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What is it about?
This study shares the stories of three mothers from different areas of the United States, whose young children have hearing loss and were receiving special education (SPED) services during the COVID-19 pandemic (spring 2020 to fall 2021). When schools closed and moved online, these mothers faced many challenges in making sure their children still got the help they needed. We listened to the mothers' experiences and identified five common themes: First, the sudden changes in spring 2020 caused a lot of confusion and stress. Second, schools often didn’t give enough attention to the needs of children with hearing loss. Third, virtual learning and therapy were difficult and exhausting. Fourth, face masks made communication even harder for children who rely on seeing faces and lips. And finally, while the situation was tough, many teachers and school staff did their best to help.
Why is it important?
The themes uncovered in this study are a first step toward better understanding the challenges of SPED service delivery for children with HL during the COVID-19 pandemic. This knowledge can inform future SPED delivery protocols as well as teach professionals in education and hearing healthcare to provide more consistent and effective SPED experiences for children with HL.