Learning Difficulties Encountered By Children With Hearing Impairment In An Inclusive Setting In Chuka Division, Meru South District, Eastern Province Kenya

ABSTRACT

The main focus of this study to find out chllenges faced by children with hearing impairment in an inclusive setting. The researcher picked interest in finding out the mode of communication used by teachers instructional materials teachers use to instruct hearing ipaired learners, teachers'

attitudes towards inclusion of children with hearing impairment in regular schools and findind ways ofimproing the education of these children.

To get the information needed an interview guide was designed for children with hearing impairment and questionaires prepared and distributed to headteachers and teachers in the

selected schools. Random and purposive sampling techniquues were used to select schools and the respondents.

The findings revealed that children with hearing impairment in regular schools experienced some challenges which among others included; lack of specially trained teachers in special needs

education to cater for their learning needs and interests, inadeqaucy of appropriate equipment and learning materials, inappropriate teaching materials and methods, negative attitudes of teachers towards the education of the handicapped children and high teacher-pupil ratio in class among others.

From the study, the following recommendations were made that; Special Needs Education should be co-opted into Primary Teachers' Colleges as a course, government, NGOs and other

stakeholders should intensify community awareness programmes about the rights of persons with disabilities, refresher courses should be provided to teachers to equip them with knowledge and

skills to assitst learners with special learning needs and teachers be trained to make and use the available local materials, primary school teachers should be encouraged to go for up grading

special needs education, parents of children with special needs should be encouraged to actively get involved in the learning of their children among others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION .............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... .ii

DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. .iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF TABLE ........................................................................................................................... .ix

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... x

CHAPTER 0 NE ............................................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... !

Background ..................................................................................................................................... I

Statement of the problem ................................................................................................................ 4

The purpose of the study: ................................................................................................................ 4

Objectives: ....................................................................................................................................... 4

Research Questions ......................................................................................................................... 5

The scope of study ........................................................................................................................... 5

Significance of the study: ................................................................................................................ 5

Limitations: ..................................................................................................................................... 6

Delimitations: .................................................................................................................................. 7

vi

CHAPTER TW0 ........................................................................................................................... 8

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ...................................................................................... 8

Understanding a child with hearing impairment ............................................................................. 8

Teachers attitudes towards children with hearing impairment ...................................................... ! 0

Teaching methods used by teachers in teaching children with hearing impairment.. ................... !!

Mode of communication teachers use in teaching children with hearing impairment.. ................ l2

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 14

METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 14

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 14

RESEARCH DESIGN .................................................................................................................. 14

AREA OF STUDY ........................................................................................................................ l4

TARGET POPULATION AND SAMPLE SIZE ......................................................................... 15

SAMPLE PROCEDURE .............................................................................................................. 15

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS ..................................................................................................... 15

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE ......................................................................................... 16

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 16

DATA ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 16