Parental narratives about genetic testing for hearing loss: a one year follow up study.

Few studies examine whether and how parental attitudes towards genetic testing change over time. In this study we interviewed parents of 14 children with newly identified hearing loss at two time points: after referral to genetics and 1 year later. Qualitative analyses of parental narratives indicate that parental attitudes did not change significantly over this time.

Parental narratives of genetic testing for hearing loss: audiologic implications for clinical work with children and families.

Purpose: Few studies have examined how parents personalize the possibility of genetic hearing loss in their children and whether they actually intend to pursue testing for their child. This article addresses the audiologist's important role in the genetic testing referral and follow-up processes.

Method: Twenty-four parents whose children were referred to genetic testing for hearing loss were interviewed in depth.

Assessing parental attitudes toward genetic testing for childhood hearing loss: before and after genetic consultation.

We report on the development of a Genetic Attitude Assessment Tool (GAAT) to measure parental attitudes in contemplating genetic testing for childhood hearing loss, and to examine the differences in assessments made before and after genetic counseling. The GAAT tool was administered to a convenient sample of 119 parents of children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The respondents completed the survey either before (n = 77) or after (n = 42) genetic counseling.

Parental narratives on genetic testing for children with hearing loss: a qualitative inquiry.

Studies on parental attitudes towards genetic testing for hearing loss have surveyed parents of newborns with hearing loss as well as deaf and hearing adults. Although research indicates that most people have positive attitudes about genetic testing, few studies examine parental narratives about the personal implications of genetic hearing loss in their children. In this qualitative study we conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 parents whose children had been referred for, but had not yet undergone, genetic testing for hearing loss.

Health care system accessibility. Experiences and perceptions of deaf people.

Background: People who are deaf use health care services differently than the general population; little research has been carried out to understand the reasons.

Objective: To better understand the health care experiences of deaf people who communicate in American Sign Language.

Design: Qualitative analyses of focus group discussions in 3 U.

Decisions Hispanic families make after the identification of deafness.

This study examines the decision-making process for Hispanic families living in the United States who have a child with a hearing loss. Twenty-nine families in four geographical areas shared their experiences in searching for appropriate interventions and making choices regarding communication and education. We explored the impact of language, culture, minority status, and access to information and services on the decision-making process.

Youth hate crimes: identification, prevention, and intervention.

Objective: Youth hate crimes are a societal problem in which young people turn extremist ideas into acts of violence. To develop methods for prevention, early identification, and intervention, mental health professionals must have an awareness and understanding of this issue. To provide a basis for developing such an understanding, the authors review the current research related to youth hate crimes.

Parental decision making and the choice of communication modality for the child who is deaf.

Background: Early intervention decisions for a deaf or hard of hearing child are difficult to make, partly because of the lack of definitive proof of the superiority of any particular communication approach.

Objective: To compare the relative importance of the child's hearing loss and parental attitudes, beliefs, values, and aspirations in the decision process.

Methods: Eighty-three parents were surveyed about decision factors that may have affected their choice of communication modality, including resource availability, attitudes and beliefs about hearing loss, values, trade-offs, and goals.

Deaf women: experiences and perceptions of healthcare system access.

Background: The authors investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and healthcare experiences of Deaf women.

Methods: Interviews with 45 deaf women who participated in focus groups in American Sign Language were translated, transcribed, and analyzed. Deaf women's understanding of women's health issues, knowledge of health vocabulary in both English and American Sign Language, common health concerns among Deaf women, and issues of access to information, including pathways and barriers, were examined.

Accommodating medical school faculty with disabilities.

More than ten years have passed since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandated that all employers provide "reasonable accommodations" for employees with disabilities. This mandate applies to medical schools, but no systematic information is available to assess the accommodations provided to medical school faculty with disabilities. This Issue Brief summarizes anecdotal evidence from several medical schools about the experiences of faculty with disabilities, and the barriers they face in establishing and maintaining their careers.