Family Environment and Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing Students with Mild Additional Disabilities

A national survey of teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students was conducted to determine the incidence and characteristics of dysfunctional family background among deaf and hard-of-hearing students with mild additional disabilities. The results of the survey indicated that there is a higher incidence of dysfunctional family environment among deaf and hard-of-hearing students with mild additional disabilities than among deaf and hard-of-hearing students in general. The results of the survey suggest several challenges with regard to teacher preparation and service delivery for deaf and hard-of-hearing students with mild additional disabilities who come from dysfunctional families.