"A Little Sign and a Lot of Love...": Attitudes, Perceptions, and Beliefs of Hispanic Families with Deaf Children

The authors studied the perception, attitudes, and beliefs about deafness and disability in 9 Hispanic families with deaf children. In-depth interviews were conducted, focusing on the families' experiences in adjusting to the child's hearing loss and emphasizing, in particular, concepts of causation of deafness; communication with the deaf child; and perceptions of the accessibility of services. Most parents expressed positive or neutral feelings about deafness. Concepts of causation varied, with some parents attributing deafness to divine will, others to heredity or physical insult. Many parents reported that their extended families and communities stigmatized the deaf child. Most families were satisfied with the services available. Parents' appraisals of the children's receptive and expressive abilities for oral language were profoundly contradictory. These interviews provide valuable insight into the belief systems and needs of this minority group. Increased awareness of these needs and concerns is necessary to improve services for Hispanic deaf children and their families.