Focusing on diversity equity and inclusion in relation to our group’s majors of Speech Pathology/Audiology, Sociology, and Psychology, we specifically looked at how the quality of life, perception, and mental health were affected in the lives of individuals with hearing impairments. In the context of this study, hearing impairments are defined as mild to profound hearing loss. The research question asked was “What is the Psychological Impact of Hearing Impairments?” There are not many studies done in regards to this topic. Therefore, our research provides insights for developing future solutions towards the improvement of the psychological aspects in the lives of individuals with hearing impairments. For our study, we began by conducting an online mixed methods survey that targeted Miami University first-year students, then we collected data from interviewed participants. From these responses we found that first-year students at Miami University are generally knowledgeable about the impacts of having a hearing impairment. The majority of students felt that “social interactions” are impacted the most as the result of having a hearing impairment. Most students agreed that those with hearing impairments are viewed negatively by others, and that they go through different aspects of life differently. Finally, when asked to describe why people with hearing impairments are sometimes negatively impacted, students gave an extended response that was coded by the main themes that emerged: quality of life, perception, and mental health. This research is beneficial to each of our intended careers due to the fact that many aspects of our project converge. The psychological and sociological side of our project is relevant to how people’s quality of life, perception, and mental health are affected while the speech pathology/audiology side is relevant to the science behind hearing impairments and its more physical effects.
Authors: Maddie Webber, Gabrielle Jones, Samika Saste, Wyatt Ratliffe
Advisors: Dr. Joyce J. Fernandes, Undergraduate Office of Research; Carolyn S. Craig, College of Arts and Sciences; Abigail Morgan, University Libraries; Katie Gibson, University Libraries; Jenny Presnell, University Libraries
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