Effect of Psychodrama on Communication Skills of Adolescents with Hearing Loss

Abstract

Background and Aim: Adolescents with hearing loss face many communication problems and challenges due to their hearing impairment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of psychodrama on communication skills of adolescents with hearing loss. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest/posttest design using a control group. The study population consists of all adolescents with hearing loss aged 12–15 years studying at Naghme School for the Deaf in Yazd, Iran. A total of 24 adolescents were selected using a purposive sampling technique and were randomly assigned into groups of control (n=12) and intervention (n=12). The intervention group received psychodrama at nine sessions of 90 minutes, while the control group received no treatment. The Queendom Communication Skills Test (QCST) was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Psychodrama can improve communication skills of adolescents with hearing loss, which is verbal communication. Conclusion: The mean and standard deviation of the pretest QCST score was 78.75±9.4 for the intervention group. After the treatment, the QCST scores was 105.08±6.28 for the intervention group. The results of ANCOVA showed an improvement in Queendom Communication Skills Test scores of adolescents after intervention (p<0.001). Keywords: Hearing loss; communication skills; psychodrama