Examination of social skill levels of hearing impaired and normal children in inclusive preschool classes

This study aims to examine social skill levels of normal and hearing impaired children evaluated by both their teachers and parents. The study had 308 participants who were parents and teachers of 55 hearing impaired and 99 normal children receiving education through inclusive implementations from Ankara, Adana, Samsun, İzmir, Uşak, Trabzon, İzmit and Eskişehir. In order to identify social skill levels of both normal and hearing impaired children, teacher and parent forms of Preschool Social Skills Evaluation Scale (PSSES) were used in the study. Regarding the aim, the study was designed as a quantitative research, and in accordance with the research questions, causal comparison and relational research models were preferred. Data of the study were analyzed through IBM SPSS 22.0 statistical package program. Findings of the study revealed that hearing condition of the children was effective in social skill scores of normal and hearing impaired children, and the scores of both teachers and parents differed considering this situation. Social skill scores of hearing impaired children varied considering gender, educational background of parents and the field of the teacher. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between social skill scores of calendar age and diagnosis age, and the starting age of using hearing aid by hearing impaired children, and calendar age and the starting age of using hearing aid variables had significant contributions at various degrees to interpret the scores. Regarding the findings of the study, it was found out that hearing impaired children who received education through inclusive implementations needed adaptations to support their social skills development. Finally, a further research focusing on home and institution-based implementations to find out how social skills of the hearing impaired children can be supported was suggested in the study. Key Words: Preschool period, Inclusion, Hearing impaired students, Hearing impairment Hearing loss, Social skills