Hearing parent and deaf child: Relationship between communication methods and the potential for physical child abuse

Questionnaires were distributed to hearing parents (Signers and Non-signers) of deaf Children and English speaking hearing parents of hearing children to determine if there was greater potential for physical abuse among deaf children of hearing parents who do not sign. 15 hearing parents of deaf children and 22 hearing parents of hearing children completed the Parenting Stress Index, the Child Abuse Potential Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. Results suggest a trend in the direction of higher stress within both groups of hearing parents of deaf children than hearing parents of hearing children, and higher potential for physical abuse in the nonsigning group of hearing parents of deaf children.