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Informing parents of their child's handicap and the effects on parental acceptance |
MENA Dubai 2003 Abstract
| Author |
Yousr Moualla
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The present study determines the relationship between informing parents of their child's handicap and their acceptance of it. The study was based on clinical interviews with parents of 83 handicapped children diagnosed at birth with Down's syndrome, a nervous motor handicap or deafness.
During the interviews the circumstances in which parents were informed about their child's disability and their level of acceptance of it, was noted in a questionnaire.
The study showed a significant relationship between the parents acceptance of the disability and the fact that they were informed early of it (before 6 months) during scheduled and repeated interviews.
The study also showed a relationship between parents' non-acceptance of the child's disability and the fact that the doctor was (1) indifferent during the conversation, (2) denied the seriousness of the situation, (3) named the child "disabled" or attributed the reasons for the disability to the parents (hereditary factors)
The results of the study showed the importance of informing the parents early about the child's disability, and the importance of adopting the right method of informing them. This facilitates their acceptance of the disability and therefore leads to acceptance of the child and thus they interact with him in a positive way. |
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