Preliminary Validation of Stigma Measures Among Parents of Children Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States and Ghana.

Objectives: Parents are integral to the development and overall well-being of their child. Previous research has studied the emotional effects parenting experiences have on parents. However, parents caring for children with disabilities have unique parenting experiences, filled with both victories and challenges.

Preliminary Validation of Measures of Experienced, Perceived, and Internalized Stigma Among Adults Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States and Ghana.

Objectives: In this article, we examine the psychometric performance of 3 scales measuring experienced, perceived, and internalized d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) stigma among adult (18 and older) populations of individuals who are d/DHH, including those who have been d/DHH since before they developed language (lifelong) and those who became d/DHH after they developed language (acquired) in the United States and Ghana.

Design: The preliminary validation study took place in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana and across the United States. In the United States, all data were collected online via self-administered surveys in English.

Development of Measures for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma: Introduction to the Special Supplement on Stigma Measurement Tools.

People who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) often experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Qualitative research describing their lived experiences has provided useful, in-depth insights into the pervasiveness of stigma. Quantitative measures could facilitate further investigation of the scope of this phenomenon.

Effect of Cultural, Folk, and Religious Beliefs and Practices on Delays in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women.

Background: Certain cultural, folk, and religious beliefs that are more common among African Americans (AAs) have been associated with later-stage breast cancer. It is unknown if these beliefs are similarly associated with delays in diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods: Data from a multicenter case-control study of ovarian cancer in AA women were used to examine associations between cultural/folk beliefs and religious practices and stage at diagnosis and symptom duration before diagnosis.

Access to and Uptake of Cochlear Implantation Among Children in North Carolina.

Background: Cochlear implantation (CI) is a highly effective intervention for children with advanced hearing loss who cannot benefit from amplification. Despite the established benefits of CI, it is likely that not all children who are potential candidates for CI receive this intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of North Carolina children who are candidates for and end up undergoing CI, and to detect whether barriers exist that prevent access to care for unimplanted candidates.