A Grounded Theory Study on the Interpersonal Relationships of the Hard of Hearing with the Hearing : Focusing on Invisible Disability, Communication Coping Strategy, Disability Identity Formation

Background

In general, hard of hearing (HH) people have a tendency to experience a large variety of constraints on social inclusiveness due to their invisible disabilities, limitations of communication and a social environment focused on hearing people. No empirical research has been conducted to investigate specifically how they form interpersonal relationships with hearing people. Therefore, it is important for us to understand thoroughly what HH people experience in forming interpersonal relationships with hearing people because it is a critical factor for their social participation. Thus, the research question is as follows: “What dynamic process do HH youths really experience in forming interpersonal relationships with hearing people?” To answer the question, applying Grounded Theory, this study aims to analyze in depth the change process of various behavioral patterns and to establish related theory.

Methods

Participants were selected through recommendations by social workers. The total participants were Korean and included 9 men and 15 women all within the range of 20 to 30 years of age (mean age = 25.2). Concerning the degree of hearing loss, 16 participants were in 90dB or higher, 5 in 80dB or higher, and the remaining 3 in 60dB or higher. All of them used spoken language. Since the researcher is a Deaf person, various communication methods were used including talking loudly and slowly, notebook typing, and sign language. Data collection and analysis were carried out concurrently according to ‘open, axial, and selective coding’ proposed by Strauss & Corbin (1998). Also, in order to increase the trustworthiness of this research, truth value, applicability, consistency, and neutrality, presented by Guba & Lincoln (1981) were taken into consideration.

Findings

This study clearly demonstrated that HH people are prone to poor mental health, including social phobia, high depression, and severe inferiority due to communication breakdowns in group activities. When coping with such stressful situations, albeit while constantly trying to disclose their invisible disability, build one-on-one relationships, and use communication coping strategies, they appeared repeatedly to fail and become alienated because of a communication environment that only focused on hearing people, a social prejudice toward the HH, and lack of a communication support services. Eventually, it appeared that HH people’s process of forming interpersonal relationships with the hearing is an endless struggle to survive in the hearing people oriented communication environment.

Conclusion and Implications

First, it was found that HH people go through a series of phases: ‘the process of deciding whether or not to disclose invisible disability.’ Second, the study showed that communication limitations experienced by HH people come from the interaction between the hearing impairment and the physical and social environmental factors. Third, this study indicated that disability identity has a significant effect on a HH person’s interpersonal relationship as it acts as an intervening condition.

This study will shed valuable insights into the development of social work intervention strategies required to promote a communication culture that is considerate of HH people. The policy implications of the study promote bilingual-bicultural environments and expanding communication support services for HH people.