In Japan, DHH (Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing) children are able to choose their learning environment, regular school or special school for DHH, between the ages of 3 to 17 years, depending on their educational needs. Additionally, special schools for DHH provide educational support for infants, toddlers, and their families.
In this research, we collected the data from 32 (26.9%) of 119 schools for DHH in Japan over the three-year period, 2022-2024, to investigate the number of infants and toddlers who receive educational support, and what kinds of support they receive.
While the total number of children (3- to 17-year-old) enrolled in the 32 schools was 1,235, the number of DHH infants and toddlers (0- to 3-year-old) who received educational support was 500. Of those infants and toddlers, 71 were wearing at least one cochlear implant, 386 were wearing hearing aids or other devices, and 43 had not yet started wearing hearing aids or other devices.
This research found that the parents visited the schools for DHH and received counselling from various aspects, including the anatomy and physiology of the hearing mechanism, developmental characteristics of DHH children, hearing compensation and communication support, etc. If they did not understand the explanations given at medical institutions or rehabilitation facilities, additional and parent-friendly explanation was provided by the teaches at special schools for DHH. These findings suggest that Japanese schools for DHH play an important role as an institution for the encouragement and empowerment of parents who have DHH children.

Authors:
Masatomo Motegi, Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Masatomo Motegi is currently an Assistant Professor of Faculty of Education, Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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