Evaluating stress in mothers of children with profound hearing impairment in Indian context

Abstract

Purpose: When a child is diagnosed with hearing impairment (HI), it will be stressful for the parents and other family members. They are more likely to experience an extensive range of emotions, which will affect the parent-child dynamics. To prevent or minimize its influence on the HI child, it is crucial to identify these stress factors at the earliest. The primary objective of the study is to use a close-ended questionnaire to assess the major stress factors experienced by Indian mothers of children with HI. Materials and Methods: The 21-item Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) was modified by replacing the emotional/behavioral domain with hearing problems. The CGSQ was administered to 100 caregivers of children with HI in the age range of 4–6 years. A 5-point Likert scale was used to measure the response ranging from “Not at all” to “Very much” a problem. Results: The item rated “Very much” a problem by most of the mothers was the sadness felt as a result of their child’s hearing problem. The second most reported stress mothers faced were related to the future of their child. Apart from the stress related to the personal domain, there was a considerable amount of stress related to the financial aspects. Conclusions: The findings from the study highlight the significant stress factors in mothers of HI children, which has important implications in counseling and family-based intervention.