Impact Of Counseling On Compliance On Use Of Hearing Aids By Learners With Hearing Impairment In Primary Schools In Ruiru, Kiambu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT 

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of counseling on compliance on use of hearing aids by learners with hearing impairment in public primary schools in Ruiru, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study objectives were: to determine the influence of guidance and counseling on retention of learners with hearing impairment in the four selected public primary schools, to establish the availability of professionally trained teachers in guidance and counseling, to promote compliance on use of hearing aids by learners with hearing impairment, to assess the influence of guidance and counseling on attitude of learners with hearing impairment towards use of hearing aids, and to determine the impact of compliance on use of hearing aids by learners with hearing impairment on their cooperation with hearing peers. The research design used in this study was descriptive survey, where structured questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select four primary schools in Ruiru, Kiambu County while learners were randomly selected. Key informants comprised 4 administrators, one from each of the schools and 3 teachers from each of the selected schools. A total of 56 respondents participated in the study. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program version 11.5. Frequencies and percentages were determined based on the objectives of the study. This study established that there was improved enrolment of learners with HI in the study schools in Ruiru District, Kiambu County and there were a significant number of professional guidance and counseling teachers for learners with hearing impairment in the study schools. This study further found that the use of hearing aids by learners with hearing impairment improved greatly after they were guided and counseled on the use of hearing aids and their maintenance for efficiency in the study schools. The study further revealed that guidance and counseling influenced cooperation amongst head teachers, teachers, learners with and without hearing impairment and parents. In terms of policy, this study recommends the government to ensure that every public primary school has qualified guidance and counseling teachers, the training of more specialized guidance and counseling teachers through periodical in-service programmes and that more time be allocated for guidance and counseling in schools.