engleski

Views of Elementary School Teachers towards Students with Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implant is a sophisticated hearing device surgically implanted to persons profoundly deaf and unable to accomplish audibility in any other way. Cochlear implant provides hearing while listening and speech should be developed. In order to develop listening, after the cochlear has been implanted, speech and auditory rehabilitation is necessary and it begins after the first fitting of a processor has been performed. 9-10 A recipient is included in an intensive auditory and speech rehabilitation aiming to develop listening and speech as soon as possible to be included in regular education system. After rehabilitation, hearing impaired students with cochlear implants are included in regular day nurseries and schools. In this context, the need has come forward to examine the views of elementary school teachers towards inclusion of students with cochlear implants. This research aimed to identify the views of regular elementary school teachers towards students with cochlear implants who attend schools included in this survey. Targets of research are to reveal the views of teachers towards: • professional training which extends teachers' knowledge about students with cochlear implants • success in education of students with cochlear implants • inclusive education of students with cochlear implants • relationship of parents and students of the class a student with cochlear implant attends • cooperation with school professional team Following the goals defined by research and considering the results of similar recent research it was the most reasonable in this paper to start from the hypothesis: • H1 - views of regular elementary school teachers towards inclusive education of students with cochlear implants are mostly unfavourable. Methods/methodology The survey was carried out in 12 elementary schools attended by Polyclinic SUVAG rehabilitants. Survey covered 98 regular elementary school teachers in the Republic of Croatia who work with students with cochlear implants. In order to identify the views of teachers towards students with hearing impairment we applied Likert type scale. Research which is the subject of this paper was conducted by Questionnaire for identifying views of regular elementary school teachers which was particularly set up for this purpose. Questionnaire consists of 16 variables – Likert type views indicators. The survey was anonymous and in a written form carried out under the supervision of school expert team in May 2007. Data were processed by SPSS for Windows programme, version 13.Using procedures of descriptive statistics respond frequencies were processed on variables for total sample and 3 statistically significant factors were extracted by factor analysis. Expected Outcomes The research reveals that teachers consider the students successfully acquire the teaching material, but that they also need additional help in education and rehabilitation. Research proved that teachers keep positive attitude on successful and satisfying quality of complete education of students with cochlear implants. Education in specialized institutions is not adequate form of education for students with cochlear implants. Teachers mostly agree with the statements related to positive effects of inclusion as socialization of students with hearing impairment and other students. The higher number of teachers thinks that they do not have sufficient knowledge on cochlear implant as well as on specific aspects in teaching students with cochlear implants. More than a half of teachers are not satisfied with professional training therefore they would like to establish continuous cooperation with specialized institutions in order to be offered all the necessary knowledge and support.

views of teachers ; students with hearing impairment and cochlear implants ; inclusion

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