crucial to provide an appropriate care for this group of mothers. This study aimed to understand the concerns of the mothers who have a child with congenitally hearing loss. Materials and Methods In this qualitative content analysis, 35 mothers with child hearing loss participated in the semi-structural and deep interviews through a purposeful sampling method. Data were analyzed by using qualitative content analysis provided by Graneheim et al. Results Concerns of mothers of children with hearing loss were categorized in three main themes: 'the concerns of nature of hearing loss', 'the social concerns' and 'concerns about future'. Remarkably, the participants live with fear of the possibility of another deaf child birth in the next pregnancy or next generations were the most important concern of mothers. Conclusion Mothers of deaf children are experiencing the varieties of concerns. To cope with these concerns, they need a special consideration by society and health professionals. Modification of the concerns can decrease the child-related stress and consequently encourage them to involve in child care.